Coconut Candy, a delightfully sweet and tasty treat that is sure to please. Make ahead and store in air tight jars for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
With a long weekend coming up, I decided to make a sweet treat today. Back when I was growing up, this Coconut Candy was very popular. It is pretty easy to make and relatively inexpensive as it requires only a few ingredients which most people have (except for the coconut) in their pantries.
Coconut Candy Using Dried Grated Coconut
The recipe calls for freshly grated coconut but since that is not easily available here, I used unsweetened dried grated coconut for this recipe. I am really delighted with the way the candy turned out. The Ro-Ri boys loved it!
The first time I made this candy, I used only condensed milk but not regular milk. The dried coconut was able to clump together with just the condensed milk. This time round, I used a little more coconut for a thicker candy. The dried coconut appeared really dry. I had to add half a cup of full fat milk to rehydrate it so that it could clump together. Because of that the cooking time had to be increased from 10 minutes to 20 minutes.
Similar Products Used in Making This Coconut Candy
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.
• T-fal Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Anti-Warp Base Glass Lid Cookware, 12-Inch, Gray
• Pyrex Simply Store 3-Cup Rectangular Glass Food Storage Dish
• Pyrex Prepware 1-Cup Measuring Cup
• Unsweetened Coconut Shredded, Fine Shred, 8 oz (2 Pack)
Coconut Candy
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 2/3 cups unsweetened dried grated coconut (227g)
- ½ cup sugar (110g)
- ½ cup milk (120ml)
- ½ cup condensed milk (4 oz/160g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 to 10 drops food coloring
Instructions
- Grease a 7-in x 5-in (18cm x 13cm) pan or rectangular container.
- Melt butter in a non-stick pan on low heat. Add coconut, sugar, milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and food coloring. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves and coconut clumps together, about 20 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to prepared container. Level the surface with a spatula. Press down firmly with wax paper or plastic wrap. Set candy aside to cool.
- After about 30 minutes, cut into cubes with a well greased knife. Allow candy to cool and set overnight.
- Remove cubes from pan and store in an air-tight jar.
- Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
If you prefer to use freshly grated coconut, please check out my Pandan Coconut Candy recipe.
NOTE: This post was updated on August 21st, 2012 with new pictures. Minor changes were made to the recipe. Video was added on April 28th, 2012.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Mother Rimmy says
I love coconut. These look like something I could make. I cook, but don't bake much. Love the pictures too!
pTsaldari says
Really enjoyed my visit to your site and the Coconut candy. It's brilliant! Your presentation was wonderful and I shall return for another visit. Thank you for sharing,
Cheers, PT
You can visit me at http://ptsaldari.posterous.com
Cookin' Canuck says
What a fun, easy recipe. This would be a treat that my family would definitely enjoy.
MaryMoh says
Wow…with condensed milk. Must be very delicious. Hope to try soon.
Biren says
This was a childhood treat and fun recipe to recreate. There were so few ingredients and it took just 10 to 15 minutes to make. The last time I had this was way back when. Mary's condensed milk recipe reminded me of this 🙂
Miguel says
Does that mean I have to wait 3wks to enjoy them,or that it’s good for 3ks?
Linda says
It is good for 3 weeks.
pegasuslegend says
This looks so much like the candy we had in Puerto Rico which we absolutely love, the ingredients sound like its the same one! Cant wait to try thanks for sharing part of your childhood memories!
Biren says
Pegasuslegend – Thanks! It brought back good memories 🙂
DongXing says
Tried this recipe after taking my daughter (6-1/2 years old) home from school. She is absolutely impressed and awarded me with top marks for such an "excellent" treat for a Friday afternoon. This brings back wonderful memories and taste of my childhood. Many many thanks for the recipes. Even my husband who doesn't like anything sweet, but loves coconut, can't stop eating, or sampling as he calls it!!!
Biren says
I am so glad your daughter and husband enjoyed the treat. It is a fast and easy one to make.
DongXing says
The coconut candies which I made on Jan 22 are all gone, much to my daughter's dismay. They were all eaten by my French sister-in-law and her family. I made another batch, pink this time, to appease my daughter. She is now in control of who gets them, making sure the father stays out too. Thank you, this is an easy teat to make.
Biren says
I am glad your daughter likes the candy. It is good to know that the recipe is well received 🙂
subhie says
hey biren…i lov this candy ad back home..r u frm malaysia?
Biren says
subhie – I am glad that the recipe resonates with you. I have received similar remarks from other people of that region 🙂
ang says
biren, do you have a good recipe for sugee cake? and keep up the great job, always such a pleasure visiting this site, reminds me of home!
Biren says
@ang – Thanks for visiting! Actually I might have one somewhere. I have been thinking of making a sugee cake for sometime but I have to search for the sugee. Don't know where to get it. BTW, where is home for you?
Kathy Gori says
This looks fabulous. Can’t wait to try this
Violet says
This coconut candy reminds me so much of childhood days. I used to like them a lot. I heard that coconut candy with butter doesn’t last as long as those without. IS it true? Can I omit the butter and replace it with vegetable shortening ie Crisco or Copha (Australia)?
Biren says
These turned out well with the butter and since it is not a big batch, they were gone pretty fast. I guess you could omit it or use Crisco but it will not have the fragrance of butter.
Li @ Words and Cake says
I would love to try this as Chinese New Year gifts this year, but would just like to know how long these can keep unrefridgerated?
Biren says
It should be able to keep for 3 to 4 days without refrigeration.
Sasha Lane says
Hi Biren. I love your website and being a born and bred Asian myself living in Washington State State now, I feel very close to home with all your wonderful blogs 🙂 Thank you. Coconut Candy is one of my favourite snacks and I am going to try this. I have a question though, can I use coconut milk instead of regular milk?
Thank you
🙂 Sasha
Biren says
Thanks Sasha for the compliments. I am happy to hear you enjoy both my blogs. 🙂 Please go ahead and use coconut milk if you wish. Just make sure you cook until the coconut clumps together and is quite dry so that the candy will harden and set.
Leslie says
My son is getting married 8/31/13. Would love to make this, but am wondering, can I make ahead and freeze?
Biren says
Congratulations on your son’s marriage, Leslie. Sorry I missed your comment and now the event is over. I was actually in Europe at that time and it somehow slipped my mind until now. Anyway, yes, I think you should be able to freeze these candies and put them out to thaw for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
Jin Zi Flower says
my husband loves to eat this… thank you for sharing!
Sharen kaur says
Hi Biren, I tried out this receipe last night and I must say it tasted amazing!:) however, I allowed it to set overnight in the refrigerator but the candy isn’t hard.. It still has a very soft texture.
Linda says
It could be that your coconut is more moist. If that is the case, you will have to cook it for a longer period of time.
Shuchi says
Looks very attractive!! I am going to try it tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe.
Yasmine says
Hello
I found your web site searching for a net bread description. I’m French and a Malaysian friend of mine told me about those. But the amazing surprise was to find those coconut candies. My family is from the Caribbean and we do have the same candies there?. The world is a tiny place! I’ll try that recipe soon!!!!
Linda says
I have many visitors from the Caribbean checking out this recipe. I was a little surprised initially because I always thought Coconut Candy is a Malaysian dessert. It was very popular during my school days. Yes, the world is a small place. Glad you found my blog. 🙂
Cherry | Makan with Cherry says
One of my favourite candies! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Linda says
You are welcome, Cherry! 🙂
Padmani says
Awesome recipes …everyone love it at home..will do again.tqvm
Linda says
You are welcome! Glad you all enjoyed it.
Angie T says
You can get frozen grated coconut in Asian Grocery Store. Once defrost it is moist like fresh.
Dorothy g says
Fantastic recipe! Turned out very good
Linda says
Glad the recipe turned out well for you. Much easier using unsweetened dried grated coconut. 🙂
Sheila says
Hi I am new to your blog. I was just wondering if it is necessary to dry roast the coconut before adding the sugar and condensed milk to the coconut.
Thank you for your recipes. I cant wait to try this candy recipe.
Linda says
If you are using fresh coconut, please refer to this Pandan Coconut Candy recipe.
Kevin Post says
I grew up on a tropical island Guam and I forgotten the way the islanders were and what a wonderful memory. Anyways one of the favorites was coconut candy and was made on stones that were bowled out and heated by a outdoor fire. Today I brought back the flavor with your recepe and loved it… this weekend my mom will be visiting from pensilvania and my brother and sister will be also coming around to have some childhood treats coconut candy. By the way I believe I was 7 or 8 when we were on Guam and I’m 53 now… thank you
Linda says
I am glad you found my recipe and you are welcome! Thank you for telling me your story and I am happy your family will get to once again taste something you all cherish from long ago. 🙂