Although sweetened coconut is widely available in most grocery stores, did you know there's a way to naturally sweeten coconut right in your own kitchen? Read on to learn how.
Sweetened coconut is a delicious and beautiful addition to any baking recipe. Top it on cakes for a whimsical flourish or fold it in cookie batter to get that amazing sweet and chewy texture. It's flavorful straight out of the bag and sprinkled on cupcakes, yogurt or pies. But did you know that you can make your own sweetened coconut at home? It's surprisingly easy to make, no expert kitchen experience needed!
You can sweeten shredded coconut with 3 basic ingredients. Since we're naturally sweetening shredded coconut, we prefer to use Organic Shredded Coconut since it has no artificial preservatives or additives. We like to use coconut flakes (and not chips) since the abundance of more narrow coconut shreds help to absorb the syrup and hold moisture longer.
Start off the cooking process by combining 1/4 cup water and 4 teaspoons organic sugar in a medium saucepan. Gently heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Next, lower the heat and add 1 cup of Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut. Mix well until the liquid is fully absorbed into the shredded coconut. Once the liquid is absorbed, let the shredded coconut dry on a cookie sheet before storing in the refrigerator. You can even toast sweetened coconut in the oven for that extra chewy crunch.
If you prefer natural sweeteners, you can try sweetening shredded coconut with honey or maple syrup.
Here's the recipe to keep handy in your kitchen:
3-Ingredient Sweetened Coconut 🥥
Ingredients:
1 cup Fiesta Tropicalé Unsweetened Organic Shredded Coconut
1/4 cup water
4 teaspoons organic sugar
How to Make It:
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In a saucepan over medium heat, mix water and sugar.
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Add shredded coconut and mix well until liquid is absorbed.
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Let coconut dry on a cookie sheet. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Enjoy your homemade sweetened coconut!