Coconut Cakes

Name: Coconut Cakes
Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons peeled and finely grated fresh ginger

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Makes 10 to 12 cakes 1x

Units Scale

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons peeled and finely grated fresh ginger

Instructions

Put the coconut flakes in a saucepan over medium-high heat and add just enough water to cover (about 1/2 cup). Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the grated ginger and boil until the sugar changes color and caramelizes.
Cover your work surface with waxed paper. Place tablespoon-sized scoops of the coconut mixture on the paper. Allow to cool thoroughly and store in an airtight container.

— Reprinted from Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home by Lee S. Svitak and Christin Jaye Eaton, with Lee Svitak Dean; photography by Tom Wallace. Published by the University of Minnesota Press. Copyright 2025 by Linda S. Svitak, Christin Jaye Eaton, and Lee Svitak Dean. Photographs copyright 2025 by Tom Wallace. All rights reserved. Used by permission.