• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook Well, Eat Well
  • Shop
  • Meet Shinee
  • Contact
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Sweet & Savory

Cook Well, Eat Well

  • New? Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
      • Dips
      • Deviled Eggs
      • Meatballs
      • Meat-lovers
      • Savory Crepes
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Desserts
      • Bars & Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • Chocolate
      • French Macarons
      • Pastries
      • Pies
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
      • Sangria
    • Salads
    • Seasonal
      • 4th of July
      • Easter
      • Christmas
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Game Day
      • Halloween
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Thanksgiving Recipes
      • Valentine’s Day
  • Discover
    • Ingredients
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
    • How-To’s
  • Share
    • Seasonal
    • Party Planning 101
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Subscribe To Updates
Home » 3-Ingredient Cocadas- Mexican Coconut Candies

3-Ingredient Cocadas- Mexican Coconut Candies

Skip to Recipe Print Share
Share on:
Published: 4/18/2017Updated: 8/10/2020
This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure
34224shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

My take on classic Mexican cocadas, aka coconut candies. Only 3 ingredients for these chewy, sweet coconut heaven, perfect Cinco de Mayo treat!

My take on classic Mexican cocadas, aka coconut candies. Only 3 ingredients for these chewy, sweet coconut heaven, perfect Cinco de Mayo treat!

I first learned about cocadas from The Kitchen on Food Network, where Marcela shared her recipe for easy coconut bark. It had two of my favorite ingredients, coconut and sweetened condensed milk, so I had to try it right away.

Later, I put my spin on this classic coconut treat and didn’t look back.

These irresistibly chewy and sweet coconut candies are ADDICTING! My mother-in-law told me not to make this again, because she can’t stop eating them. I think she meant the opposite. 🙂 There is really nothing not to love about it, unless you don’t like coconuts, of course. Buttery soft macadamia nuts add another layer of richness and texture!

My take on classic Mexican cocadas, aka coconut candies. Only 3 ingredients for these chewy, sweet coconut heaven, perfect Cinco de Mayo treat!

And as you’ve probably watched the video above, it couldn’t get easier, right? There is really no excuse not to make them. Alright, no pressure here, but I promise you’ll love these cocadas!

If you’re planning Cinco de Mayo party, you must include these cocadas on your dessert menu. (Again, no pressure!) Just saying, these are a huge crowd-pleaser. Plus, you can even make them in advance!

These classic cocadas are my favorite Mexican dessert. Irresistibly chewy and sweet, these coconut candies are perfect for Cinco de Mayo!

Enjoy!

Cocadas- Mexican Coconut Candies

My take on classic Mexican cocadas, aka coconut candies. Only 3 ingredients for these chewy, sweet coconut heaven, perfect Cinco de Mayo treat!
4.2 from 5 votes
serves: 24 cocadas
Print
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 5 1/3 cups sweetened coconut flakes
  • ½ cup dulce de leche
  • 1/3 cup macadamia nuts chopped
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix together coconut flakes, dulce de leche and macadamia nuts until well combined.
  • Divide the coconut mixture into 24 mini cups packing them down tightly.
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are nicely browned.
  • Cool completely before removing from the pan.
  • Store the cooled cocadas in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

This recipe was originally published on April 30th, 2014.

Related Recipes

  • Coconut Almond Balls
  • Pineapple Coconut Spritzer
  • Refreshingly Simple Coconut Mojito
  • Hazelnut Coconut Cookies

Never Miss a Recipe!

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat Sheet for Cocktail and Dinner Parties.

Subscription Preferences
Previous Post
Russian Piroshki (Meat Hand Pies)
Next Post
Frozen Beer Margarita

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Sara Jimenez says

    Posted on 29 February 2020 at 9:30 am

    Could I make these in regular muffin tins & just not fill them up all the way? I dont have mini muffin tins.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 February 2020 at 1:17 pm

      Hi, Sara. Though I didn’t try this recipe in a regular muffin pan, I don’t see why you can’t. Let me know how they turn out, if you try them.

      Reply
  2. Sheila says

    Posted on 21 September 2019 at 9:50 am

    Could you drop them on a cookie sheet?  Or would they spread out? 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 21 September 2019 at 3:30 pm

      Hi, Sheila. I’ve never tried this on a cookie sheet, but I do think they’ll spread out.

      Reply
  3. Kathy Simpson says

    Posted on 6 September 2019 at 10:26 am

    4 stars
    How did you get them out of the tin? I put them in a metal non-stick muffin tin with oil rubbed on the inside of each cup and they stuck. They taste wonderful but I had to use a spoon to eat them right out of the tin. Could I use paper muffin liners?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 September 2019 at 2:13 pm

      Hi, Kathy. I run a butter knife, or plastic spatula thing around the edges, and it usually loosens them enough to pop them out. I wouldn’t use paper liners. Though I haven’t tried them, but I think they’ll stick to paper.

      Reply
  4. Lucy Baldock. says

    Posted on 31 January 2019 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for my Spanish project and it turned out amazing, thanks! 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 9 February 2019 at 2:51 pm

      Yay, so glad you loved it. Thanks, Lucy!

      Reply
  5. Elvia Stolzenburg says

    Posted on 20 February 2018 at 10:31 pm

    What heat for sweet evaporated milk and 12 hours?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 21 February 2018 at 8:48 pm

      Hi, Elvia. It’s sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. I usually boil unopened sweetened condensed milk cans in deep pot full of water for about 3 hours. I’ve written detailed directions on that in this post: https://www.sweetandsavorybyshinee.com/mini-caramel-cheesecake-bites/

      Reply
  6. Nancy says

    Posted on 5 October 2017 at 5:58 pm

    2 stars
    They all stuck.  I threw them all out.  It was hard to clean the pans.  What a waste of good ingredients.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 5 October 2017 at 7:12 pm

      Nancy, I’m sorry to hear you had to throw out your cocadas. Hope you didn’t forget to spraying cooking spray before putting the coconut mixture. Otherwise, it’ll definitely stick to the pan.

      Reply
  7. Veronica says

    Posted on 21 July 2017 at 11:14 am

    5 stars
    Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe! I followed it exactly and was beyond pleased.
    I got exactly the texture I wanted: moist, chewy inside surrounded with a lovely, crisp, caramelized outside. The taste is just heavenly. I truly can’t thank you enough! <3

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 23 July 2017 at 11:23 pm

      Aww, you’re welcome, Veronica. I’m so glad you tried it. Thank you for your feedback.

      Reply
  8. Alyssa Mosher says

    Posted on 20 April 2017 at 10:51 pm

    I can tell this is flakey, sweet and addicting!! 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 24 April 2017 at 3:14 pm

      So addicting. 🙂 Thanks, Alyssa!

      Reply
  9. Megan @ MegUnprocessed says

    Posted on 19 April 2017 at 9:56 pm

    These look wonderful, what a great treat!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 24 April 2017 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks, Megan! Perfect treat for Cinco de Mayo and beyond…

      Reply
  10. Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says

    Posted on 19 April 2017 at 8:47 pm

    These are so fun and actually look pretty simple!  YAY!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 24 April 2017 at 3:14 pm

      They’re so simple to make! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  11. Jodi says

    Posted on 2 May 2016 at 6:56 pm

    I want to make these for a cinco de mayo party but my son has a nut allergy.  Any thoughts on how to adjust the recipe without the macadamia nuts or would it just not turn out good?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 3 May 2016 at 9:26 am

      Hi, Jodi! You can omit the nuts, it will be just fine. Hope you enjoy! If you take a pic, share it with #sweetandsavorybyshinee. I’d love to see it. 😉

      Reply
  12. Karly says

    Posted on 30 April 2016 at 12:59 pm

    I have to try these! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 1 May 2016 at 3:08 pm

      Thanks, Karly!

      Reply
  13. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    Posted on 27 April 2016 at 8:57 pm

    Looks & sounds yummy. Thanks for joining the Inspiration Spotlight party.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 28 April 2016 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Theresa!

      Reply
  14. Dan says

    Posted on 7 May 2015 at 9:15 pm

    This recipe has incorrect proportions. You need to use less coconut. Also the cook time is too short. It needs to be closer to 25 minutes. Ya jamwig

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 7 May 2015 at 9:28 pm

      Hi, Dan! Thanks for your feedback. I’ve tested and re-tested the recipe a few times, and the amounts, specified in the recipe, do work for me. It might seem like a lot of coconut, but after thorough mix, the mixture does come together. As for baking time, everyone’s oven is different. Therefore, you will need to bake them for as long as you need to get the edges golden brown.

      Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    Posted on 29 March 2015 at 1:28 pm

    How do you make dulche de leche?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 March 2015 at 3:05 pm

      Hi, Jennifer! Here in this post I shared how I make my dulce de leche. Let me know if you have any questions. Homemade Dulce de Leche

      Reply
  16. Carla says

    Posted on 16 December 2014 at 5:00 am

    These look absolutely delicious! Where do you find dulce de leche or how does one make it? Will definitely be making these.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 16 December 2014 at 8:41 am

      Hi, Carla! You can buy ready dulce de leche at the grocery store. Honestly though, I never bought one myself. I usually just make it myself, since it’s super easy and cheaper.

      Reply
  17. april says

    Posted on 13 September 2014 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    I mixed 2 bags of sweetened coconut, a can of (sweetened condensed milk cooked for nearly 12 hours to make) dulce de leche and mineral rich ancient salt. I formed half spheres with a small scoop, placed them in the upper third of a 400 degree oven and then turned it down to 375 until they started browning at the edges. Everyone loved them so I’ll have to add them to my collections of tasty treats.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 14 September 2014 at 11:27 pm

      Hi, April! I’m glad that you were inspired to make this recipe. Mineral rich ancient salt sounds amazing! And thank you for your feedback. 🙂

      Reply
  18. Liza says

    Posted on 9 May 2014 at 10:43 am

    Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my
    comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 9 May 2014 at 7:53 pm

      Hi Liza, I have never used captcha plugin myself, but this might be what you’re looking for: http://wordpress.org/plugins/captcha/. Good Luck!

      Reply
  19. How to Philosophize with Cake says

    Posted on 1 May 2014 at 9:37 am

    Oh my goodness these look lovely! I adore Mexican/Spanish-inspired desserts, and these seem like no exception. Almost remind me of macaroons.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 1 May 2014 at 8:15 pm

      Thank you! Yes, they’re pretty similar to coconut macaroons and they are absolutely delicious treats!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Shinee! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

New? Start Here

Browse Specialties

Main Dishes Side Dishes Appetizers Salads Breads & Pastries Cakes Macarons Drinks Browse All
Portion Planning 101
Free Dinner Party Cheat Sheet
Download Now

Easy and Healthy Dinners

salad:

Chicken Quinoa Salad

Stuffed chicken roll-ups with asparagus and cheese and smeared with fragrant pesto - an effortlessly impressive and satisfying main dish, or even an appetizer!

chicken:

Stuffed Chicken Roll-Ups

seafood:

Baked Salmon Cakes

chicken:

Spicy Chicken Skewers

seafood:

Garlic Butter Shrimp

seafood:

Seared Ahi Tuna

Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Never Miss A Recipe

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat!

Send Me:
  • Discover
    • Recipe Index
    • Tools & Gadgets
    • Ingredients
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
  • Share
    • Holidays
    • Appetizers
    • Party Planning 101
  • Back To Top
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
© 2013-2021 Sweet & Savory Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Exclusive member of Mediavine Food
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and Receive My FREE Portion Planning Cheat!

Send Me: