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Besitos de coco
Chewy coconut kisses
Chewy Venezuelan coconut kisses
Along Venezuela's Caribbean coast, from Puerto Cabello to Margarita Island, vendors walk the beaches with trays of little coconut sweets, and besitos ('little kisses') are the ones that vanish first. They are piles of grated coconut bound with egg, sugar and a little butter, baked until the craggy tips and bottoms go toasty brown while the inside stays moist and chewy. Lime zest and a pinch of cinnamon keep them from tasting flat. A spoonful of cornflour, not wheat, holds them together, so they are gluten free. Pale besitos are the common letdown: they need the full baking time to get those caramelised edges. Chef's tip: let the mixture stand for 10 minutes before shaping so the coconut drinks up the egg and the mounds hold their peaks.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the besitos
- 9 oz desiccated coconutunsweetened, or 300 g freshly grated coconut
- 5 ½ oz light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ oz unsalted buttermelted
- 1 oz cornflour
- 1 tsp lime zestfinely grated
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a large tray with baking paper.
Step 2: Whisk 2 eggs, 5 ½ oz light brown sugar, 1 ¾ oz unsalted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp lime zest, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon and 1 pinch salt together until the sugar starts to dissolve.
2 minStep 3: Stir in 9 oz desiccated coconut and 1 oz cornflour until every strand is coated. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 4: Using two teaspoons, or wet fingers, pile heaped tablespoons into rough pyramids on the tray, 3 cm apart. Pinch the tops into peaks; the rough strands are what toast.
Step 5: Bake for 18–20 minutes, until the peaks and bottom edges are deep golden brown and the sides are light gold. A pale besito will be soggy rather than chewy.
19 minStep 6: Cool on the tray for 10 minutes so they firm up, then lift onto a rack. Keep in a tin for 5 days.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does besitos de coco take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of light brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tsp honey or golden syrup per 100g.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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