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Jamaican grater cake
Coconut sugar squares
Grater cake: pink and white coconut sugar squares
Grater cake is the pink-topped coconut sweet sold in glass cases by higglers at Jamaican bus parks and on school gates, named for the hand grater that shreds the coconut. It is chewy and very sweet, with the fresh, milky taste of coconut and a breath of ginger, and the classic look is a white layer under a pink one. The mistake most people make is taking the pan off too soon: undercooked syrup never sets and the squares slump. Chef's tip: test a little on a cold saucer; if it holds a soft ball when pushed together after a minute, it is ready.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz fresh coconutfinely grated (about 1 coconut), or unsweetened desiccated soaked in 150 ml hot water
- 10 ½ oz granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp fresh gingerfinely grated
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 drops red or pink food colouring
- 1 tsp coconut oilfor the tin
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper and rub it with 1 tsp coconut oil.
Step 2: Put 10 ½ oz granulated sugar, ½ cup water, 1 tsp fresh ginger and 1 pinch salt in a heavy pan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
4 minStep 3: Add 10 ½ oz fresh coconut and cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom, until the mixture is thick, glossy and pulls away from the sides as you stir. A spoonful dropped on a cold saucer should firm up to a soft, sticky ball.
18 minStep 4: Take off the heat and stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract. Quickly press a little more than half into the tin in an even layer.
Step 5: Stir 3 drops red or pink food colouring into the rest in the pan and spread it over the white layer, pressing it down with the back of an oiled spoon.
Step 6: Leave to cool and set for at least 1 hour, then lift out and cut into 16 squares. Keep in an airtight box for up to 4 days.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jamaican grater cake take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fresh coconut?
- Desiccated coconut soaked in hot water for 15 minutes, about three quarters of the weight.
- What can I use instead of granulated sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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