JAMAICAN TOTO – CARIBBEAN COCONUT CAKE

I am super excited today because I am sharing with you a delicious recipe: Jamaican Toto-Caribbean Coconut Cake. I can’t take the credit because it comes from Cariel, my Jamaican co-worker. Jamaican Toto is a coconut dessert that is very popular in Jamaica. I love coconut anything, so this cake is just right for me, and all my coconut loving friends. So, I had lunch with Cariel a few weeks ago and she gave me this recipe. She told me that Jamaican Toto-Caribbean Coconut Cake is one of her favorites, and also a very popular dessert at most family gatherings.

This is definitely the first Jamaican recipe on my blog; more will follow. In talking to her, she told me that she also has a special recipe for Jamaican Jerk Chicken. I think I need to get that recipe very soon. So, I guess I need to schedule another lunch date with Cariel.

Since I am always looking for the origins and history behind foods, I asked Cariel about Jamaican Toto-Caribbean Coconut Cake. She told me that the origins of this lovely coconut dessert, go back to the time of the plantations. At night slaves were hungry from working all day and not getting enough to eat. They would mix coconut molasses with flour to make Toto. They then cooked the mixture by placing it on top of hot coals, and also placing coals on the top.

Ingredients

• 4 oz butter softened cut into 1" pieces
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups coconut grated
• 1 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup coconut milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375'F.
2. Grease an 8 "x 12" baking pan.
3. Using a stand up mixer, cream the butter and sugar, then add the vanilla and the eggs and beat for additional 2-3 minutes.
4. In a separate bowl sift flour, and baking powder. Mix in the cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.
5. Slowly begin adding the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add the evaporated milk 1/2 cup at a time. Add the coconut milk.
6. Finally add the shredded coconut 1/2 cup at a time.
7. Pour into baking pan, and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
8. Place the cake on a cooling rack, and allow it to come to room temperature.

More Deliciouse Recipe JAMAICAN TOTO – CARIBBEAN COCONUT CAKE@ethnicspoon.com

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