Cocada Branca (White Coconut Flake Candy)

This candy is from Brazil.

This is a recipe for white coconut candy. It is called "white" because there is also black cocada (cocada preta). The black cocada is made with brown sugar and has a dark brown color.

4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 coconuts
4 cloves (optional)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Grate the coconuts with a hand grater (Do not use blender, food processor. Coconut flakes already grated will not taste the same as freshly grated coconuts).

In a large saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cloves and cinnamon. Boil for about 20 minutes or until you get a thick syrup. Test by dropping a full teaspoon of syrup in a glass with water. The syrup should become a soft candy. (You can remove the clove and cinnamon from the syrup at this point).

Remove the saucepan from the heat and mix in the grated coconut with a wooden spoon. Return the saucepan to heat and cook additional 5 minutes. Perform the water glass test again to make sure it has boiled long enough.

Use a large spoon to drop amounts of melted cocada onto a buttered baking sheet.

Let cocadas cool, then serve.