Grater Cake (Jamaican Coconut Caramel Sweet)
Chewy, gingery coconut squares set in dark caramel, a favourite Jamaican sweet. Naturally vegan and made with desiccated coconut.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.23 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Grease a baking tray with the coconut oil. Soak the desiccated coconut in 100ml warm water for 10 minutes to plump up.
10 min - 2
Put the sugar in a large, heavy-based, non-stick pan over a medium heat. Do not stir. Let it melt and swirl the pan occasionally until it is a deep amber caramel, about 8 minutes.
8 min - 3
Carefully add the soaked coconut and its liquid, standing back as it will spit. Stir fast to loosen the caramel.
- 4
Add the ginger, nutmeg and vanilla. Cook over a medium heat, stirring all the time, for 8 to 10 minutes until thick and sticky and the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan.
9 min - 5
Tip onto the tray and press flat to about 1.5cm thick with an oiled spatula.
- 6
While still warm, cut into diamonds or squares. Cool for 30 minutes until firm, then lift apart. Keep in an airtight tin for up to a week.
30 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
