
The Ivorian coconut cake is a small fried sweet made with fresh coconut, flour, sugar, milk, vanilla and nutmeg. Cut into diamonds and then immersed in hot oil, it becomes crispy on the outside while remaining soft and fragrant on the inside.
In Côte d’Ivoire, these small coconut cakes are eaten as a snack, with a coffee, tea or glass of bissap juice. Their strength lies in their simplicity: few ingredients, an easy-to-work dough, quick cooking and a very strong coconut scent.
In this recipe, fresh coconut is blended with milk, sugar and vanilla before being mixed with flour. The result is a soft dough, which is rolled out and then cut into small diamonds before frying them until golden brown.
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What is Ivorian coconut cake?
The Ivorian coconut cake is a sweet treat made from grated or mixed coconut, flour, sugar and milk. Unlike a classic baked cake, it is shaped into small pieces, often diamonds, and then fried in hot oil.
The result is a very pleasant texture: the edges become crispy, while the inside remains more tender and fragrant. It is a simple, economical recipe and ideal for snacking.
An Ivorian sweetness with coconut
Coconut is the central ingredient in this recipe. It provides the taste, texture and moisture necessary to obtain a supple dough. Ideally, you should use fresh coconut, but you can also adapt the recipe with rehydrated grated coconut.
Vanilla and nutmeg enhance the scent of the dough without masking the taste of coconut.
How to make crispy coconut cakes?
The dough should be firm enough to roll out and cut, but not dry. If it breaks, add a tiny bit of milk. If it sticks too much, add a little flour.
Cooking should be done in hot oil, but not smoking. Coconut cakes should brown gradually, without burning on the outside before being cooked through.
How to serve coconut cakes?
Ivorian coconut cakes are eaten warm or at room temperature. They are perfect for snacking, with coffee, tea, bissap juice or ginger juice.
They are best on the same day, as they tend to soften after a few hours. To regain a little crispiness, you can put them in the hot oven for a few minutes.
Can you use dry shredded coconut?
Yes, but it must be adapted. Fresh coconut naturally provides moisture. If you use dry shredded coconut, rehydrate it for a few minutes with a little warm milk before incorporating it into the batter.
Ivorian coconut cake: easy coconut recipe
In Côte d’Ivoire, if savory street-food and great national dishes often take over the rest, sweet treats also deserve their share of the cake. Today, we’re exploring coconut cake, an irresistible delicacy. This sweet, usually diamond-shaped, is fried to perfection to create a crispy texture on the outside, while the inside remains moist and deliciously scented with coconut.
The recipe for Coconut Cake is relatively simple, if all the steps are followed to the letter. The goal is to form a dough by mixing fresh grated coconut, flour, sugar, eggs, and a pinch of salt. These basic ingredients are carefully mixed to form a homogeneous dough.
Once the dough is ready, it is shaped into small portions, with each portion flattened and then cut into a characteristic diamond shape.
It is then served as a snack with a glass of bissap juice or a good coffee.

Ivorian coconut cake – small crispy coconut donuts
Ingredients
- 300 g flour
- 300 g fresh coconut flesh
- 80 g sugar
- 10 cl milk
- A pinch of nutmeg
- 1 càc vanilla extract
- Frying oil
Preparation
- Place the coconut, milk, sugar and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl, then add the nutmeg. Gradually add the flour until you have a dough that picks up easily and does not break.
- Divide the dough into two balls of equal size. Roll out each ball of dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cut diamonds with a knife.
- Fry the cupcakes in the hot oil for a few minutes on each side.
- Set aside on a sheet of paper towels. Let cool for about ten minutes and enjoy. Coconut cakes don’t keep for long, they soften after a few hours.
Notes
FAQs about Ivorian coconut cake
What is Ivorian coconut cake?
The Ivorian coconut cake is a small fried sweet made with coconut, flour, sugar, milk, vanilla and nutmeg. It is often cut into diamonds before cooking.
Can you make coconut cake with dry shredded coconut?
Yes, but it is better to rehydrate it with a little warm milk before using it. Fresh coconut gives a softer texture and a stronger taste.
Why are my coconut cakes hard?
The dough may contain too much flour or it has been cooked too long. The dough should remain pliable, and the coconut cakes should be removed from the oil as soon as they are golden.
How do you store coconut cakes?
They are better on the same day. They can be stored for a few hours in a box, but they soften quickly. To give them a little texture, put them in the hot oven for a few minutes.
What to serve Ivorian coconut cakes with?
They can be enjoyed as a snack, with coffee, tea, bissap juice, ginger juice or a cold drink.

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