Coconut Bala Baiana with Caramel

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tbsp butter
• 0.667 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (The transcription says “2 3rd cups,” interpreted as 2/3 cup.)
• 1.5 cup sugar (For the caramel.)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (For the caramel.)
• 1 cup water (For the caramel.)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the sweetened condensed milk and butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat.

2. 2

   Add the shredded coconut and stir to combine all the ingredients.

3. 3

   Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, for approximately 10 minutes. It is ready when it thickens and begins to pull away from the sides and bottom of the saucepan.

4. 4

   Remove the saucepan from the heat. Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased or lined container and cover it.

5. 5

   Refrigerate the mixture until completely cold and firm, approximately 2 hours.

6. 6

   With lightly greased hands, take small portions of the chilled mixture and shape them into compact balls. Place them on a tray lined with wax paper and set aside.

7. 7

   To prepare the caramel, place the sugar, lemon juice, and water in a clean saucepan. Heat over medium heat, without stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves.

8. 8

   Continue cooking the syrup until it turns a deep amber color. Watch it closely: the caramel will be extremely hot and can burn quickly.

9. 9

   Remove the caramel from the heat. Carefully dip each coconut ball into the caramel using a fork or skewer, and let the excess drip off.

10. 10

    Place the coated balls on wax paper or a silicone surface and allow the caramel to cool and harden before serving.

Notes

The caramel reaches very high temperatures; do not touch or taste it while hot. Work quickly when coating the balls, as the caramel hardens as it cools. The transcription does not specify the exact chilling time, so it is recommended to chill the mixture until it can be handled without losing its shape.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• sweet
• Brazilian
• coconut
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• caramel
• chilled