Here in Trinidad the term bake is applied to any bread which is not leavened with yeast. It also usually involves cutting fat into flour in the early stages. People often ask me how I get my bakes to be so soft, well after much soul searching I am ready to share my ‘secret’ 
Ice water! I love to keep the dough as cold as possible and nothing does that better than ice water. Not only does that stop the gluten in the dough from toughening up it also keeps the little fat particles solid. This way they generate more steam in the baking process, resulting in a light fluffy bake. Of course, I have also heard that there are people out there who also love a rock-hard bake… So, I guess in that case I suppose doing the opposite of anything I suggested would yield you the results you desire 
For me Coconut bake generates memories of Sunday mornings and warm Milo or some other form of hot chocolate. What memories does Coconut Bake have for you? 
Coconut Bake
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ounce margarine
3/4 cup grated coconut
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup water
METHOD:
1. Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl.
2. Rub in the fat, then stir in sugar and grated coconut.
3. Add water, and mix into a firm dough.
4. Turn out onto floured board, knead lightly, shape into a ball and leave covered for 15-20 minutes.
5. Press into the center and using a rolling pin, roll into a circular shape about ¾” thick. Mark ‘wedges’ into dough with fork perforations
6. Heat oven to 350°.
7. Put onto a flat, greased baking sheet and bake till golden brown for about 20-30 minutes.
8. Remove from oven.
9. Cut into wedges 2-3 inches wide.
10. Serve hot, attractively arranged on a flat dish.
This post was originally published on March 2nd, 2008. It has been updated once since then.
About Sarina
Passionate foodie, founder of Trinigourmet and Caribbean Lifestyle Maven. Author of "Glam By Request: 30+ Easy Caribbean Recipes"
This month marks the third installment of my “CookALong” series where a prominent (usually) Caribbean personality follows one of my recipes, and sometimes throws in a few of their own This week however I’m shaking things up a bit by ...
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Your recipe looks awesome! One question though….the method is written as though one bake is being made, however in the photos, there are TWO….were you doubling the recipe or should we be splitting it into two?
Racquel – I had doubled the recipe, sorry for the confusion
Racquel – I had doubled the recipe, sorry for the confusion
Racquel – I had doubled the recipe, sorry for the confusion
lol – no problem…..so the measurements you included are for ONE BAKE (for example, 2 cups of flour)
(4 cups would be for TWO BAKES)
Am I thinking on the right track?
lol – no problem…..so the measurements you included are for ONE BAKE (for example, 2 cups of flour)
(4 cups would be for TWO BAKES)
Am I thinking on the right track?
Racquel – yes, that it’s
I had made 2 that day cos I was having guests 
Racquel – yes, that it’s
I had made 2 that day cos I was having guests 
one ounce of butter? is that one tablespoon?
one ounce of butter? is that one tablespoon?
one ounce of butter? is that one tablespoon?
Hi i live in new york and have tried a lot of your recipe and told a lot of people about your website. the cold water i used for the bake was wonderful, it was so soft and fluffy everyone loved it. thanks.
Hi i live in new york and have tried a lot of your recipe and told a lot of people about your website. the cold water i used for the bake was wonderful, it was so soft and fluffy everyone loved it. thanks.
Hi i live in new york and have tried a lot of your recipe and told a lot of people about your website. the cold water i used for the bake was wonderful, it was so soft and fluffy everyone loved it. thanks.
Racquel – it’s a well-rounded tablespoon
Sharon – thank you so much! I’m so glad everyone loved it, cold water really is the key
Racquel – it’s a well-rounded tablespoon
Sharon – thank you so much! I’m so glad everyone loved it, cold water really is the key
Racquel – it’s a well-rounded tablespoon
Sharon – thank you so much! I’m so glad everyone loved it, cold water really is the key
Coconut bake makes me think of some good coco tea. Not that hot chocolate in the packet, but coco tea from the coco stick. Like how my granny or my mother does make hers.
Coconut bake makes me think of some good coco tea. Not that hot chocolate in the packet, but coco tea from the coco stick. Like how my granny or my mother does make hers.
Coconut bake makes me think of some good coco tea. Not that hot chocolate in the packet, but coco tea from the coco stick. Like how my granny or my mother does make hers.
First time visitor. Really wanted a good coconut bake recipe and will try it today.
Thanks
First time visitor. Really wanted a good coconut bake recipe and will try it today.
Thanks
Hi Sarina,
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I made this coconut bake and came out excellent. I enjoyed surfing ur site!
Cham’s last blog post..Gingery Sweet potato soup
Hi Sarina,
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I made this coconut bake and came out excellent. I enjoyed surfing ur site!
Cham’s last blog post..Gingery Sweet potato soup
I would very much like to try your recipe for coconut bake but I like a soft dough for my bakes. Would the ice water not make it firmer?
I would very much like to try your recipe for coconut bake but I like a soft dough for my bakes. Would the ice water not make it firmer?
Hi Sarina,
I just stumbled on your site and was thrilled to see all the recipes for some of my favorite trini dishes. Anyway, I just made coconut bake for the first time thanks to your recipe. It came out really good and tasty. Thanks again
Tamika
Hi Sarina,
I just stumbled on your site and was thrilled to see all the recipes for some of my favorite trini dishes. Anyway, I just made coconut bake for the first time thanks to your recipe. It came out really good and tasty. Thanks again
Tamika
Hi:
Should yeast be included in this recipe?
Thanks
Sarran
Hi Sarran, yeast is not necessary no
Hi:
Should yeast be included in this recipe?
Thanks
Sarran
Hi Sarran, yeast is not necessary no
[...] Comment! Recipe for coconut bake at trinigourmet [...]
Sarina,
Thanks so much for that cold water tip. I made some bake this weekend for my husband and his friend who came over to do some work on the house. Well it all started because my husband made some green fig and saltfish buljol and I said boy don’t eat all the buljol it would go nice with a coconut bake…. well girl we were all licking our fingers after eating that bake and buljol.
Thanks Again
I’m so glad it came out well for you and your husband
Thanks for sharing 
Could you – or someone – give me a receipe for buljol. I haven't eaten that in ages and sure would like to try some again. Thanks for any input.
Sarina,
Thanks so much for that cold water tip. I made some bake this weekend for my husband and his friend who came over to do some work on the house. Well it all started because my husband made some green fig and saltfish buljol and I said boy don’t eat all the buljol it would go nice with a coconut bake…. well girl we were all licking our fingers after eating that bake and buljol.
Thanks Again
I’m so glad it came out well for you and your husband
Thanks for sharing 
Could you – or someone – give me a receipe for buljol. I haven't eaten that in ages and sure would like to try some again. Thanks for any input.
Hi:
My best memories of coconut bake was my father(an widower)trying to make is four children happy in the morning by cooking the best bake I have ever had. I wish I was able to get a recipe. Thank you for this recipe and I will give is a try.
Elizabeth
Hi:
My best memories of coconut bake was my father(an widower)trying to make is four children happy in the morning by cooking the best bake I have ever had. I wish I was able to get a recipe. Thank you for this recipe and I will give is a try.
Elizabeth
Did you really mean just 1 ounce of margarine? I've been putting about 4 oz in my regular bake. Hmmm, no wonder my cheeks have gotten so rosy….
Did you really mean just 1 ounce of margarine? I've been putting about 4 oz in my regular bake. Hmmm, no wonder my cheeks have gotten so rosy….
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarina. Sarina said: @kramtt Thanks!
It came out great, i'm a bess bake baker lol ask @jasonbodden 
Here's my recipe! bit.ly/dtE1MS [...]
The lovely smell floating through the house.. My grandmother making for all her grandchildren with cocoa tea. lol.
Also my mum bawling at my stepfather to grate the coconut and then both of us scrumbling for a slice to eat with saltfish buljol. Put a knob of butter in a hot slice and you feel like you are eating paradise food lol
The lovely smell floating through the house.. My grandmother making for all her grandchildren with cocoa tea. lol.
Also my mum bawling at my stepfather to grate the coconut and then both of us scrumbling for a slice to eat with saltfish buljol. Put a knob of butter in a hot slice and you feel like you are eating paradise food lol
Hi, i was wondering if you might use coconut milk instead of water???
that's what my dad always did.
You can find this in the Asian part of any market.. I shop at Stater Brothers here in Calif.
sounds like a great variation!
Hi, i was wondering if you might use coconut milk instead of water???
that's what my dad always did.
You can find this in the Asian part of any market.. I shop at Stater Brothers here in Calif.
sounds like a great variation!
Hi Sarina,
I found your recipe for coconut bake about a year ago, printed it and then lost it. And for the life of me I could not remember or find your blog again! All I could remember was the ice-water! I really wanted to surprise my husband and son with a good coconut bake! I am sooooo glad that I found your site again!!! As a fellow Bishops-girl, I think I missed the class when Mrs. Cumberbatch explained about the ice water (hee-hee).
Coconut bake evokes memories of my mother, Sunday morning and some good saltfish buljol with Milo-tea (you know in Trini anything chocolate is tea!) LOL!!
Please keep up the good work…keep posting those recipes so that we uninitiated cooks can look good!!!
Ramona
Hi Sarina,
I found your recipe for coconut bake about a year ago, printed it and then lost it. And for the life of me I could not remember or find your blog again! All I could remember was the ice-water! I really wanted to surprise my husband and son with a good coconut bake! I am sooooo glad that I found your site again!!! As a fellow Bishops-girl, I think I missed the class when Mrs. Cumberbatch explained about the ice water (hee-hee).
Coconut bake evokes memories of my mother, Sunday morning and some good saltfish buljol with Milo-tea (you know in Trini anything chocolate is tea!) LOL!!
Please keep up the good work…keep posting those recipes so that we uninitiated cooks can look good!!!
Ramona
Hi Sarina,
I found your recipe for coconut bake about a year ago, printed it and then lost it. And for the life of me I could not remember or find your blog again! All I could remember was the ice-water! I really wanted to surprise my husband and son with a good coconut bake! I am sooooo glad that I found your site again!!! As a fellow Bishops-girl, I think I missed the class when Mrs. Cumberbatch explained about the ice water (hee-hee).
Coconut bake evokes memories of my mother, Sunday morning and some good saltfish buljol with Milo-tea (you know in Trini anything chocolate is tea!) LOL!!
Please keep up the good work…keep posting those recipes so that we uninitiated cooks can look good!!!
Ramona
Hi again Sarina, I have one question though, your recipe says 3 oz of margarine, but the first photo shows what looks like pieces of margarine AND shortening in the flour. Can we use both?
Hi ramona!
Very astute observation! 
In that particular photo I had run out of margarine and so yes I was using shortening to make up the amount 
Shortening and margarine (as well as butter) can be used solely, or in combination. It will not affect the texture of the final product, only the final flavour (will be more or less buttery). Hope that helps. Let me know how it turns out 
Hi again Sarina, I have one question though, your recipe says 3 oz of margarine, but the first photo shows what looks like pieces of margarine AND shortening in the flour. Can we use both?
Hi ramona!
Very astute observation! 
In that particular photo I had run out of margarine and so yes I was using shortening to make up the amount 
Shortening and margarine (as well as butter) can be used solely, or in combination. It will not affect the texture of the final product, only the final flavour (will be more or less buttery). Hope that helps. Let me know how it turns out 
I've been following you for about a year now, and have tried a few of your recipes…never fails! I made coconut bake this morning, and it was fantastic! I little sweeter than I anticipated, but easily tweaked. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes!
I've been following you for about a year now, and have tried a few of your recipes…never fails! I made coconut bake this morning, and it was fantastic! I little sweeter than I anticipated, but easily tweaked. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes!
I've been following you for about a year now, and have tried a few of your recipes…never fails! I made coconut bake this morning, and it was fantastic! I little sweeter than I anticipated, but easily tweaked. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes!