In Memory Of Karen Nicole Smith, 1972 - 2016

Coconut Drops With Your Tea.


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As kids would have to eat their cereal before heading off to school every morning in north America, we grew up (if we didn’t want actual food) drinking tea. Now here’s the thing about “tea”… basically this would mean just about any hot drink. So it could well be coffee, Milo, Ovaltine, chocolate tea, actual green tea.. the list is fairly long. Along with tea we usually had a slice of cake, sweet bread, crackers or coconut drops.

I must confess that I’ve not had coconut drops in quite some time, so when the scent of them baking in the oven blanketed the kitchen, it brought back a rush of childhood memories. I was one of those kids who loved school and looked forward to it, when most kids didn’t.

You’ll Need…

3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 stick butter (about 2 oz or 4 tablespoons)
1 large egg
3 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Angostura Bitters
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup shredded coconut (see note below)
about 1/2 cup water

For the glaze

2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup water

Notes: Traditionally, fresh grated coconut is used for this recipe. But since I don’t have access to the fresh stuff, I had to settle for the packaged shredded coconut. I did end up using the sweetened variety, but if you have the unsweetened one, feel free to use that. Since my dough was a bit dry, I had to add some water. I ended up using about 1/2 cup as noted in the list of ingredients above, but this may vary for you. Use it as a guide. You’re looking for a dough which is somewhat firm and can keep it’s shape while baking.

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Start by creaming the butter and sugar in a bowl. Make sure the butter is at room temperature to make this easier. I started off using a large spoon (use the back of it to work the butter/sugar combo against the walls of the bowl) but I ended up using an electric hand mixer. You’re looking for a smooth, creamy sort of texture with no feel (gritty) of sugar left back. I then added the egg, vanilla and bitters to the mixture and give it a good whisk.

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Then in a large bowl, I put the flour, cinnamon and baking powder and gave it good whisk to make sure everything is blended well. Then I poured in the creamed butter mixture and created a dough. This will be a bit tough to work, so I add the water I mentioned in the notes above. I’m not sure how this would work in an electric mixer, but manually it takes a bit of muscle. I ended up using my hands at one point.

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The final step of preparing the dough is to fold in the shredded coconut and raisins.

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With your oven at 350 degrees, grease a cookie sheet, or as I did.. line it with parchment paper. Now spoon on the batter onto the cookie sheet and bake for about 25-30 minutes. It will start to go golden. I did two batches of 12.

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After about 25 minutes remove it from the oven and brush on the simple glaze. Basically it’s sugar dissolved in warm water and brushed onto the tops of the coconut drops. You can also sprinkle on some sugar on top of each,Ā  to add that extra touch. Place back in the oven for 2-3 minutes.

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The true master at these drops as well as coconut sweet bread is my grandmother, but she’s turning 95 this year so baking is out of the question these days. Reminds me that the next time I head down to the islands I’ll have to make sure and get her recipe. Before you head to your kitchen to make up a batch of these coconut drops, do leave me your comments below and be sure to connect with us on Facebook. And don’t forget to check out the latest cooking videos.

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46 Comments

  1. Jacinta
    January 8, 2023 / 9:12 pm

    OMG! I watch my mother make this as a child growing up in Trinidad. When she passed about 25 years ago I found a bakery in Atlanta that made them, but it was never the same as MOM. Now I made them with my granddaughter who 7 years using your recipe. She was my knead helper. Love every moment. Tasted just like my childhood. Thanks.

  2. Esther
    October 31, 2022 / 11:19 am

    My project for the day, thanks for the post. Esther

  3. Phylicia
    November 7, 2018 / 12:05 am

    Wow Iā€™m definitely trying these over the weekend

  4. Chris
    June 13, 2018 / 3:23 pm

    They look delicious, will try it. Hope it is crunchy.

  5. Gerry
    March 17, 2017 / 9:36 am

    Hi Chris, are these scones or cakes – or indeed ‘biscuits’, and do you eat them spread with butter?

    • admin
      March 17, 2017 / 2:41 pm

      wow.. excellent question. The texture of scones, but with a creamy sweet undertone.

  6. Jean Gordon
    June 17, 2016 / 7:52 am

    Hi Chris:
    I was reading the recipe for your Coconut Drops, and I noticed that there is one error with the butter. A stick of butter weighs 4 ounces, so 2 ounces or 4 tablespoons are 1/2 a stick. 1/4 of a stick is only 1 ounce, and that does not seem enough for the amount of flour stated in the recipe. Please rectify your recipe. Thank you. Jean Gordon.

    • Sean J.
      June 30, 2024 / 2:32 pm

      He meant a 1/4 c of butter, which is 1/2 a stick, which is 2 ounces. Great editing catch. šŸ™‚

  7. November 4, 2015 / 10:44 am

    Thanks for the recipe. Have been looking for it a long time. Will definitely try it with fresh grated coconut.

  8. Pinky
    July 16, 2015 / 10:20 am

    One more question:D Does it really matter in which order I mix the ingredients? Or can i follow the pattern of: butter+sugar, then wet stuff, then dry stuff. Thank you for whoever answers. I don’t want to waste time doing fancy stuff.

  9. Pinky
    July 14, 2015 / 5:51 pm

    Can replace the water with milk? Thanks for the great recipe. My aunty used to give us something like this, but they were called ‘chocolate chip’ drops. ;D

    • admin
      July 14, 2015 / 6:35 pm

      most certainly

      • Pinky
        July 16, 2015 / 10:02 am

        Thanks. Will do

  10. Kathy-Ann Charles
    May 11, 2015 / 7:37 pm

    Just made a batch of these delicious drops. They came out great…as all your recipes usually do.

  11. Sandra
    April 8, 2015 / 7:36 pm

    Hi Chris thanks for sharing this recipe with the world. I was taught to make it as a young girl by my mom and still make it quite often today for my children as it is one of my favourite snacks.

  12. Lorna
    April 5, 2015 / 6:37 am

    Dear Chris, I found your website while learning to navigate my new I-pad. I haven’t stopped testing your recipes since. Today is Easter Sunday and I wanted something different for my family. Your coconut drops provided that newness I was looking for. I felt it was time to say a big Thanks

  13. Helen
    March 7, 2015 / 5:02 pm

    I usually add a little grated ginger…yummmmm

  14. Delia
    February 28, 2015 / 8:15 am

    Chris. I made these yesterday for dessert for our Black History Month Gala. I served them with Mango ice cream and they came out perfectly. I did the recipe times 6 so I adjusted the liquid. Everyone was happy. Great recipe. Thank you! Keep on posting!!! šŸ™‚

  15. February 4, 2015 / 4:23 pm

    Hi Chris, my family love these drops, especially my husband. Thanks for all these great food ideas. Keep up the good work.
    S. Singh

  16. Bejinbutterfly
    November 13, 2014 / 9:56 pm

    This is my second time using this recipe . This time I added a few cranberries and it came out and taste awesome. Thank you

  17. Karissa J.
    August 5, 2014 / 6:44 pm

    I would like to say thank you for posting this recipe. My husbands aunt introduced me to these when I first got married. I was hooked. Now she is very sick so she can no longer bake. Thank you so much!!!

  18. February 19, 2014 / 4:52 pm

    Chris try baking it on fig or banana leaf. makes you think of the old dirt oven. Banana leaf can be found in the frozen section of the supermarket where frozen cassava is stored.

  19. Juliet Charles
    June 20, 2013 / 8:24 pm

    Hi Chris,
    This is my second time trying this recipe and this time around I'm making it for my mom.
    It came out perfect. I don't know how else to say thank you for making your recipes with simplicity very easy to follow instructions.

    God's Blessing Always

  20. Sandra
    May 29, 2013 / 6:19 pm

    Thank you sooooo much for this recipe. I'm from St. Thomas and had these when I went to visit my sister in NYC and she got me one from a Jamaican bakery. LAWD….. it was so good that I have been searching for the recipe for years but I was looking under coconut bread. I'm going to try and make these ASAP and I will report back to you. šŸ™‚ I'm so thankful that I stumbled upon you videos.
    Many Blessings,
    Sandra

  21. Urbanpan
    March 12, 2013 / 7:19 pm

    Yummy!!! – I a vegan version of this that I make with Bisquick mix (yes its vegan) and almond milk. I work with several vegans.

  22. Aif G
    March 12, 2013 / 4:29 am

    Thanks Chris for this recipe. As I like coconut bread and sometimes make it, these Drops will surely be very nice too and enjoyable. When you refer to temperatures, could you please mention F and C temps as we use metric in this country. You did not say which temp you meant. I guess it was Far:

  23. Joan
    February 5, 2013 / 1:24 pm

    Hi Chris am planning to grate my own coconut should i remove the dark part of it or shred as is.
    Also want to let you know in Jamaica we call this rock cake, thank you and you are the GEM in my kitchen thank you so much for those wonderful recipes

  24. Rho
    November 21, 2012 / 5:26 pm

    Hi Chris, thanks for your recipes. I always search youtube for your cooking. I am so happy to know that you have a website. Blessings to you and your grandmom.

  25. Angela
    August 30, 2012 / 3:50 am

    Chris: I have read this recipe a few times and remember trying it sometime ago. I used to make this from one of the very first cookbooks that were written in Trinidad many moons ago. Although it was not the creaming method used as in your recipe, they suggested mixing the coconut (sprinkling evenly before doing so) and raisons with the flour mixture before mixing in the liquid, in your case, the creamed butter and sugar. As a result it was much easier to fold and less stirring was required. I would not suggest a hand mixer at this stage because, once the flour, etc. is added to any liquid form, in your case, the creamed butter, the stirring should be at a mnimum which is a method used in baking.

  26. D. Singh
    July 13, 2012 / 4:16 am

    Chris, I usually make coconut drops the same as yours but I add one more ingredient; finely grated nutmeg. You can try it the next time you're making some. Good recipes, thanks and God bless!

  27. Jennelle
    March 11, 2012 / 5:44 pm

    Chris, my sister wanted a recipe for coconut drops and I happened upon this website. My sister followed your recipe to the letter and the coconut drops are in the oven. I will let you know how it turned out.

  28. Ray
    March 9, 2012 / 1:07 pm

    Looks so delicious.I'm gonna try them this weekend. Thanks Chris for the recipe.

  29. Alf G
    January 1, 2012 / 10:18 pm

    Any bread or cakes with coconut is my favourite and I will certainly try these " Drops ". Looks Delicious. I will try them soon. Thanks Chris.

  30. Lynda
    October 2, 2011 / 2:54 pm

    this makes me remember every weekend we grated coconut for sweetbread and tarts so we could have a snack going to school, thanks for reminding me about the best times in life, Lynda

  31. Dawn
    September 17, 2011 / 7:16 pm

    Hi Chris- thank you for the sweet memories of my aunt Myrna baking these delicious goodies! Maybe I will try them myself……

  32. July 19, 2011 / 7:46 pm

    oh god these drops are out of this world. I feel hungry and nervous when i see them. Trying them tonight.

  33. suzanne
    June 20, 2011 / 1:04 am

    we call this rock buns….

  34. jake
    June 19, 2011 / 10:28 am

    I'm going to manufacture some of this today.

  35. MW
    June 18, 2011 / 4:28 pm

    So funny to stumble on this, I just made this last week! In Dominica we call it rough cake, as the ingredients are all by eye and (naturally) the coconut makes the dough rough…it brought me back to my mother’s kitchen instantly (and I’m a good 2000 miles away from home). Love this recipe!! Next time, I’ll have to try and put bitters in it-

  36. deleted4798448
    June 6, 2011 / 6:17 pm

    is this drops called rock cake also?

    • carol
      July 9, 2013 / 7:51 pm

      yes we also call them rock cake in barbadoes

  37. anfaani
    May 30, 2011 / 2:09 pm

    my grandmother used to make these…i remember she and her friend in the kitchen, chasing me out when the Bajan cipher started me asking questions…good memories.

  38. Donna
    May 26, 2011 / 6:32 pm

    hi Chris am goin to try this receipe but instead on white flour I'll use a mixture of whole wheat and oats,
    and some shredded almonds.

  39. marlene
    May 22, 2011 / 5:52 pm

    hi chris thanks for this i will surely try this coconut drops this week.

  40. diane hutchinson
    May 22, 2011 / 4:13 pm

    great recipe, easy to follow, would like recipes for local sweets.

  41. Taheera
    May 22, 2011 / 3:37 pm

    Looks yumm!!! I have to do the same as you and use the packaged shredded stuff- and I happen to have some in the cupboard at the moment… gonna make these tomorrow šŸ™‚
    Have not had these in a while!! … I can smell them already…

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