Toto is an old-time Jamaican coconut cake — humble, dense and moist, sweetened with brown sugar and perfumed with nutmeg and vanilla. It's baked in a pan and cut into squares, perfect with a cup of tea or Milo.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup grated coconut
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp baking powder + 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ~¾ cup coconut milk

Method

  1. Whisk together the flour, grated coconut, brown sugar, baking powder and nutmeg.
  2. Stir in the melted butter, vanilla and enough coconut milk to make a thick, spoonable batter.
  3. Spread into a greased 8×8 baking pan and smooth the top.
  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. Cool in the pan, then cut into squares.

🥥 Use fresh coconut if you can

Freshly grated dry coconut gives toto its signature moist, chewy texture. Desiccated works in a pinch — just add a splash more coconut milk.