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Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake is a spiced coconut flavored cake that is very easy to make with some simple basic ingredients from your kitchen cupboard.

It is pronounced as Toe-To in Jamaica. Toto is a simple cake batter that is filled with coconut flavors and spices, which makes it so loveable amongst everyone back home.

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Toto Cake was an easy treat to make on a Sunday evening.

After making coconut milk from scratch to make Rice & Peas, some of the grated coconut was used to bake this simple but delightful cake for dessert.

Childhood Memories of Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake

This Toto Cake was my go to lunch at school with a Jamaican Beef Patty and a box of Fruit Punch.

Oh yes! There was this lady at our Kindergarten School that bakes and sell them.

Well, not quite at our school. But her house was right at the entrance of our school. So pretty much she was our school baker.

Whenever we were walking to school, all you could smell was the beautiful coconut goodies baking from her kitchen.

At that moment you knew what’s for lunch that day and there was no focus on school work.

I don’t know, but there was just something about that sweet coconut flavor with that spicy beef patty.

How to store Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake?

You can store this Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake in an airtight container and in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Personally, I have never stored this cake in the freezer before because it has never lasted that long in my home.

However, it should be able to freeze for up to 2 months in the freezer.

How to make Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake?

Firstly, sift all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then whisk together. Add some of the dry ingredients to the raisins, if you are adding it.

Sifting the fry ingredients.
Whisking the dry ingredients.
Mixing the brown sugar and melted butter together.

Secondly, mix the melted butter with the sugar. Then add eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, coconut milk and rum (if you are adding it) and mix together.

Adding the ingredients to make the wet ingredients.

Thirdly, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the grated coconut, coconut flakes and coated raisins (if you are adding any). Mix together.

Adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
Adding the grated coconut and coconut flakes to finalize the Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake.

Finally, pour the mixture in the prepared baking pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool, slice and enjoy.

Pouring the Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake batter into the baking pan.
Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake ready to be baked.
After baking Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake.

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Allspice Mix Spice
  • 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
  • 3 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • I Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
  • 2 cups Coconut Milk
  • 2 1/3 cups Grated Coconut
  • 1/2 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Raisins (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon Rum (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with butter or spray with non-stick spraying oil.
  2. In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, salt, ground ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon powder. Whisk together.
  3. If you are adding raisins, add a teaspoon of the flour mixture to the raisins and then sift to remove the extra flour. This prevents the raisins from sinking to the bottom of the mixture while baking.
  4. Mix together in another large bowl, the brown sugar and melted butter. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add the rum (if you are adding it) coconut milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and mix together.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together. Add the grated coconut, coconut flakes and coated raisins (if you are adding them) and mix together, until well combined.
  6. Add the batter to the prepared grease cake pan and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted in the center and it comes out clean. Please note: all ovens varies, so please be sure to check at about the 45 minutes mark.
  7. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Slice, serve and enjoy.

Notes:

  • Add a teaspoon of the flour mixture (dry ingredients) to the raisins and gently toss. This helps prevent the raisins from sinking to the bottom while the cake is baking.
  • Please keep in mind all oven varies, so baking time depends on climate and oven heat. So please check at the 45 minutes mark.
A slice of Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake on a white plate.

Additional Jamaican Desserts

Please let me know what you think about this Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again.

Blessings and Love, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake Recipe

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake

Yield: 12 Slices
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Jamaican Toto Coconut Cake is a spiced coconut flavored cake that is very easy to make with some simple basic ingredients from your pantry.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Allspice Mix Spice
  • 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
  • 3 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • I Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
  • 2 cups Coconut Milk
  • 2 1/3 cups Grated Coconut
  • 1/2 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Raisins (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon Rum (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with butter or spray with non-stick spraying oil.
  2. In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, salt, ground ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon powder. Whisk together.
  3. If you are adding raisins, add a teaspoon of the flour mixture to the raisins and then sift to remove the extra flour. This prevents the raisins from sinking to the bottom of the mixture while baking.
  4. Mix together in another large bowl, the brown sugar and melted butter. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add the rum (if you are adding it) coconut milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and mix together.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together. Add the grated coconut, coconut flakes and coated raisins (if you are adding them) and mix together, until well combined.
  6. Add the batter to the prepared grease cake pan and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted in the center and it comes out clean. Please note: all ovens varies, so please be sure to check at about the 45 minutes mark.
  7. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Slice, serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    • Add a teaspoon of the flour mixture (dry ingredients) to the raisins and gently toss. This helps prevent the raisins from sinking to the bottom while the cake is baking.
    • Please keep in mind all oven varies, so baking time depends on climate and oven heat. So please check at the 45 minutes mark.
    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 12 Slices Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 474Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 486mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 3gSugar: 34gProtein: 6g

    The nutritional information that is provided, is computer generated and therefore it is an estimate. Please do your own research with the ingredients that are listed here, if you have any concern about any specific diet or your health.

    Angella

    Thursday 30th of November 2023

    This is by far the best toto recipe! I scrolled through quite a few before I found this one. The amount of grated coconut plus the use of coconut milk instead of any other was perfect for me. Grating the coconut is my least favourite part but the end result is worth it. Made this for the first time Sunday to rave reviews. Making another today as it's already finished!

    Yanique Vincent

    Saturday 2nd of December 2023

    Hi Angella, Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate your reviews. Yes it's an awful experience but it sure worth it.

    Karlee

    Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

    A friend convinced me to make my own coconut milk from a whole dried coconut. Well, I didn’t want to throw out the coconut pulp as it was so moist and fragrant! This recipe was perfect. I try to minimize animal consumption, so I subbed in vegan butter and flax eggs. The Toto cakes were moist and delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Yanique Vincent

    Saturday 15th of April 2023

    Hi Karlee, you are most welcome.

    Annettia

    Sunday 29th of January 2023

    Made this Toto again this morning, always comes out great. Love it!

    Yanique Vincent

    Sunday 29th of January 2023

    Hi Annettia, I am glad you are loving it. Thank you so much.

    Trace

    Saturday 5th of March 2022

    This is the second time I’ve made this and I’m still so happy I found this recipe. The only thing I did differently is omit the rum and 1/2 cup sugar. I was not really much of a fan of this pastry growing up because it was so dry. This is so much better. I always try your recipes. This one is a favorite. Thank you!

    Yanique Vincent

    Friday 11th of March 2022

    Hi Trace, Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so happy that you are loving this recipe so much. Thank you so much for your support. I appreciate it alot. Thanks again.

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