Jamaican Toto Cake Recipe
If there’s one bite of cake that tastes like the warmth and joy of gathering in a kitchen with your favorite people, it’s Jamaican Toto Cake. This beloved Caribbean treat blends rich coconut flavor, delicate spices, and just the right amount of sweetness in a moist, melt-in-your-mouth crumb. Whether you grew up savoring slices at family get-togethers or are discovering it for the first time, Jamaican Toto Cake always promises a little taste of celebration with every slice.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Jamaican Toto Cake starts with simple, down-to-earth ingredients, each playing a starring role in its taste and texture. The familiar elements come together for a cake that’s deeply comforting and brimming with character, so be sure to use the best you can find for truly irresistible results.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the cake, offering the structure that holds everything together.
- Grated coconut: Fresh or unsweetened desiccated coconut infuses the cake with warm, tropical flavor and delightful chewiness.
- Brown sugar: Adds a hint of molasses and depth of flavor, making for a distinctly Caribbean sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Balances the brown sugar and brings lightness to the crumb.
- Baking powder: The essential lift, creating a soft, tender texture everyone loves.
- Ground cinnamon: Offers that cozy, familiar spice note that dances with the coconut.
- Ground nutmeg: A traditional spice that pairs beautifully with coconut and adds gentle warmth.
- Salt: Just a hint, to keep flavors bright and balance the sweetness.
- Melted butter: Brings richness and a luxurious mouthfeel to each bite.
- Coconut milk: Enhances the cake’s tropical essence while keeping it beautifully moist.
- Large eggs: Help bind the ingredients and give the cake structure and lift.
- Vanilla extract: Adds an aromatic sweetness that rounds out the flavors.
- Almond extract (optional): A splash for subtle complexity and an extra hint of nuttiness.
How to Make Jamaican Toto Cake
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Pan and Oven
First things first, set your oven to 350°F so it has time to reach the perfect temperature. While that’s happening, grab an 8×8-inch baking pan and give it a good coat of butter or oil, then dust it with flour. This simple step keeps the cake from sticking and guarantees beautiful, clean slices later.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, grated coconut, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Be generous with your whisking so everything is evenly blended—this ensures that every bite of your Jamaican Toto Cake is perfectly flavored and tender.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly, then stir in the melted butter, creamy coconut milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract if you’re using it. This mixture should look pale and smooth, ready to bring the dry ingredients to life.
Step 4: Bring It All Together
Gradually add the wet mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients. Use a gentle hand to stir just until everything is combined. A few tiny lumps are absolutely fine—overmixing can take away the cake’s beautiful tenderness, so a light touch is best here!
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula so it’s even. Slide it into the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. You’ll know your Jamaican Toto Cake is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the kitchen smells gloriously of coconut and spice.
Step 6: Cool, Slice, and Enjoy
Let the cake cool in the pan to finish setting and develop its classic tender crumb. Once cool, slice it into nine generous pieces—each one a little slice of sunshine—and serve to smiling faces.
How to Serve Jamaican Toto Cake
Garnishes
Traditionally, Jamaican Toto Cake is so flavorful it truly shines on its own. Still, for a little flourish, you can dust the top with powdered sugar or sprinkle a handful of toasted coconut flakes for extra crunch and visual appeal.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs beautifully with a steaming cup of black tea, freshly brewed coffee, or even coconut ice cream for a special treat. On warm days, serve it alongside fresh mango or pineapple for a cooling, sun-kissed dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
If you want to get playful, try cutting the cake into smaller squares for a dessert platter, topping each with a dot of whipped cream and a cherry. Mini slices also make delightful additions to afternoon tea or brunch spreads, adding a tropical twist to your table.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Jamaican Toto Cake stays moist for several days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Simply keep it in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight, and you’ll have a sweet slice waiting for you all week long.
Freezing
If you’d like to savor your Toto Cake over a longer stretch, you can absolutely freeze it. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to two months and thaw beautifully whenever the craving strikes.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked magic, simply reheat slices in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds, or warm them in a low oven (around 300°F) for a few minutes. It’s especially lovely served slightly warm with your favorite beverage.
FAQs
Can I use sweetened coconut instead of unsweetened?
Sweetened coconut works if that’s what you have, but your Jamaican Toto Cake will be noticeably sweeter. Just reduce the sugar slightly to keep everything perfectly balanced.
Is there a gluten-free version of this recipe?
You can substitute a good-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the regular flour. The cake’s texture will be slightly different, but it’s still delicious and captures all the coconut-rich flavors you love.
What does Toto Cake taste like?
Jamaican Toto Cake boasts a delightful blend of toasty coconut, warm cinnamon and nutmeg, mellow sweetness from brown sugar, and just a hint of buttery richness. The texture is moist with a tender crumb and chewy coconut bits throughout.
Can I add raisins or dried fruit?
Yes! Stirring in a handful of raisins or chopped dried pineapple or mango before baking is a tasty way to add even more flavor and color to your Toto Cake. It’s a delicious nod to the cake’s traditional roots.
Why is my cake too dense?
Overmixing the batter or using too much coconut can sometimes make the cake heavy. Be sure to mix gently and stick to the recipe’s measurements for the fluffiest results.
Final Thoughts
This Jamaican Toto Cake is a heartfelt classic, bursting with cozy island flavors—perfect for sharing, gifting, or savoring all to yourself. Give it a try, and you just might find a new family favorite that sparks happy memories and plenty of requests for seconds!
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Jamaican Toto Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 9 slices 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the tropical flavors of Jamaica with this delicious Jamaican Toto Cake recipe. A moist and flavorful coconut cake that’s perfect for dessert or a sweet treat any time of day.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup grated coconut (fresh or unsweetened desiccated)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease/flour an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, grated coconut, sugars, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat eggs and mix in melted butter, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Combine mixtures: Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan, spread evenly, and bake for 45–50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Let the cake cool in the pan before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For added texture, stir in 1/4 cup of raisins or chopped dried fruit.
- Freshly grated coconut gives the best flavor, but desiccated works well too.
- The cake is traditionally served plain, but you can dust it lightly with powdered sugar before serving if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
