Carioca: Filipino Coconut Mochi Fritters

Carioca is a Filipino dessert – coconut mochi fritters made with glutinous rice balls and glazed with a coconut caramel. Crispy on the outside and chewy on inside, you’ll love this easy recipe!

I’ve been dreaming of my family lately. It started with a dream of my huge extended family all together, like the good old days, my mother alive and well, laughing and joking as always. Each night ever since has been filled with dreams of more relatives; the other night I spent my dreams with my grandmother, and last night, with my older cousin, who I haven’t seen since a family wedding years ago.

My husband thinks it is my way of spending time with loved ones in this isolated time, and perhaps he is right. They’re dreams that are warm and cozy, and I am content to stay in bed and let them run on forever.

But when I wake, there’s another thing. I find myself craving the food that reminds me of them. Like Carioca.

Carioca Recipe

Honestly, I can’t remember where I was when I first tasted carioca, or how old I was, but I do remember my mother. I remember her handing me a sticky stick, and biting into a crispy exterior, giving way to a chewy, mochi-like interior, and falling in love. I suppose the details don’t matter, because clearly, I was focused on how I loved the fried glutinous rice balls and the coconut caramel glaze.

The best way to describe it is as a fritter — the exterior is far too crispy to call it a donut — and the interior is as chewy and stretchy as mochi. Making it is much simpler than you might think, and don’t require too many ingredients. All you need is some sweet rice flour, a can of coconut milk, some coconut, and brown sugar. My mother had a recipe for something she called “laughing donuts” and I use that as the base for this recipe.

Some recipes call for sweetened shredded coconut, but I prefer unsweetened coconut in this case. If you can find fine macaroon coconut, use it in this recipe, but if not, no worries, just give your shredded coconut a few blitzes in a food processor to give the carioca a finer texture.

A large cookie scoop makes easy work of dividing the dough into even portions. You will want to make the balls of dough about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Once the carioca are fried, let it drain on some paper towels, then evenly coat them with the coconut caramel glaze. Serving them on skewers is traditional, but certainly not necessary — either way, just make sure to enjoy them right away while they’re warm!

More Filipino Dessert Recipes

Ginataang Mais: Filipino Coconut Rice Pudding with Corn

Bibingka: Filipino Coconut-Rice Cake

Ensaymada: Filipino Brioche Bread

Ginataang Bilo-Bilo: Filipino Coconut Tapioca Pudding

Mamon: Filipino Sponge Cake

Carioca: Filipino Coconut Mochi Fritters

Carioca is a popular Filipino dessert or snack - coconut mochi fritters made with glutinous rice balls and glazed with a coconut caramel. This easy carioca recipe is made for coconut lovers!

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2.34 from 3 votes

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Filipino

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 258kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

Carioca

• ▢ 1 cup sweet glutinous rice flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup finely shredded coconut see notes
• ▢ 1/2 cup coconut milk
• ▢ 1/4 cup water

Coconut Caramel Glaze

• ▢ 3/4 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 1/2 cup coconut milk

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Stir the sweet rice flour and shredded coconut in a bowl. If you have time, give the coconut a blitz in a food processor first so that it has a finer texture.
• Stir in the coconut milk and water and mix until you have an evenly incorporated dough.
• Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to form balls out of the dough, measuring about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Use your hands to make it smooth balls of dough. You should have 12 pieces.
• In a medium saucepan or deep sided skillet, or using a deep fryer, heat the oil to 350° F. Fry the balls of dough in small batches until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the carioca to drain onto a paper towel lined dish.
• While the carioca fry, stir the brown sugar and coconut milk in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until it starts to bubble. Lower heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it becomes syrupy and thick.
• Drop the carioca into the glaze and coat on all sides. Skewer onto a wooden skewer if you wish. Serve immediately, while warm, with additional glaze.

Notes

Carioca Tips/FAQs

Can the carioca be prepped in advance? Carioca is best eaten right after cooking, however there are things you can do in advance to make it easier.

• Prepare the dough in advance and form into balls. Refrigerate until ready to fry.

Can the carioca be reheated? Ideally, eat the carioca while it's fresh! As the carioca cools, it becomes very crispy and tends to harden, so definitely reheat it for a few seconds in the microwave before serving!

Coconut in this recipe:

• If you can find fine macaroon coconut, that would be ideal. If not, just give your shredded coconut a few blitzes in a food processor to give the carioca a finer texture.
• If you prefer a sweeter carioca, opt for sweetened shredded coconut.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante