• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Seaside Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Condiments

    Latik (Coconut Caramel Sauce)

    Published: Mar 4, 2023 / Updated: Mar 4, 2023 by Adelyn

    Sharing is caring!

    4 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    coconut caramel sauce in a jar with text overlay.

    This traditional Filipino latik or coconut caramel sauce is sweet, rich, and creamy. An authentic Visayan latik has two only two ingredients

     This sauce is an entirely vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free recipe. 

    coconut caramel sauce in a jar.

    What is Latik?

    There are two kinds of latik in the Philippines, depending on which island you come originated. 

    In Luzon or the northern part of the Philippines, latik happens when you simmer coconut milk until the coconut curd forms and the oil is separated. 

    In the Visayas or Mindanao, the Southern part, latik happens when you add coconut milk and brown sugar until it caramelizes. 

    The latik sauce is commonly used in cooking biko.

    The coconut curds are called Lunok in bisaya. 

    For this recipe, when I say latik, it means the sauce. 

    Jump to:
    • What is Latik?
    • What you need for this recipe
    • How to make this recipe 
    • Testing if latik is ready 
    • How and what to serve
    • Storing Instructions
    • Variations 
    • Equipment 
    • FAQs and Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe

    What you need for this recipe

    labeled ingredients for making coconut caramel sauce.

    Coconut milk - fresh, canned, or frozen coconut milk. If you are using frozen coconut milk, thaw it first. 

    Brown sugar - Make sure it’s firmly packed when measuring the sugar. I prefer using dark brown sugar like demerara, not golden yellow. You can also substitute this ingredient with muscovado sugar. 

    How to make this recipe 

    Method 1

    Step 1

    Slowly melt the brown sugar in a large wok or pan on low heat. Stir occasionally. Thanks to my mother for this secret technique.

    making coconut caramel sauce in a pan step 1.

    Step 2

    When at least half of the brown sugar has mostly melted, add the coconut milk. You must add the coconut milk in small amounts because the melted sugar will get hard and stick to the pan's bottom. 

    You will notice lumps after you pour the coconut milk, and the constant stirring will dissolve this. 

    making coconut caramel sauce in a pan step 2.

    Step 3

    Stir the sauce continuously until it thickens. Make sure that the bottom is not burnt. You want your sauce to be smooth and have no lumps. 

    making coconut caramel sauce in a pan step 3.

    Step 4

    The latik usually takes about 20-30 minutes to thicken. You may test the sauce for its readiness.

    Method 2

    Combine sugar and coconut milk in a saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir the latik constantly until it thickens. Serve.

    Testing if latik is ready 

    collage of two photos comparing when the coconut caramel sauce is ready.

    Put some water in a small bowl. Drop some latik sauce in the bowl. If the sauce stays together, the sauce is now ready. 

    The sauce should be shiny and have a thick consistency. 

    How and what to serve

    The latik sauce is famously used for making biko. You can also use latik as a spread on your bread, like pan de sal, or as a coffee sweetener. 

    You can also drizzle the sauce on the following: 

    • Cakes and Cupcakes
    • Cheesecakes 
    • Cookies and Bars
    • Brownies
    • Bread
    • Muffins
    • Popcorn 
    • Waffles
    • Pancakes
    • Crepes
    • Cinnamon rolls
    • Pretzels
    • Ice cream
    • Fruit slices
    • Yogurt
    • Scones 
    • Puddings
    • Tarts and Pies
    • French Fries 
    • Suman
    • Kakanin

    Storing Instructions

    Let the sauce cool completely. Then, store the sauce in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 

    Variations 

    • When the latik is ready, add some ground anise seeds to add flavor. 
    • For a Salted Coconut Caramel Sauce, add one teaspoon of salt. 
    • Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, maple extract, cinnamon, calamansi rind, lemon zest, orange zest, and ginger. 
    • Pandan extract or pandan leaf also adds flavor to the caramel sauce.

    Equipment 

    • Large pan or work
    • Small bowl
    • Spatula or ladle
    coconut caramel sauce in a jar with a teaspoon.

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    When to start testing if the sauce is ready?

    Start testing around 15 minutes to see if the latik is ready by dropping it on water. The sauce should stay together. 

    Can I make the latik without melting the sugar first?

    Yes, you can. Most people combine the two ingredients instead of melting the sugar first, but your sauce will not give you a reddish color. 

    Why does my latik sauce taste bitter?

    The sauce should taste sweet, not bitter. Cooking it too long and hot will burn the latik and taste bitter. 

    Can I use canned coconut milk?

    Yes, you can. If using canned coconut milk, make sure you mix or shake the can first because it will look like there are grains in your latik. 

    Related Recipes

    • homemade syrup in the container.
      Ube Syrup
    • bottle with spices and vinegar.
      Sinamak (Filipino Spiced Vinegar)
    • mango compote on a small white bowl.
      Mango Compote
    • Fresh Tomato Salsa in white bowl with chips.
      Fresh Tomato Salsa (Pico de Gallo)

    Follow Seaside Recipes on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER, and SUBSCRIBE via email to receive our latest recipes. 

    Recipe

    coconut caramel sauce in a jar.

    Latik (Coconut Caramel Sauce)

    This traditional Filipino latik or coconut caramel sauce is sweet, rich, and creamy.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate Facebook Pin
    Cuisine: Filipino
    Course: Dessert, Filipino Desserts
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 2 cups
    Calories: 3447kcal
    Author: Adelyn

    Equipment

    • Large pan or work
    • Small bowl
    • Spatula or ladle

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups coconut milk
    • 3 cups brown sugar firmly packed
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Method 1

    • Slowly melt the brown sugar in a large wok or pan on low heat. Stir occasionally.
    • When at least half of the brown sugar has mostly melted, add the coconut milk.
    • Stir the sauce continuously until it thickens. Make sure that the bottom is not burnt. You want your sauce to be smooth and have no lumps.
    • The latik usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

    Method 2

    • Combine the coconut milk and brown sugar in a large pan on medium-low heat. Stir constantly until it thickens.

    Notes

     
    1. You do not have to melt all the sugar to get that reddish color. 
    2. When you add the coconut milk, pour it slowly because the sugar will harden, and it will take a while to scrape it from the bottom of the pan.
    3. Brown sugar can be substituted with muscovado sugar.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2cups | Calories: 3447kcal | Carbohydrates: 670g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 98g | Saturated Fat: 87g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 247mg | Potassium: 1899mg | Sugar: 649g | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 638mg | Iron: 20mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @seasiderecipes
    « Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

    Sharing is caring!

    4 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    photo of woman wearing turquoise sweater

    Hello, world! My name is Adelyn. I am the writer, recipe developer, and food photographer at Seaside Recipes. I love sharing my recipes with the world.

    More about me →

    Soups & Stews

    • pork sour soup in white bowl with vegetables.
      Sinigang na Baboy (Pork Sinigang)
    • Pork in coconut milk on white bowl.
      Ginataang Baboy (Pork Ginataan)
    • Instant Pot Pork Humba in a white bowl.
      Instant Pot Pork Humba
    • Mung Bean Soup with Beef in Orange Bowl.
      Mung Bean Soup with Beef (Ginisang Munggo at Baka)
    • Clam Chowder in black bowl.
      Clam Chowder
    • Creamy Peaches and Pork delicious
      Creamy Peach and Pork

    Popular Recipes

    • meatballs on white plate
      Oven-Baked Pork Meatballs
    • Blueberry Muffins
    • chicken in soy vinegar sauce.
      Filipino Chicken Adobo
    • Deep-fried Prawns.
      Deep-Fried Prawns (Camaron Rebosado)
    • fried peanuts on white bowl.
      Adobong Mani (Fried Garlic Peanuts)
    • Filipino Chicken Macaroni Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Filipino Recipes
    • Filipino Desserts

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Resources
    • Sign Up! for free recipes

    Copyright © 2019-2023

    Seaside Recipes

    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}