Bahamian Coconut Tart

Coconut Tart (or some variation of this treat) is a very popular baked good throughout the entire Caribbean region. As was customary for our West African ancestors, we use coconuts here in the islands in a variety of ways. Bahamian Coconut tart is very unlike traditional tarts. Our Coconut Tart does not employ a flaky crust base, but instead resembles a very doughy (almost bread like) cake covered with a thick layer of fruit filling. This cake is made with flour, shortening, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, and baking powder, sweetened only lightly with sugar. The fruit filling contains fresh, blended coconut along with simple syrup and nutmeg to highlight the saccharine nutty and earthy taste of the fruit. Thick and chunky, the hearty filling is slathered on top of the sweet dough- the two textures perfectly complementing each other- and then baked until you have a golden brown outside and delicious gooey center.