Dominican Arepa [Video+Recipe] Cornmeal and Coconut Cake

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons salted butter ( (1 will be used for greasing the pan))
• 2 cup cornmeal ((Dominican-style harina de maíz))
• 3 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raisins ((I used dark and sultanas mixed))
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   --- 1. Prepping ---

2. 2

   Prepping: Grease a 2 ½ quart [2 ½ lt] baking pan with a tablespoon of butter (see notes above the recipe).Preheat oven to 350 ºF [175 ºC]

3. 3

   --- 2. Mixing ---

4. 4

   Mixing: Mix butter, cornmeal, milk, coconut milk, salt, raisins, cinnamon, and sugar.

5. 5

   --- 3. Cooking ---

6. 6

   Cooking: Stir the batter with a spatula and pour into a 3 quart [3 lt] cooking pot and heat on the stove over medium heat, stirring constantly to avoid sticking.When it breaks the boil, lower the heat and continue stirring until it thickens enough that if you scoop up a spoonful and you flip the spoon upside down it does not fall. Remove the cinnamon sticks.

7. 7

   --- 4. Baking ---

8. 8

   Baking: Pour the batter into the greased pan or pot, and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top.Remove from the oven.

9. 9

   --- 5. Serving ---

10. 10

    Serving: Let it cool down to room temperature before removing it from the pan.Serve with your preferred hot drink.