My valentine loves coconut and so what better gift than a Fresh Coconut Cake for Valentine’s Day?
This recipe first appeared in Cooking Light in their April 2010 issue. I discovered it in the January 2012 Cooking Light ‘Favorite Comfort Food Recipes’ issue.
The only ingredients I did not already have was the fresh coconut and fresh coconut water. I did try to find a fresh coconut but was unsuccessful. Fortunately, the instructions included alternatives to this dilemma. The alternative was to use a can of Goya coconut water and coconut flakes from the baking aisle.
The cake was a bit time consuming but considering the look on Randy’s face when he entered the kitchen and later how much he enjoyed a piece for dessert it was well worth it.
Fresh Coconut Cake – Cooking Light
Cake:
Cooking spray
1 Tablespoon cake flour
12 ounces sifted cake flour (about 3 cups)
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups sugar, divided
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup warm coconut water (from one small brown coconut)
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 large egg whites
Frosting:
4 large egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 ¼ cups sugar
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shaved fresh coconut, toasted
- To prepare cake, preheat the oven to 350°.
- Lightly coat 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray; line bottom of pans with wax paper. Lightly coat wax paper with cooking spray; dust pans with 1 tablespoon flour.
- Weigh or lightly spoon 12 ounces flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Place 1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed for 2 ½ minutes or until well blended. Add flour mixture and coconut water alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. In a separate bowl, beat 6 egg whites at high speed until foamy using clean, dry beaters. Add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat). Carefully fold egg whites into batter; pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans. Discard wax paper. Cool completely on wire racks.
- To prepare frosting, combine 4 egg whites, cream of tartar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Combine remaining 1 ¼ cups sugar and ¼ cup water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until candy thermometer registers 250°. With mixer on low speed, pour hot sugar syrup in a thin stream over egg whites. Gradually increase speed to high; beat 8 minutes or until thick and cool. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate, and spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with another cake layer. Repeat procedure with 1 cup frosting and remaining cake layer, ending with cake layer on top. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Gently press shaved coconut onto top and sides of cake. Store cake, loosely covered, in refrigerator.
The original cake called for three layers, I made two. I had to adjust the time from 18 minutes to 24 minutes. I loaned one of my 9″ pans to a neighbor and frankly did not remember until just before preparing the cake. Too late, so I adjusted. Also, I decided to only top the cake with toasted coconut. I loved the fluffy, snow white look of the meringue frosting so much I decided to not press the coconut onto to the sides of the cake.
Will I make this cake again? Yes, and when I do, I will make it with the recommended three layers and will add toasted coconut to each layer to enhance the coconut flavor throughout.
The cake was very good and very light. Randy enjoyed his coconut cake Valentine very much!
Nutritional information:
Calories 332, Fat 10.8g (sat. 7.5g, mono 2.1g, poly 0.4g), Protein 4.3g; Carbohydrates 55.8g; Fiber 1.3g; Cholesterol 20mg; Iron 1.7mg; Sodium 207mg; Calcium 54mg.
Enjoy,
Mary
Yummy cake…..
Hi, Randy–I’m so glad you liked your Valentine. Mary
Mary, one place you could try if you really wanted a whole coconut is Bravo, up in Ocala. They cater to the Hispanic population and carry all kinds of “weird” stuff the regular grocery stores don’t have. I did see them there a few months ago. It’ll be an adventure!
Hi, Genny–Thanks for the tip. I rarely go to Ocala anymre unless it is to the doctor’s office. Next time I make this cake I will indeed go on an adventure to find a lovely coconut. Mary
I like coconut, too. My mouth’s watering already.
After I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments
are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment
is added I receive four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service?
Kudos!
Hello, Periodically I blog every day when on a trip. Last week I went on a four night cruise to the Bahamas which accounts for your four emails. This is unusual. I normally only post about once or twice a week. I believe you go to the site, look down to the right and click on “follow” and select to be removed. Let me know if that works. Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving some words. Mary
Whats up very cool blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also¡KI’m happy to find so many useful info right here within the post, we need work out extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Hello, Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving some words. Keep reading. Mary
My my what a good read you wont find this everyday
Hello, Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving some words. Keep reading. Mary
It is really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Hello, Thank you for stopping by, reading and leaving some words. Keep reading. Mary
When going to weblogs, it’s my job to find a great articles just like your own
Hello, Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving some words. Keep reading. Mary
Great site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also.
Hello, Thanks for the encouraging words. Keep reading. Mary
Hello Vikki–Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving some encouraging words. Keep reading. Mary
Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Hello, Garry–Thanks for stopping by, reading and leaving a few encouraging words. Keep reading. Mary
Hello There. I found your weblog the use of msn. That is a very neatly written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely return.
Hello, I’m glad you enjoyed the posting. Keep reading. Mary
When visiting blogs, i usually locate a excellent content material just like yours
Hello, Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comments. Keep reading. Mary
Normally I don’t read article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, quite nice post.
great publish, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!