For many, the smell and taste of coconut will evoke a variety of memories. Perhaps it transports you back to an exotic island holiday where days were spent beachside in a somewhat idle fashion, sipping kitsch cocktails from hollowed out coconuts. For me, it brings to mind a period in the late 80’s of hanging out with friends at the local public pool, rubbing coconut oil onto arms and legs before baking in the sun… hmmm, and drinking way too much Malibu and milk. With hindsight, neither option a wise choice!
This cake is coconutty in the extreme, flavoured with both desiccated coconut and coconut milk. It’s beautifully moist, not too sweet and the lemon adds a brightness that cuts through the richness perfectly. A great solution for getting that much-desired coconut fix, without risking skin cancer or a hang-over!
Coconut (with a hint of lemon) Cake | Gather and Graze
Ingredients
- 125g (½ Cup) Unsalted Butter
- 175g (¾ Cup) Raw Caster Sugar
- 2 Large Free-Range Eggs
- Zest of 1 Large Lemon
- 250mls (1 Cup) Coconut Milk*
- 225g (1½ Cups) Plain Flour
- 10g (2 tsp) Baking Powder
- Pinch of Salt
- 130g (1½ Cups) Desiccated Coconut
Lemon Syrup Ingredients
- 30mls (2 Tbsp) Lemon Juice
- 60g (¼ Cup) Caster Sugar
Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease and line a 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 inch) loaf tin.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one by one, mixing well after each one, then stir in the lemon zest.
Into a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt.
Alternating with the coconut milk, stir in the sifted dry ingredients in 2 or 3 lots, then with a light hand, fold in the desiccated coconut.
Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake in the pre-heated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle. Depending on your oven, the top of the cake may need to be protected with a loose piece of foil in the final 10-15 minutes of cooking, if it appears to be browning too quickly.
For the Lemon Syrup, gently heat the lemon juice and sugar (either on the stove-top or carefully in the microwave), just until the sugar has dissolved. Slowly brush (or spoon) the warm syrup over the cake just after it comes out of the oven (you may wish to poke a few holes into the top using a toothpick to allow the syrup to soak in more easily).
Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, before removing to a cooling rack.
Lovely served as is, or perhaps with a dollop of Greek yoghurt or whipped cream on the side.
Notes:
- I used 50g of Ayam Coconut Milk Powder mixed with 200mls of warm water.
- Lime zest and juice would substitute beautifully for the lemon.
- Thinking that raspberries might also be a great addition to this cake, though perhaps adjust the amount of desiccated coconut slightly to produce a lighter batter, making it easier to fold in the berries.
Gather & Graze 