I have a confession to make. I watch soap operas. I am embarrassed to admit this. However, if you stay at home during the day they quickly become a viable option. Now when I say I watch them I do not plan my schedule around them or anything. Basically they are on in the background. I go about my day, catching the gist of them. The other day Guiding Light was on. During the show they showcased this coconut cake. Throughout the show, various people tried it, and the camera kept panning over to it.
Let's just say I had worked up a powerful craving by the end of the show. I remembered the coconut cake in Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. It is a lovely square cake with seven minute frosting topped with fresh coconut curls. I have been meaning to make it forever. Yesterday was the day. I decided to substitute whipped cream for the seven minute frosting. I just really do not love the stuff, and I knew the whipped cream would be good.
I did keep the fresh coconut curls though. I usually hate messing with whole coconuts, but this time it worked out.
I got Justin to pierce two of the eyes with a screwdriver and hammer. I drained the coconut water and baked the whole thing for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. This cracks the outer shell. After it cooled a little I hammered it open. I managed to get it out in one piece. I peeled off the brown exterior with a vegetable peeler.
I was left with this beauty to the left. I cut it in half, and then I used the peeler to form long strips off the edges. Nice.
The cake is pretty rich. It uses 3 sticks of butter, four whole eggs, 4 egg whites, coconut milk, and sweetened coconut flakes. I only had one 9-inch square pan so I had to make a round cake. These baked up about four inches tall each. They were about an inch over the rim, but it did not spill over.
I layered the whipped cream between the layers, and over the exterior. Then I piled on the fresh coconut. This huge cake was a little tricky to cut, but well worth it.
You know, I didn't like coconut until I was 16 and worked for Baskin Robbins. Their 4-nut coconut ice cream changed my mind. I believe the reason I didn't like it as a child was because I was always told I wouldn't. I try to avoid that with my children. Coconut cake was one of the 2-3 desserts that I ever saw my mother bake as a child. On holidays I would be mesmerized by the sight of that flake covered white wonder. I never did try it though... I was proud to see both of my kids wholeheartedly dig into this last night.
The cake looks amazing and I best it tasted great too. Can you believe I'd never seen a whole peeled coconut before!
Posted by: Barbara | June 20, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Oh my goodness!! How heavenly-looking! Zion and I both love coconut. I may have to give this recipe a shot.
Posted by: Mandy Nix | June 20, 2008 at 03:57 PM
I had a cold piece for breakfast and it was even better than yesterday. Let me know if you need me to scan and email the recipe to you.
Posted by: Becca Porter | June 20, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Would you mind sending it to me??
Posted by: Mandy Nix | June 23, 2008 at 07:43 PM
I adore coconut, and that cakes looks gorgeous! Have you tried the Peninsula Grill coconut cake? It's a little dense but very tasty.
Posted by: Darcie | June 24, 2008 at 02:24 PM
This sure looks delicious. Love how yummy the large slivers look.
Posted by: Lisa | July 12, 2008 at 08:20 PM
This looks really delicious. I never heard about about Coconut Cake this is the first time. Really i am pleasure to found this. Let me try to make.
Posted by: James | March 06, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Love it would like recipe... sarah.raia@gmail.com
Thanks! Sarah
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Instead, he says, what matters are than the services be well run - in particular, that they “get the right people on the bus”, people oasfff ability and motivation.
In this respect, hospitals and schools have a huge advantage over many private sector jobs.
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