Helen's Coconut Cake
"This is one great cake! The recipe is by Phyllis Richman, a staff writer with the Washington Post, she was a restaurant critic for 23 years, 8 of which she was also food editor. I am not big on desserts but I can't say no to this cake"
- Ready In:
- 51mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Serves:
-
12
ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
-
TOPPING
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2⁄3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 (4 ounce) can shredded coconut (preferable to flaked, 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
directions
- (Shredded coconut sometimes called southern style gives the cake a crunchier texture, but flaked coconut can be used if necessary. Look for canned coconut which is more moist than the bagged coconut, it's fine if it is sweetened.) Heat oven to 350°F, butter and flour a 9x13" baking pan.
- Heat milk and butter to scalding (do not boil), set aside.
- Combine the flour baking powder and salt, mix well.
- Beat eggs, add sugar beating all the while until they are thick& foamy.
- Gradually add hot milk, then the vanilla beating all the while.
- At slow speed beat in the flour, beat til smooth and combined.
- Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake at 350°F for approx 30 minutes (test after 25 minutes with a toothpick).
- Cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool the cake slightly in the pan.
- PREPARE THE TOPPING: Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in the brown sugar, add coconut& vanilla.
- Spread the topping over the cake (do it evenly reaching right to the corners).
- Turn oven to broil and place cake 6" from the heat.
- Broil until bubbling and dark brown, turning if necessary to ensure even coloring.
- The topping should be beyond golden but be very careful it can burn in an instant if you are not watching it.
- Cool to room temp, cut into squares and serve.
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Reviews
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My roommate had request coconut cake as comfort food. She asked me everyday for a week to make it for her. I finally did. She loved it. I'm GF, so I only had a bite... but that bite was SO GOOD. I would substitue the vanilla extract in the cake for coconut extract if you have it. Otherwise, it was so tasty that my roommate swears that this is all she's going to eat for the next few days!! Thanks for the awesome recipe! -
Even though it rose WAAAAY higher than I could have possibly seen coming. Even though I burned the topping. This cake still turned out to be moist and wholesome tasting. It was something like a coffee cake combined with a sponge cake. Couldn't wait for it to cool. Eating it warm. Perfect for a fall or wintery day. Rich and hearty but also light and fluffy. Was much more flavorful when warm. Good with a cup of coffee or spiced drink.
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Very Yummy! I was looking for a easy and delicious coconut cake recipe and finally I found it.....and it looks so far the greatest one :). I cound't find the can of shredded coconut so instead I used just the regular in a package stile, and still came out yummy. Eventhough I had a few bites ahead, my husband ate almost the entire cake within 2 days. Thanks Bergy for sharing this nice recipe with us! -
I was in the mood for something coconut-y and I saw this and thought I would try it.I am glad I did.It is very nice without being too sweet.I did not use the tin coconut in the topping.I just used 1 cup of flaked coconut.I also added a small bit of almond ectract to the topping.Very nice! -
WOW! This is really easy to put together. It is a nice moist cake. I tried something differnt, I was almost out of vanilla, so I used 1 tsp. almond extract and 1 tsp. vanilla in the cake. And mixed the vanilla and almond to make 1 Tbls. for the frosting. My boys thought I was making macaroons..Loved this cake..my son also asked if this was from scratch or a box..I am not known in my family as a cake baker!! Thanks for a winner.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Bergy
Small town in the Okanagan, B.C.
On January 10 2010 I will celebrate 9 years of Life with Zaar. I can't imagine being without it! It has become part of my daily routine.
I feel very privileged to be one of the hosts on the Photo Forum. Taking photos of my culinary efforts is a full time hobby and I love it. My friends all know what to expect when they come to dinner "Are you finished taking pictures?" or "Did you get a photo of so & so?" I never let them wait too long and the food is NEVER cold! I now have over 6000 photos on Zaar - some fairly good and some definitely not so good. I am happy to say that practice does help.
My roots are in Vancouver BC Canada - a very beautiful city that holds many wonderful memories for me. In 1990, I decided that for my retirement years I may want to settle in a smaller community and found a slice of heaven in the North Okanagan B.C. I love living here but every once in a while I miss the bright city lights, the Broadway shows and some of the small wonderful ethnic restaurants that Vancouver abounds in. That is easily resolved. I just take a trip to the coast, visit with friends for a weekend see a show and feast on Dim Sum or other specialty foods.
I am getting a bit long in the tooth but was a very adventurous person. I have river rafted Hell's Gate on the Fraser river, been up in a glider over Hawaii (no not a Hang Glider!), gone hot air ballooning in the Napa Valley & the Fraser Valley, driven dune buggies on the dunes in Oregon, Para sailing in Mexico and tried many other adventurous, challenging, fun things. I have yet to try bungee jumping or sky diving. I may do them yet. I love to travel and experience other cultures. Mexco has been a favorite haunt. I have visited that lovely country many many times. Australia is another favorite as is England!
In the past 16 months I have taken off 61 pounds and feel wonderful. I am off all medications and all systems are GO! In years I may be 79 but in spirit I am still in my forties. We are only as old as we allow ourselves to feel. Always think positive. Do something a bit challenging every day & always do something silly every day. Be a kid again! Laugh every day - it is internal jogging.
Here are a few of my photos
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