Coconut Date Cake Food

THE BEST COCONUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment, dust with flour and tap out the excess. Set aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the buttermilk and cream of coconut in a small bowl. Beat the butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, until combined.
• Beat the egg whites and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with clean beaters on medium-high speed until stiff glossy peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the batter in three batches until just combined (do not overmix). Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cakes are lightly browned and the centers spring back when lightly pressed, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 20 minutes in the pans, then run a small knife around the edges of each cake and carefully invert onto the racks; remove the parchment and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in about half of the confectioners' sugar until combined. Add the remaining confectioners' sugar, salt and vanilla and coconut extracts and beat until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and continue beating, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a cake stand or platter and top with a heaping 2/3 cup frosting. Add another cake layer, more frosting and the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the coconut all over the top and sides of the cake, gently pressing to adhere.

COCONUT-DATE BITES

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the dates to create a thick paste. Add the walnuts, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the coconut and pulse until incorporated and a thick paste forms again. Using a spatula, transfer the date mixture to a medium bowl.
• Pour the remaining 1/4 cup coconut into a separate small, shallow bowl.
• Using a spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the date mixture and, with clean hands, work into a small rectangular bar 2 to 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch (or roll into balls). Coat the date bar with the coconut in the bowl, delicately pressing the coconut onto the bar. Continue with the remaining date mixture and coconut.
• Serve in mini paper cupcake liners. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

RICH DATE AND COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes or until dates are tender.
• Gently spoon flour into measuring cups and level (don't pack). Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir in date mixture, granulated sugar, vanilla, and egg until well combined. Pour batter into a 9-inch spring-form pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
• While cake is baking, combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute. Pour brown sugar mixture over cake. Let it glop into the batter. Cover the whole top of cake. Bake at 350° for an additional 13 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (I had to bake mine longer). Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack. Run a knife around outside edge and remove ring. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
• This doubles just fine. I used a 10" and a 5" springform. I haven't tried freezing it, but am curious how that would work. Super-yummy! Both men and women raved over it. Very satisfying and rich.

DATE AND COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C
• Place dates, butter, water, bicarbonate soda and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring, then simmer uncovered for 2 minutes, cover and cool to room temperature
• Add eggs, both flours and desiccated coconut, stirring into the mixture, then bake in a 22cm round, lined tin in a preheated moderate oven for 45-50 minutes
• Check to see if the top is browning too much around the 15-20 minute mark and cover with foil if necessary
• Test with a skewer and remove the cake remove the cake from the oven when the skewer comes out clean
• Cool for 5-10 minutes in the tin, then remove to a cooling rack

COCONUT DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Pour hot water over dates and baking soda; leave aside.
• Cream butter/margarine and sugar, add beaten egg.
• Stir in date mixture and add vanilla, salt and coconut,
• Stir in sifted flout and baking powder.
• Bake in 2 prepared cake pans at 375 degrees F for 20 - 30 minutes.
• Filling:
• Cook sugar, cocoa, water, dates and butter/margarine until thick. Add coconut.
• To be spread between the two cake layers.
• Decorate top of cake with chocolate icing.

COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don't be concerned.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
• For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond extract on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until just smooth (don't whip!).
• To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE DATE CAKE WITH COCONUT-COGNAC SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the dates and cognac in a bowl and let macerate about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the macerated dates, almonds, and coconut. Mix until the ingredients come together into a paste.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir the melted chocolate into the date mixture and set aside.
• In another bowl, whip together the egg whites and salt until they just begin to form soft peaks. While slowly adding the sugar, continue whipping the whites until they form firm peaks. Fold in the cocoa, cardamom, and ginger until just combined. Working in 3 batches, gently fold the whipped egg whites into the date-chocolate mixture until just combined.
• Scoop chocolate batter into buttered ramekins or molds. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out dry, about 12 minutes. Lower the oven to 325 degrees F.
• To serve, unmold the cakes onto a baking sheet and top each with a chilled chocolate-almond wafer. Put the cakes into the oven and bake until the wafer just melts, about 15 seconds. Spoon a small pool of sauce onto plates, and gently place the cakes into the sauce. Serve.
• Put the chocolate into a bowl. Bring the cream to a gentle simmer, pour over the chocolate, and stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Fold in the spices and nuts. Spread the chocolate batter evenly onto a silicone mat or wax paper-lined baking sheet and chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Using a round cookie cutter, cut the wafer into discs that are slightly larger than the top of the cakes.
• Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, reduced and thickened.

COCONUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line the base of 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins with baking parchment. Put the butter and sugar into the bowl of a freestanding mixer and beat for 10 mins. Add the eggs and coconut extract, and beat for a further 5 mins until light. Beat in the coconut cream. Fold through the dry ingredients (excluding the coconut flakes) then spoon into the prepared tins. Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 mins until golden brown and risen. Leave to cool in the tins, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Beat the butter, sugar and a pinch of salt together using an electric mixer for 10 mins until light and fluffy. Add the soft cheese, coconut cream and coconut extract, and beat on a high speed for 1 min until thickened. Use half of the buttercream to sandwich the sponges together, then spread the remaining icing on the top and sides of the cake. Top with the toasted coconut flakes.

DATE-NUT CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake:heat oven to 350°F Coat two 5 3/4x3x2 1/8-inch mini loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar and salt. Set aside.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add dates, shortening, baking soda and vanilla. Stir until shortening is melted. Remove from heat; stir into dry ingredients. Add egg and beat with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are combined. Stir in walnuts.
• Divide between prepared loan pans. Bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. turn out onto rack; cool completely.
• Frosting: heat broiler. In a small saucepan, melt butter and sugar. Stir in cream and coconut. Spread frosting equally over the two loaves. Broil for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until lightly browned. Let loaves cool completely.
• To present as a gift, place cooled cake in devorative tin or wrap in pretty paper.