Topped With Shredded Coconut
Coconut milk or cream is the extract of the freshly grated endosperm of mature coconut fruit, also known as the kernel, coconut meat or flesh. According to wiki, several grades of coconut milk exist based on the fat content, which varies from thick, at 20-22% fat, to thin, at 5-7% fat level. The milk can be prepared by directly squeezing freshly grated coconut meat or flesh, through cheesecloth. The squeezed coconut meat or flesh is then soaked in water and squeezed for the second time to obtain thin coconut milk. Fresh coconut milk is rare, in non-coconut producing countries.
Processed coconut milk can be bought in cans or tetra packs in local stores or supermarkets. The canned coconut milk is a combination of thick and thin coconut milk, with water added, as a filler. The thick milk usually floats on top and can be separated and used in recipes that call for coconut cream. Shaking the can, prior to opening will even it out to a creamy thickness. Once opened, cans of coconut milk, must be refrigerated and used within a few days. Coconut cream can also be bought canned, in tins or tetra packs.
Coconut milk is a common ingredient in many tropical cuisines. It’s used to make curries, stews, seafood and desserts but can also be used as a milk substitute, in cakes and as an ingredient in smoothies and other drinks like Piña colada. Today I want to share with you a cake, made with coconut milk (I used canned coconut milk), desiccated coconut and white chocolate chips and topped with shredded or desiccated coconut. The cake tasted extremely nice. I would recommend it for all coconut lovers. I hope you’ll enjoy the cake, if you ever decide to make it.
Coconut Milk Cake with White Chocolate Chips
Preparation time: 20 minutes; Baking time: 1-1¼ hours Makes: 9-inch (23cm) round cake
Ingredients
- 330g (11oz, 2⅔ cups) self-raising flour (I used all-purpose and added 2½ teaspoons baking powder)
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- 190g (6.7oz, 12 tablespoons, 1½ stick + 1 tablespoon) butter
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract (essence) (optional)
- 270g (9oz, 1⅓ cup) sugar
- 3 eggs
- 50g (½ cup, 2oz) desiccated coconut
- 100g (½ cup) white chocolate chips
- 180mls (¾ cup, 6fl oz) unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons warmed and sieved apricot jam (for brushing the top of the cake)
- Extra desiccated or shredded coconut for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180ºC) ten minutes before using . Grease and line a 9” (23cm) round tin (pan) with parchment paper. Sift or whisk the flour and baking powder and set aside.
- Cream the butter, essence and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined.
- Stir in the desiccated coconut and white chocolate chips.
- Stir in half the sifted flour and half the coconut milk, then stir in remaining flour and coconut milk.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan (tin). Bake at for 1-1¼ hours, or until golden or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes our clean. Stand for five minutes then transfer on a wire rack to cool.
- For cup measures: spoon the flour into the cup, heaping it up over the top, then slide a knife across the top to level off the extra. Be careful not to shake or tap the cup to settle down the flour or you will have more than you need. I use a 237ml American cup.
- Last updated: February 22, 2019
Point to Note
- Please note that oven temperatures are given as a guideline only. You may need to add or reduce the suggested temperature depending on your oven. I baked the cake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour 10 minutes.
myfavouritepastime.com
Step By Step Photos
Please remember to assemble all ingredients before you start.
Preheat oven to 350°F (180ºC) . Grease and line a 9” (23cm) round tin (pan) with parchment paper. Sift the flour and baking powder and set aside.
Cream the butter, essence and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined.
This is what the mixture looks like after adding all eggs
Stir in the desiccated coconut and white chocolate chips
Stir in half the sifted flour and half the coconut milk, then stir in remaining flour and coconut milk
This is what the final mixture looks like
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan (tin). Bake at 350° (180°C) for 1-1¼ hours or until golden and a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes our clean. (I baked the cake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour 10 minutes.)
Stand for five minutes then transfer on a wire rack to cool.
Brush the cake with some warmed and sieved apricot jam and sprinkled some shredded coconut on top.
Decorate with some strawberries or other fruit
The cakes yields 8-10 slices, depending on size
I had one huge slice
We really enjoyed eating this cake because we all love coconut
myfavouritepastime.com Last updated: February 22, 2019
My Favourite Pastime 
The pictures are amazing!!! But also this is one of my most favorite cakes on your blog along with the apple cake. This is an amazing recipe thanks for it.
Thanks, the coconut cake, and apple cake are also my favourites too. i am glad you love them too. Have a wonderful week.
Liz
Coconut cake was a favorite of my husband and I when we were just married and starting our lives. We bought it at a tiny little bakery. He will love it if I make him some of your coconut cake to bring back fond memories of moist, sweet coconut goodness.
Hi Shanna,
What a lovely way to bring back fond memories. This cake is one of my favourite cakes. I make it at least twice a month because I love coconut and I love the combo with white chocolate. I wish you a happy baking and I sincerely hope you hubby will enjoy the cake the way we do! Thanks so much for visiting me several times.
Liz
Thank you, Liz! You know, you should buy the Lindt White Chocolate Coconut Bar. I think it has your name written all over it!
Ha Ha. I was out shopping at the mall..and I got some (they were on sale, too). I love Swiss chocolates. They are so fine and special. Best wishes!
Liz
Oh, lovely! Have a great day, Liz. 🙂
Reblogged this on MBSIB: The Man With The Golden Tongs.
This looks and sounds a delicious cake. I too love coconut, and the way you have decorated it is very pleasing. I liked your footnote about weighing rather than using cups. especially as it comes from a Canadian 🙂 I often wonder why cups are still so popular in the US and Canada, when digital scales are so cheap these days. If I come across an otherwise tempting recipe that is in cups I turn away or (start to cry if it’s really tempting)
Hi Euan,
I have just been admiring the chelsea buns. I’ll give it a go over the weekend. My mother taught me how to bake and she always used a scale so I am what you’d call a scale freak. I don’t know how to use cups because I believe good baking requires precise measurements. I usually ask the owner of the blog for conversions but the amount usually varies from blog to blog so can be quite frustrating. Thanks so much for liking my coconut cake. Have a fabulous week.
Liz
I really want a coconut cake now!!! great recipe
Ha ha, how many slices shall I give you right now. You can have whatever you want! Thanks and have a lovely week!
Liz
We are serious coconut lovers in my house, so I will definitely have to try this one soon. I’ve bookmarked it for as soon as I have some time to bake. Looks great!
Hi,
I’m glad to hear there are serious coconut lovers like us here. That reminds me that I bookmarked your mums cake. It’s on the pipeline. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day. I hope the weather in Ottawa is splendid? Best wishes!
Liz
omg! Can we have breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Ha ha, yes of course, Chefmo. I loved that pesto sauce. I’m going to try it this week for sure. We have some rain today. Not too much. Have a lovely Sunday!!!
Liz
i love this recipe and this cake looks so good! 🙂
so making this 😀
hope your having a wonderful weekend!
Hi Daisy,
This is one of my favourite cakes. I loved eating it. The weekend is super, lots of soft sunshine. What more can I ask for? I love every moment of it. Have a fabulous one.
Liz
Last time I went to Costco I bought a big jar of coconut oil. Of course I had to stick a finger in and taste. It really is quite oily! I too have been reading a lot about its benefits so time will tell. I am going to borrow this recipe and put in my iPad recipe file! Will be a perfect Hawaiian treat! Anything coconut is good, the addition of the white chocolate chips is intriguing. Thanks Liz!
Hi Sandy,
I spent a whole weekend reading about coconut oil and I’m now hooked. I shall be buying my huge jar tomorrow. It’s quite oily but it’s said Lauric, the medium chain fatty acid has very many benefits. Yesterday there was an item on CTV news as well, about coconut oil. Please borrow all the recipes you want and wish you a happy cooking and baking. Here is the link, just incase you didn’t see the news item. Happy reading. Wish you a speedy recovery!!!
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-headlines/u-s-study-looks-into-the-benefits-of-coconut-oil-on-patients-with-alzheimer-s-1.1491406
Liz
Thank you for sending that link. I had not seen that. Exciting! I often wonder if the simplest things can’t provide the help we need sometimes rather than all the chemical pills and salves and injections. I’m becoming more and more a believer in natural health aids. Best to you too Liz, I’m now on the mend I’m sure. Hope you too!
Thanks, Sandy. I’m glad you found the link useful. I really perked my ears when I heard Coconut oil…I would also like to eat more natural foods, with health benefits. I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend. Hope you taste your food on Monday. Omg, It’s already midnight here. We were watching a long movie so I’ve just eaten a very late dinner. Best wishes!
Liz
Ah this looks ridiculously moist! I loved the facts on coconut milk, Liz—thanks for doing that research. Stuff like that can get confusing when we get most of our ingredients from a processed, commercial world. I’m not a big fan of desiccated coconut, but coconut milk is another story 😉
Hi Irina,
Thanks so much for the compliments. I’m glad you liked the brief facts on coconut milk. I am a big fan of everything coconut, from shredded-dessicated to milk and even oil. I love cooking everything with coconut. Thanks so much for visiting me. Have a great weekend!!
Liz
What be beautiful, big & georgous coconut cake! It looks tremendously tasty too. Yum. Xxx
Hi Sophie,
Thanks. Have a wonderful weekend!
Liz
The same to you. X
WOW! must try … for Thanksgiving dinner this Monday.
Hi,
I hope you’ll like it the way I did. Best wishes and enjoy the baking.
Liz
That’s a beautiful cake you created, Liz, and I’d be hard-pressed to not cut myself a huge slice once it was ready to be served. It looks so light and the contrast between the coconut and strawberries on top are just too inviting. With strawberries so healthy for one to eat, you’re doing yourself a favor by going large when slicing. I’m sure I read that someplace. 😉
Hi John,
Thanks so much for the compliments, John. I did eat one huge slice…it was very filling. I loved it very much. We have some damn good weather today, lovely sunshine. Can’t wait to go out and bask…a little bit. Have a lovely weekend and bear hugs to Max. Thanks so much for your continuous support, John. I truly appreciate your kind nature.
Best wishes, and by the way I bought the gizzards…the risotto is en route!
Liz
Hi Liz… you baked it for an hour? The cakes I bake gets baked within 20 mins. Is it that it depends on the oven? Apology for my less knowledge on this as I’m new to baking 🙂
HI,
I baked for 1 hour 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C) using a 9″ baking pan. I use a normal oven not convectional. I have never baked a cake in twenty minutes, maybe muffins or cupcakes. It depends on the size and type of cake and oven. My oven is not a new one. Please do not hesitate to ask, if you need more clarification. Best wishes,
Liz
Hi Liz, thanks for the comments. It’s really helpful. I will let you know when I try the next one 🙂
Please let me know. Happy Baking and enjoy your weekend!
Liz
Looks wonderful!
Hi Debbee
Thank you. Best wishes!
Liz
Shame on me, I lives in tropical country but never even heard about using the coconut filk on my cake….
thx for such inspiring post my friend!
Hi Dedi,
Ha ha! nobody ever thinks of using the easily available ingredients. Fresh coconut is hard to come by here..next time you should add coconut milk to a cake. It tastes very nice. Have a wonderful weekend.
Liz
Hi Liz ! Coconut is one of my favorite food… and your cake looks so smoOOooOoth ! Yumm, delicious ! Thank you so much for this recipe. 😉
Hi Sylvie,
LOl. I’m so glad coconut is one of your favourites too. I loved this cake so much. I really enjoyed eating it. Thanks so much for visiting me, Sylvie. Have a wonderful weekend.
Liz
It looks so simple, fun and festive; just like a tropical Christmas cake. L-O-L!
The best part? I have all the ingredients! Yay! 😀
Hi Hari,
Simple, yes, but very tasty. I enjoyed it. Hope you get some time to make it. Have a wonderful weekend. I’m sure it’s now saturday in Indonesia. Are you going to the market today? Enjoy your day.
Liz
Hi Liz,
Yes it is Saturday now here in Indonesia.
It’s been a rainy week. In fact, it is raining very heavily right now. I am losing the internet connection (I’m using wireless modem).
Have a wonderful weekend! 😀
Thanks for reminding me that I should be visiting your blog. I had some problems with my wireless connection too yesterday. I don’t know why. No rain here, just a lovely day full of sunshine. It’s so wonderful and lovely. Have a great evening!
Liz
Oh this cake looks so wonderfully light and juicy but fluffy at the same time. Actually it sounds and looks like summer! Delicous!
Hi Afra,
Sorry I took a long time to respond. I’m feeling rather ill today. I’m so glad you find the cake light and fluffy. It tasted so good…we still have a bit of sunshine here although the nights are cold, in single digits. Have a lovely weekend. Thanks so much for your friendship.
Best wishes,
Liz
Very pretty cake Liz! Love coconut! 🙂
Oh Lidia!
Thank you!
Liz
delicious. i just love coconut in any form. i will be making coconut sweets soon. thanx for sharing the recipe. have a great week ahead.
Hi Chef,
I love coconut too. I look forward to the coconut sweets you’ll be making. I hope they are easy enough for me to make too. Have a lovely week!
Liz
Coconut and white chocolate are two of my favourite things – will be trying this one for sure!
Hi Lauren,
LOL , what a coincidence! Coconut and white chocolate are my favourites too…enjoy your cake when you try it. I wish you a wonderful week!
Liz
I just knew when your post came up I was going to end up feeling hungry, even though I’ve just had breakfast. The cake looks so yummy, love the photo’s. i manged to get a mixing bowl out last week with the help of my 12 year old we made a Swiss roll, maybe we will try something a bit more challenging, thanks for Sharing 🙂
Hi there,
You’ve reminded me of good old swiss rolls. There was a time when I used to make a lot of swiss rolls. One of these fine days, I should make one, with some nice filling. I hope you enjoyed your swiss roll. I enjoyed the coconut cake, thoroughly. I had one huge slice…and I loved reading about your experience at the Ritz Hotel. There is a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto. I have just been admiring their picture gallery. I’m sure it costs a fortune to dine there. Have a lovely week!
Liz
Imagine I am from the land of coconuts, but never thought or seen a cake with coconut milk!! will try this soon.Looks very soft and fluffy.
HI Priya,
Coconut milk can be used for baking and it’s also a good substitute for milk especially for those with lactose intolerance. The cake tasted very nice. You should try it, when you find time and make sure you add the white chocolate chips. Have a lovely week!
Liz
Yum! Love the combination of coconut with white chocolate 😀 Your cake looks beautiful!
Hi Ada,
Thanks so much for complimenting. I love coco-white-choco-chips combo too. It tastes very nice. Have a lovely week!
Liz
I recently realized that I love coconut! LOL I am definitely trying this recipe in the next few days! Looks great!
Claudia @LittleFoodCottage.com
Hi claudia,
I got hooked into coconut oil over the weekend. I shall definitely be using it more often for very many things. Welcome to the coconut club!
Liz
That looks amazing. Coconut is undoubtedly one of my favorite ingredients.
Hi Chad,
That means, you and I are coconut buddies. How nice. It’s also my most favourite ingredient! Lovely week to you!
Liz
Oooooh that’s. Gorgeous 🙂
and tastes gorgeous too. Thanks
Liz
One word. Yum!
Two words, thank you!
Liz
Oh !! Wow !! You are my favourite cake maker. Of all the cakes that you have published I think …..no, heck …..I love them all 😀 Ralph xox 😀
Hi Ralph,
Thanks for loving them all. Thats a good sign for the cook. I still dream about your three course meals. What a lucky guy you are. I can’t remember when I last had a three course meal, maybe two, some soup and dessert or some main course and a dessert. Sigh….have a happy week!
Liz
Please don’t sigh. You can always join me for the evening meal. Ute from http://utesmile.wordpress.com/ did a few weeks ago 😀 I don’t get scrumptious cakes like you delight me with though 😀
I have just been to Ute’s blog and landed straight on the post “how to spread love” Don’t we all want to spread love and kindness and smiles?. Thanks for sharing her link! I think it”s now well past your bed time Ralph. Have a good night!!!
Yes. Ute is a lovely lady and had a great vacation here with me for 5 days.
And…..yes Ma’am …… it’s well past my bed time and I am off down the mountains to the Costa Del Sol tomorrow with David (another WP blogger) so I had better shut down for the night. Goodnight my friend 😀
Goodnight, Ralph, Now I remember Ute very well. She is the lovely lady who paid you a visit!!!! Enjoy the mountains and best wishes to David!
Thank you so much Liz. I have just returned from the coast and passed your best wishes onto David who said thank you and returned the same to you 😀
Hi Ralph,
Thanks so much. I hope you enjoyed the coast and David did too. Tell David thank you too, and wish you a lovely day and evening today. Best wishes!
Liz
Okay 😀
I so love coconut! Love white chocolate too! This looks so delicious to me! I just had a piece of tea bread with coconut in it so I am good for now, but this may have to go on my list to make….once I get my oven fixed!
Hi Mama D,
What happened to your oven? and how I liked all the
yummy things you’ve been baking especially the last bread with some chocolate in the centre. I loved eating this cake. It was very delicious. I would bake it again and again. Thanks so much for popping by. Hope your oven gets fixed very soon. Have a lovely evening!
Liz
Last week when I had brownies in the oven I looked over and noticed the clock was off…the power was off all together! I panicked! Managed to find out it was just the circuit. I kept trying to switch the circuit on and had problems. The brownie pan would not fit anywhere else, plus I had no idea how long they had been in the oven, I was using the timer on the oven. I left them in the oven, hoping it would stay hot enough and checked a few times. They did indeed turn out all right! When baking the other day I noticed it took forever to preheat. After checking it I discovered it never heated at all. Luckily that pan fit in my other oven! Need to have hubby check the oven this weekend or call repairman.
Good luck with your oven and great to know you have another one. I have only one miserable oven that I hope to replace as soon as I get enough money to buy a nice convectional one, preferably a fan one. Have a lovely evening!
It is nice to have another oven, though it is too small to do many things. I have birthday cakes to bake in two weeks….
I hope the main one will get fixed soon. I keep my fingers crossed for you. Have a very wonderful evening and thanks so much for popping by, again.
Liz
Looks delicious! I’m suddenly very hungry…..
Hi Debbie,
Ha ha have a slice and let me know how you liked it!!! Thanks for dropping by. Enjoy your evening!
Liz
That looks amazing!! It’s a good thing it’s not right in front of me in a form that I can eat, because I’d probably just inhale it all in one second!
Hi Dave,
I had one mammoth slice of that cake and all I can remember is it tasted very delicious especially the white chocolate chips…that melded inside but could still be tasted with every bite. Thanks and have a lovely evening.
LIz
Do you know about “oil pulling”? We use coconut oil for this purpose, too.
Oh yes. I did read about oil pulling as well, during the weekend. It was very intriguing and I am going to try that as well. All the things I read about coconut oil were so fascinating and unbelievable. I have gotten, hooked, for keeps! Thanks for reminding me about it!!!
I do it when I am cooking dinner. Keeps me from popping food into my mouth for at least ten minutes every day! ;->
Are you telling me you spend the whole day popping food into your mouth LOL? I do most of my popping, when I extremely bored…like today. I have virtually been eating the whole day long. I now have a mini stomach ache. How I hate being bored…Thanks for lifting my low spirits!
I do like the flavour of coconut and this looks very moist.
I’ve also started using coconut oil as my main cooking oil, after hearing about the potential health benefits. It works particularly well with asian recipes. It seems like coconut products (milk, oil, and water) are appearing more commonly in stores locally these days.
Hi Lignum,
I love coconut flavour too. I am also using coconut oil as a lotion 2-3 times a week and on my hair. I love it in asian foods like curries too and it also goes very well with rice and other starchy foods like cassava, yams, and potatoes. Thanks so much for popping by. Have a lovely week.
Liz
That cake does look moist and delicious! Never used coconut milk; I must give it a try soon.
x
Hi Rosa,
You should try it. The cake tasted delicious especially with the white chocolate chips. I loved, loved it!!!
Liz
Absolutely cruel and unusual punishment to flaunt that glorious confection on my screen while I am still munching breakfast! I buy unsweetened, large-flake coconut in five-pound bags, so you can imagine how much we love the stuff! It’s in my cereal at this very moment!
Hi Dorrie Anne,
I spent the whole weekend reading about coconut oil and now I’m totally hooked. I shall be loading my pantry with lots of coconut oil and other coconut goodies. I am with you, all the way. Thanks and have a lovely day!!!
Liz