GâTEAU D'HéLèNE (COCONUT CAKE)
This coconut cake was adapted from a recipe by Simone (Simca) Beck, best known as Julia Child's co-author on "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." She called it "Gâteau d'Hélène: a white cake filled and iced with coconut cream and apricot." The recipe, published in Ms. Beck's 1972 book, "Simca's Cuisine" (Lyons Press, 1998), capped what she called a "carefree lunch" because it could be made ahead. Indeed, this cake is best baked, filled, frosted and refrigerated for at least an hour (or up to two days). Kind of like a madeleine, its layers are purposefully a bit dry, as they need to hold a dousing of orange juice and rum. The whipped cream filling and frosting is soft and dreamy. It's an elegant celebration cake.
Provided by Dorie Greenspan
Categories cakes, dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield 1 (8-inch) cake (about 8 servings)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Make the cake: Center a rack in the oven, and heat to 325 degrees. Butter an 8-inch springform pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, and butter the paper; dust with flour and shake out the excess.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and sea salt.
- Working with a mixer, beat together the butter, sugar and orange zest on medium speed for about 4 minutes, until pale and creamy. Add the eggs one by one, beating for 1 minute after each egg goes in, and scraping often.
- Reduce the speed to low, and add half the flour mixture, beating until it almost disappears into the batter. Add the remaining flour mixture, and beat until it is incorporated. Give the batter a last stir with a spatula, then scrape it into the pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack, let the cake cool 20 minutes, then run a table knife along the edges and remove the pan's sides. Invert the cake onto the rack, remove the bottom of the pan and the parchment, turn the cake over and cool to room temperature right side up.
- Cut the cake into three layers; flip the top layer so that the crumb is exposed.
- Prepare the filling and frosting: Stir together the orange juice and rum (if using), and using a brush or spoon, lightly moisten each layer with the liquid, then spread with apricot preserves.
- Working with a mixer, whip the cream just until it holds soft peaks, and add the vanilla. Working on medium speed, add the sugar in a slow, steady stream; stop beating when all the sugar is incorporated and the cream is firm. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the cream into a small bowl, and stir in about 2/3 cup of the shredded coconut. You'll have a very thick mixture.
- Place the layer that was the top of the cake on a serving platter, jam side up, and cover with half the coconut cream. Top with the middle layer, jam side up, and spread with the remaining coconut cream. Place the last layer on the cake, jam side down. Using an icing spatula or a table knife, frost the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream, then coat with the remaining shredded coconut.
- The cake can be served now, but it tastes and cuts better after it's been refrigerated for at least an hour.
INCREDIBLE COCONUT CAKE
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. -Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield 16 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 325°. In another large bowl, beat sugar, butter and oil until well blended. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. , Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut and extracts.. , Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites., Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth. , Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting and sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 689 calories, Fat 37g fat (21g saturated fat), Cholesterol 123mg cholesterol, Sodium 353mg sodium, Carbohydrate 85g carbohydrate (64g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.
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
Provided by Bergy
Categories Dessert
Time 51m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- (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.
HALEKULANI HOTEL COCONUT CAKE
This fabulous cake comes from the majestic Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, where it has been the hotel's signature cake for years. It's a light, creamy concoction that sings "spring." The cake is a light sponge cake, filled with pastry cream, and topped off with whipped cream. I saw this in the local Relish magazine that comes with our newspaper. I had to post it and share it with my zaar friends. ;)
Provided by Vseward Chef-V
Categories Dessert
Time 45m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- To prepare the cake, preheat the oven to 350°F Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
- To prepare the cake, sift together cake flour, 2/3 cup sugar, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. In separate bowl, combine oil, egg and water; add to flour mixture. Mix until smooth.
- Whip egg whites and cream of tartar. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter until just combined.
- Pour into pan and bake about 30 minutes or until center is set. Remove from pan set aside to cool. Store in the refrigerator several hours before cutting.
- To prepare the pastry cream, combine 1 3/4 cups milk, sugar, salt and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until tiny bubbles form.
- Combine remaining milk with cornstarch; add eggs and beat several times. Add ½ cup hot milk mixture to egg mixture; mix well. Pour egg mixture back into milk mixture in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Scrape custard into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator.
- To prepare the whipped cream, combine heavy cream and sugar in a mixing bowl and whip until stiff peaks form.
- Add 1 cup of whipped cream, amaretto and 1 1/4 cups coconut to pastry cream; stir well. Set remaining whipped cream and coconut aside.
- When cake is completely cooled, cut into three layers using a serrated knife. Place one layer on a 9-inch cake board or a serving plate. Place half the pastry cream on top and spread to edge evenly. Place second layer of cake on top of pastry cream and spread remaining pastry cream on top. Place third layer of cake on top. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining whipped cream and sprinkle with 1/2 cup coconut.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 584.1, Fat 35.9, SaturatedFat 20.8, Cholesterol 151.9, Sodium 337.5, Carbohydrate 58.6, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 39.1, Protein 8.9
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