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.
SIMPLY THE BEST COCONUT CAKE
Incredibly moist and sweet with a delightful coconut taste that's not overwhelming, this is the best coconut cake ever. Each bite combines a cold and creamy filling, a soft cake, and a thick, sweet frosting--it melts in your mouth! And it looks fancy, like you spent all day making it, but it's actually super easy and approachable.
Provided by NicoleMcmom
Time 1h40m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), or 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for coated pans. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
- Stir sugar, frozen coconut, and sour cream for filling together in a medium bowl until well combined. Set aside in the fridge until ready to use.
- Combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, eggs, egg whites, and vanilla for cake in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Blend on medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then invert onto a parchment-lined cooling rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- Use a large, serrated knife to cut each cake layer in half lengthwise; you will have 4 pieces. Flip top pieces so all cut sides are facing up. Stack layers and filling on a serving platter as follows: 1 bottom layer, 1/3 of the filling, 1 top layer, 1/3 of the filling, remaining bottom layer, remaining filling, remaining top layer. Cover and chill, 30 minutes to overnight.
- Combine sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, water, vanilla, and cream of tartar for frosting in a large heat-proof bowl; stir until well combined. Place the bowl over a double boiler and whisk using an electric hand mixer until thick and glossy, about 7 minutes. Take care that the double boiler doesn't reach higher than a slow simmer.
- Spread frosting over cooled cake immediately and sprinkle with shredded coconut.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 610.3 calories, Carbohydrate 99.4 g, Cholesterol 47.2 mg, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 5.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 494.2 mg, Sugar 80.4 g
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.
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