I really, really, really like lime.
Well, I like all kinds of citrus. I’ve been contemplating lately if I should make a whole Pin board dedicated to the blueberry-lemon things I’ve Pinned. It’s a bit of a sickness.
My assigned blog for this month’s Secret Recipe Club was Megan’s Cookin’. With three plus years of recipes in her archives, I had a difficult time choosing a recipe to make. I needed something yummy to take to a Christmas-in-January party, though, and it seemed like a perfect occasion to make coconut cake. Mr. V doesn’t eat coconut, so I don’t use it very often in recipes.
I enhanced the lime flavor just a little bit more and used a lime buttercream rather than the glaze Megan outlined. (What can I say? I just love buttercream. And cream cheese icing. And, well, pretty much anything that involves sugar.)
I thought the lime-coconut flavor was in perfect balance. Unfortunately, it turns out not too many people at the Christmas party ate coconut either. So I had to eat most of the cake myself.
It’s a shame.
This fantastic single-layer cake is adapted from Megan's Cookin'.
Ingredients
- 1 c. sweetened shredded coconut, divided
- 1/2 c. butter, softened (1 stick)
- 1 1/4 c. sugar
- zest of one lime
- 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 c. cake flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 3/4 c. milk
- juice of two limes
- 4 T butter
- 1 lime, zested and juiced
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1-2 T milk
Instructions
Measure milk in a liquid measuring cup. Squeeze in lime juice to the 1-cup mark. Set aside. Milk will curdle – you are basically making limey buttermilk.
Beat together butter, sugar, and lime zest with a mixer until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time.
Combine cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 cup coconut in a bowl and whisk together with a fork. Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to the batter with mixer on medium speed, letting combine completely before next addition.
Grease and line with parchment paper a 9-inch cake pan or Springform pan. [It NEEDS the parchment paper lining. Trust me. I thought I could beat the system, but it didn't work.] Bake at 350F 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
In a mixer, beat 4 Tablespoons butter and the juice and zest of one lime together until smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt and 1 cup confectioner’s sugar. Beat until smooth and combined. Add in a Tablespoon or two of milk if needed to become uniform and spreadable.
Spread cooled cake with frosting and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Refrigerate until serving.
Added to Ingredient Spotlight: Citrus.
wish i was there to help you eat that cake. it looks fantastic! yay src!
Yeah, I probably could have used a little help. But the sweet/sour combo just goes down so quickly. Mmm …
Oh how funny. I’m just like you only with me, it’s pumpkin and I do have a whole pinboard devoted to pumpkin recipes. I think we both need help. Your cake looks so good. I say go pinboard crazy.
Hmm, I could probably do that with pumpkin, too. LOVE me some pumpkin recipes.
I love the thought of those two flavors together in a cake. Going to have to try this one for sure!
Whoa, Nelly, this sounds and looks delish! What a shame you had to eat it all yourself-haha!
I adore lime and coconut, I’m saving this recipe. Great SRC Choice.
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my SRC entry: Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
I loved this cake and it sounds heavenly with the lime buttercream. That picture with the zest speckled through the buttercream gets me drooling. Time for me to make another one of these!
Do it! Can I come for dinner??
Anytime! And I’ll have a fresh cake in the oven.
What a lovely cake! This looks so delicious – yum!
I’m with you on the buttercream. Why else eat cake?
This one looks and sounds really good. Great SRC pick!
Looks SO good… I had to pin it!
http://pinterest.com/pin/141441244516927355/
My husband is the same way, I love coconut, he hates it. He even claims he can taste the difference when I use the coconut oil that is not supposed to taste like coconut.
Thank you, Kara! Yeah, if Mr. V knows I use coconut oil he claims to be able to taste it. I can usually get away with the expeller-pressed, though.
That sounds so good! Wish I would have been there to help you eat it.
I am also citrus obsessed! These look absolutely stunning, great SRC choice!
Thanks!
Okay so of course I now have that song stuck in my head. I love anything with coconut. Add some lime and it’s a party.
That looks magical!!! I am all over that. I share your love of lime
Those sound like wonderful flavors, two of my favorite, actually. I’d love to try this out soon!
Let me know if you do! It’s really a wonderful combination, isn’t it?
I HEART citrus flavor too!!! Especially in a baked goodie…it just adds a special spark to the yumminess of the treat!
Your cake looks wonderful!!! I am sure it was enjoyed by ALL that had a piece!
Fun to find your blog via SRC as I am in group D
So I think that I’m going to try this with grapefruit. We have a whole carton of grapefruit juice about to expire…