TWD: Coconut Tea Cake

 

I had this post all ready to go yesterday, but I couldn't post it because I couldn't take a picture of my food. Why, you ask?  Well, the reliable weatherman stated that yesterday would be clear skies. Did we have clear skies? Noooooo.  So I couldn't take a photo before I left for work.

I decided to make this cake this week, as opposed to last week, because I wanted to make it for Easter.

Did I make it for Easter?

Noooooooo.

Does that ever happen to you? You have grandiose dreams of making tons of food and desserts, only to make... nothing?

Well, I did make something. A fantastic cheesecake/chocolate mousse cake concoction that I saw on Doughmesstic. But that was made the day prior. 

Here is how I envisioned it:  

I wake up on a beautiful Easter Sunday morning.  I lace up my sneakers and go running outdoors, savoring the spring smells that waft through the air. I return home and, after a refreshing shower, head to church to give props to Jesus (I'm normally not a church-goer, but with the recent passing of my grandmother, I wanted to attend). After giving due props to Jesus, I go get a haircut and a manicure to beautify myself before my first day of work, return home and quickly bake up this Coconut Tea Cake and make another Samoa Tart (which my father has been begging me for since he ate the last one... by himself).  I arrive to my Aunt's house, three cakes in tow, all before 3 pm.

Here is how it actually happened:

I woke up groggy and disheveled. I eat a leftover hamburger for breakfast. A LEFTOVER HAMBURGER. With cheese. I intend to go running outside, but instead, hit the treadmill because I don't feel like going running outside. I take a quick shower and then play Call of Duty 2 on X-Box and curse how difficult these new-fangled video games are.  "Who can beat these complicated games these days?!" I shout!  "And why do they have to look so real? It's freaking me out." I quickly get ready for church, arrive 5 minutes late and almost cut off the Priest as he is about to make his entrance down the aisle. I grumble about the pain in my knees each time we have to kneel in the pew and wonder how everyone always knows exactly what to say in response to the Priest and make funny faces at the 2-year old girl who keeps staring at me two pews ahead. As church is over, I curse to myself (yes, in my head, in church. I'm so bad). "CRAP! It's already 1:30! I can't make any cakes!"  I rush home, do my hair, and rush out of my parent's house (I went to church with them), forgetting the one actual cake I made, only to realize it when I arrive at my Aunt's house 30 minutes later. Luckily, my brother likes to arrive fashionably late (read: 1 hour late) and was able to bring the cake (although it was a little worse for wear after the transportation). 

So I made the cake last night... at 10 pm. I couldn't do anything pretty to it, like I wanted to. I had visions of candied blood oranges, but the reality was... just a Bundt cake.  But I actually loved this cake. I know many bloggers thought it was quite dry, but mine was incredibly moist and light. I omitted the coconut, as I didn't want that texture in the cake, and added a ton of orange zest, which decorated the cake with beautiful little orange flecks throughout it's light yellow interior and flavored the cake beautifully.  What I loved most, however, was the sugary crust around the cake. All in all, this one was definitely a winner for me. 

I guess it's ok that I forgot to make it for Easter. More for me, right?

Check out Carmen of Carmen Cooks for the recipe!

Comments

[carmen]

Your cake is beautiful! You're a champion for making it anyway, and I'm glad you liked it!

[Emily from Cleanliness is Next to Godliness]

Oh this looks so light and fluffy and delish!

[spike]

yeah, no worries about forgetting it for Easter as long as you get to enjoy it! My cake was nice and moist too- don't know why so many got dry cakes. It's a shame. a downright shame.

[Jennifer]

Wow...sounds like a busy time!

Your cake looks gorgeous!

Did the 2 year old make faces back at you? That would have been HILARIOUS!

[Lauryn]

ha...I do the same thing...I plan out a lovely schedule for myself, which rarely ends up happening! But your cake looks beautiful and I'm glad u enjoyed it! Mine was incredibly moist as well. I loved this cake!

[DailyChef]

I'm not very good at Call of Duty either :-P I grew up playing games on a computer, and the switch to thumbs instead of mouse and keyboard is hard!

[Katrina]

Love your day plans, if anything but to just know I'm not alone in having so many dreams of all the great things I'll bake and take places and am lucky when I make the kids pb&j lunches for the day!
How's work?

[Nicole]

Does this ever happen to me? Uh, yes, absolutely! My ideal way of things never works out the beautiful way it does in my head. The silver lining is that it makes our blog stories more interesting :) The cake looks delicious, mmmm...coconut.

[Mimi]

Ah the best laid plans....
Your cake looks great, we thought this was a good cake, moist and light.
Mimi

[Phyllis]

Yes, this happens to me all the time which is why my pantry is overflowing with baking ingredients. I always have the best intentions but life gets in the way of baking sometimes. Glad you were able to finally make this cake, the sugary crust sounds fantastic, and the crumb does look pretty tender in your photo.

[pamela]

I'm exhausted just reading this post! The cake looks great though, and I hope everyone enjoyed it.

[5 Star Foodie]

The coconut cake looks terrific, a slice would be great with my cup of coffee right now!

[Michelle]

Im glad you enjoyed the cake! I hope you get some Rand R soon!!

[Mary]

Ha ha--your day sounds exactly like mine (every day)! I loved this cake too--found it moist, delicious, and pretty irresistible.
:)

[steph (whisk/spoon)]

haha! i know what you mean--i never get anything done! at least you made a nice cake in the end. hope your first week of work was good!

[ingrid]

Yes, yes that does happen to me. Pretty much everyday I say I'm going to make blah blah blah and then the time comes and I wimp out. :( My kids have been complaining about the lack of desserts.
~ingrid

[Dimah]

This cake looks scrumptious! I love coconut!

[mik]

I have good light - and nothing to shoot! This looks wonderful! You've captured the fluffiness for sure - and you're right - more for you! Nicely done!

[Tracey]

Haha I totally relate to your post - I always have grand ambitions for my day and rarely do things pan out as I'd planned. Oh well, keeps thing interesting. Great job on the cake!

[MBT Shoes]

It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.