Coconut Gingerbread Loaf Cake

I know it sounds weird, but go with me on this.  You’ll be glad you did!

I don’t know about you, but I love toasted coconut.  When I worked at a gourmet shaved ice place in my hometown (and yes, I’m serious…it was delicious!) my favorite flavor was toasted coconut.  And when I learned how to make it myself?  Watch out world…Heather’s eating toasted coconut tonight!

 

See, it’s so easy to make!  You take coconut, put it in a pan, and gently heat it til it’s toasted.  Pour it on a cold plate to stop the cooking and you’ve got an irresistible treat.  Done and done.  I’ll take 3 plates!

Want to know what inspired this recipe?

 

Hand soap.  Yes, you read that correctly:  my coconut and warm ginger hand soap that I want to eat every time I wash my hands.  My hands have never been so dry.

 

My nose has never been so happy.

So here’s the scoop:  you take my Mimi’s gingerbread recipe.  You add coconut milk in lieu of buttermilk.  You frost it with a simple vanilla buttercream.  You throw gobs of toasted coconut on top.  You take it to a party where it’s eaten immediately and everyone asks you for the recipe, for your inspiration, for your hand in marriage.  You just smile and graciously thank them.

 

You win.

 

The end.

COCONUT GINGERBREAD LOAF CAKE

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup coconut milk (the full-fat kind)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup shredded coconut, toasted
• 1 stick room temperature butter
• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2-3 Tbsp milk

Preheat your oven to 350.  Grease a 9×5 loaf pan (if you don’t have a loaf pan you can do a 9-inch cake pan, but you won’t be baking it as long).  Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the molasses and eggs.  Mix well.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.  Alternately mix in the dry ingredients by 1/3 at a time with the coconut milk, 1/3 at a time.  Once everything is well mixed pour into the greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean (NOTE: if the top starts to get too brown just lightly cover with foil).  If you’re baking in a cake pan, bake for 30-35 minutes.  Meanwhile throw together the buttercream by creaming the stick of butter with the vanilla.  Add the powdered sugar and enough of the milk to reach a thick and spreadable consistency.  Let cake cool completely before frosting.  Frost the top thickly, then press the mounds of coconut into the frosting.  Enjoy!

Thick, rich, and totally delicious.  Winning.

Tagged as: coconut gingerbread cake, coconut milk, easy holiday dessert recipe, gingerbread cake, gingerbread loaf, holiday desserts, how to toast coconut, toasted coconut, vanilla buttercream, what to take to holiday parties