I need help finding a recipe for a coconut cake that I think I remember.

[Arkansas Granny]

Years ago I ate a coconut cake and as I recall it had a coconut sugar syrup of some kind poured over the cake while still in the pan. It soaked into the cake, but left a slightly crystallized coconut layer on the top. I don't think it was a broiled topping because the coconut was still white. I've done a few searches, but haven't located anything that sounds quite like it yet.

[grasswire]

1. coconut in the batter?

There's a greek coconut cake ... could it be this? Or is it more American style?

http://greekfood.about.com/od/cookiescakes/r/coconut_cake.htm

[Arkansas Granny]

2. That's not the cake I'm thinking of, but it looks worth a try. Thanks for the link.

The one I think I remember was a plain white or yellow cake with the coconut/syrup topping poured over top while it was still in the pan. It formed a thin sugary crust when it cooled.

My dil's parents are visiting from Vietnam. Apparently, home baking is not common in Vietnam. They are really impressed with the baked goods that I make, but they don't care for buttercream type icing on cakes. I'm trying to come up with desserts that aren't too sweet for their taste.

[grasswire]

3. something else they might like are the cakes with cornmeal and olive oil

Mediterranean style.

Best of luck. I'll keep looking for the old coconut cake you want to find.

[beac]

4. What about a chestnut flour cake?

I made a version of this (which I can't now find online, alas) last year but w/out the raisina and orange zest:

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/david-rocco/castagnaccio-chestnut-flour-cake-recipe/index.html

Castagnaccio: Chestnut Flour Cake

TOTAL TIME:25
minPrep:10 min
Inactive Prep:5 min
Cook:10 min
YIELD:6 servings

14 ounces/400 g chestnut flour
2 tablespoons/30 ml sugar
Pinch salt
2 cups/1/2 l water
4 tablespoons/60 ml extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup/125 ml raisins
1/2 cup/125 ml pine nuts
Sprig fresh rosemary
Zest of 1 orange

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, and water. Whisk the batter well until the batter is silky smooth in consistency.

Add the olive oil to a nonstick pie pan and heat in the oven for 5 minutes. Once the oil and pie pan are hot, add the batter. Smooth out the batter evenly. Sprinkle the raisins, pine nuts, rosemary and orange zest on top.

Bake the cake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is golden.

__________

In my version, the rosemary was more plentiful it and the pinenuts were mixed in before baking.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. That sounds interesting. Does it have a cake like texture or is it more

like a quickbread?

[beac]

7. I guess it's somewhat dense like a quick bread, but it's also crumbly like a cake

It's only about an inch-and-a-half or so high when baked.

It's definitely not too sweet and it's super easy.

[housewolf]

6. Try this search

recipe cake coconut syrup

I googled it and came up with a number of recipes that might be helpful to you

[Hotler]

8. My mom used to make a simple coconut cake...

it was a basic white box cake. After it cooled she would punch a bunch of hole in the top with 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch skewer then pour a can of creamed of coconut over it and top with shredded coconut. I sure miss my mom. I would give up all I have right now for just one more hug from my mom.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. + 1

:hug:

[grasswire]

10. another variation on the coconut cake

Here's to moms! To their cakes and their hugs!

[KC]

11. I use

a white cake mix, bake according to directions. Mix one cup of whole milk and one cup of sugar together, stir until
sugar is dissolved then pour over hot cake while it's still in the pan.

Cover with foil and refrigerate until the cake is completely cool.

Then use extra rich Cool Whip for topping and sprinkle with fresh coconut on top