Coconut Cake

250g unsalted butter
1.5 cups caster sugar
1 cup milk
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp cocount essence
1.5 cups shredded coconut
3 cups SR flour, sifted
3 cup of frosting
2 cups flaked, shredded or dessicated coconut

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line base and sides of a deep 20cm round cake pan with baking paper. Put butter and sugar in a large heavy based saucepan over a low heat and stir until butter melts and sugar starts to dissolve.
2. Remove pan from heat and stand for 8-10 mins or until lukewarm. Stir in milk, egg essence, coconut and flour. spoon into prepared tin and smooth top. Bake for 30-35 mins or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Stand on a wire rack for 10 min before turning out to cool.
3. Cut cake in half crossways and spread top and bottom half with 1/2 cup frosting. Spread remaining frosting over cake and sprinkle with cocount (can toast coconut).

coconut icecream

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

In a medium saucepan combine the milk, cream and coconut milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and let it sit for at least 1 hour. Return the saucepan to low heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.

In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks and the sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly add the warm milk mixture while constantly whisking. Pour this mixture back into the saucepan and heat over low heat until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool. Add the vanilla and chill thoroughly.

Freeze in a ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions.

choc-cherry coconut slice

300g ground hazelnuts
300g plain flour
250g butter
150g caster sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1-3 tbsp water
extra flour for kneading
2 eggs
extra 100g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g dessicated coconut
200g glace cherries, chopped
70g craisins
300g dark cooking chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Line a slice tin with baking paper. Put hazelnuts, flour, butter, sugar and cocoa in a food processor and process until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add enough water to bring dough together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until dough comes together. Roll out to fit base of prepared tin. Put in tin and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
2. Put eggs and extra sugar in a bowl. Add vanilla and beat with electric beaters until thick and pale yellow. Add coconut, cherry and craisins. Stir until combined.
3. Spoon mix onto base and spread evenly to edges. Bake for 6-8 mins or until firm to touch. cool on wire rack.
4. Put choc in a heatproof bowl and stir over a pan of simmering water until smooth. Pour over filling, spread smooth, then use a knife handle to make grooves in top. Refrigerate for 30-40 mins or until choc is set. To serve cut into rectangles.

Coconut raspberry slices

300g plain flour
200g butter
100g caster sugar
2 eggs
300g flaked coconut
500g fresh or frozen raspberries
2 tbsp pure sifted icing sugar
extra 100g flaked coconut, toasted

1. Line a slice tin with baking paper. Put flour, butter, sugar, egs and 100g of the coocnut in a food processor and process until mixture comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hr or until firm.
2. preheat oven to 200C. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of baking paper to fit base of prepared tin. Put in tin, scatter over fruit and sprinkle with icing sugar and all the remaining coconut. Bake for 30 mins or until golden. cool on a wire rack and cut into rectangles to serve.

Coconut Lime Syrup Cake

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 125g butter, chopped
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• 1 1/4 cups caster sugar
• 1 1/4 cups desiccated coconut

• Lime syrup

• 3 limes, rind finely shredded, juiced
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease and line a 6cm deep, 22cm (base) springform cake pan.

2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat (see shortcut). Transfer to a bowl. Add eggs and milk. Stir until combined.

3. Combine flour, sugar and coconut in a bowl. Add milk mixture. Stir to combine. Spread mixture into pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

4. Make lime syrup Combine 1/2 cup lime juice and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until syrupy. Stir in lime rind.

5. Pour hot lime syrup over hot cake. Allow cake to cool in pan before releasing side of pan. Cut into slices and serve. Shortcut Heat butter, uncovered, in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM (50%) for 1 to 2 minutes until almost melted. Stand for 1 minute before adding eggs and milk.

caramel coconut slice

Ingredients

Base
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
1/2 cup caster sugar
100g butter, melted

caramel filling
395g can of condensed milk
2 tblsp golden syrup
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
60g butter, melted

coconut topping
4 eggs beaten lightly
2/3 cup caster sugar
4 cups dessicated coconut

1. preheat oven to moderate. Grease 26cmx32cm swiss roll pan, line base and 2 long sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above the edge of the pan.
2. sift flour into medium bowl, stir in coconut, sugar and butter; press evenly over base of prepared pan.
3. bake in moderate oven about 10 mins or until lightly browned, cool.
4. spread caramel filling evenly over base; sprinkle with coconut topping.
5. return to moderate oven, bake 25 mins or until topping is browned lightly; cool in pan before cutting.

caramel filling: combine ingredients in bowl, mix well.
coconut topping: combine ingredients in bowl, mix well.

Left over coconut topping can be made into macaroons.