I'm getting excited about exploring Normandy. It was never part of my original plans to go there and in fact, when I think back I don't think I'd have ever planned to go there ever. I'm not sure why that is, but I just found other areas of France more appealing to me. Well, thank God all that's changed thanks in large part to reading two particular cookbooks by Jane Webster - My French Table and Family Ties. I know I've raved on about these books in the past on this little blog of mine, but the stories and pictures make me feel as though I'm already there. I can smell the country air and taste all of that delicious food.
So, of course, it wasn't long before I NEEDED to make something else from one of these cookbooks, and the winning recipe for the day was.......
Raspberry and Coconut Butter Cake
125g butter
275g caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs lightly beaten
125ml milk
185g self-raising wholemeal flour
70g desiccated coconut
200g fresh raspberries
icing sugar, to serve
Preheat oven to 180 degrees and butter and line a 23cm spring form cake tin.
Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs and milk, then fold in the flour, coconut and raspberries. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 50-55 minutes. The centre of the cake should feel firm, not liquidy to the touch.
Sprinkle with sifted icing sugar.
I love the dense richness of this cake from both the coconut and from the use of wholemeal flour. This is no light fluffy number, it is moreish and chewy cake with the raspberries adding a lively, fresh flavour.
A winning cake for my taste buds, but my niece and nephew didn't take to well to it....mainly for the fact it wasn't chocolate! It is almost Easter after all!
Oh... Yum!!! I'll be making this, this week. I've got so much frozen fruit I should use so it may not be strictly raspberry. I had a similar recipe which I made once and loved but do you think I can find it?? I remember the batter stiffening up with the addition of the fruit so I might let it thaw this time.
ReplyDeleteThank God I went for a 3 hour hike yesterday as I nearly ate the whole cake it was so moreish!
ReplyDeleteHi Leigh, just read your blog about going to Normandy. It is a region of foodie delight and I think you will love it there. Even the rest of us in other parts of France know that Normandy is food paradise! I'm looking forward to reading about your visit but in the meantime as you're such a cake admirer I thought I'd send you a really old recipe for Dundee Cake http://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/grandma-flos-recipe-for-dundee-cake/
ReplyDeleteits been passed down through the family and it really is lovely, best wishes, Janine
Hi Janine - thank you for the recipe. I love recipes that have been passed down through families - so much history. As you can imagine, I'm very excited to be heading over to France. All that food at my finger tips.
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