This cake is the ultimate in crowd pleasing desserts. It’s Alton Brown’s labor intensive, truly-from-scratch coconut cake recipe and I have never attempted to make it. Partially because I’m not the world’s biggest pastry enthusiast and partially because it takes two days and one power tool to make, but mostly because this cake is the specialty of my aunt’s husband, Patrick. And when somebody has a specialty in the family, it’s better not to step into his territory. Other cooks should keep the oven mitts off it.
This one-million-calorie per slice piece of heaven is the coconuttiest thing I’ve ever tasted. The cake is moist and flavorful and there is enough fresh coconut involved that it shames baked goods made with imitation ingredients. After dinner, when the one remaining slice was offered to my husband, who will drop everything and follow the sweet aroma of coconut to Bucks County if there is even a rumor that this cake is being baked, I told him he shouldn’t take it. It isn’t polite, I said. But my aunt said that part of the fun of making the cake is Dan’s special zeal for it. Dan wins the leftover cake by virtue of his intense ardor.
This morning, I jostled the container it was stored in and Dan acted like I violently shook a newborn. That’s cake love. Too bad I’ll never make it for him, unless we outlive my uncle.
Do you have a knock out recipe that is your specialty, something that your whole family is excited to gather around? Tell me in the comments, with links if available. Let’s swap! Other people’s family specialties are totally fair game.
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OMG Joy,
That looks amazing. I adore coconut. Do you have Dorie Greenspan’s Baking book? There’s a coconut cream tart in there that is pretty great, too.
Not sure I have a specialty but I’ve been working hard on perfecting my birthday cakes this year and the last one I made was quite crowd pleasing. I haven’t posted the recipe yet, but will let you know when I do!
I’ve got three. The only one from my family is “Sausage Yummies,” which are exactly what they sound like – sausage and yummy. But I’ve also come to demand two of my boyfriend’s family recipe dishes – his Cincinnati chili and super-smoky sauerkraut. The latter is basically the opposite of a recipe you’d find in your book – meat overtaking what is normally a veggie-centric dish.
We celebrated my dad’s birthday earlier today. I made him the chocolate cake listed below. It is now the only cake my family will “let” me make for their birthday. It’s my present to them.
http://laphemmephoodie.com/2010/02/double-chocolate-layer-cake.html
I absolutely love coconut cake. You’re right; only homemade will do.
That is so funny you posted this. We saw him making it on TV this week, and I thought of you because it was so very homemade. I definitely won’t be making this one either though … far too much time involved.
Yum! Coconut cake is definitely one of my all time favorites. This year I have made a zillion (at least it feels like it) batches of the Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls. The only change I make to her recipe is the icing. I substitute vanilla for the coffee and maple flavoring. Baking is so much fun, I may have to try this cake sometime!