Coconut Cake | Nana's Kitchen

Hello! This is the recipe for an easy coconut cake that Nana likes to make often. Nana hopes you'll enjoy! :)

Ingredients: 

For the cake: 

• 3 eggs 
• 1 cup semolina
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
• nuts (these are optional. Nana used walnuts)
• 3/4 cup of sugar (or 1 cup if you prefer it sweeter)
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 cup of flour (you may need to add more depending on the consistency)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract or one vanilla packet
• 1/4 cup of chopped pistachios to decorate with (optional)

Simple syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice 

 

Instructions:

1. Crack three eggs into a bowl and give them a good whisk. Add the semolina, coconut and nuts to eggs and stir until combined.
2. Add the sugar, yogurt and oil to the bowl and mix until combined. 
3. Add the flour, baking powder, and vanilla and mix. You may need to add more flour if your batter is too runny. If it's too thick you can add a little bit more yogurt. You can see what the consistency should look like here: https://youtu.be/HozVRbdkdvA?t=200
4. Pour your batter into your greased cake pan. Nana used a rectangular tray. 
5. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350℉ oven. You can check if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean the cake is done. 
6. Make your syrup while the cake is baking. Put your sugar, water and lemon juice into a pot and bring to a boil. Let it simmer until all the sugar is dissolved then remove from the heat. 
7. Let the cake cool then cut into squares. Spoon some of the syrup over the cake; the amount you use will depend on how sweet you want the cake to be. You can store the leftover syrup in the fridge in a jar and use in other desserts like baklava. You can also use maple syrup or honey instead. 
8. Top each square with the chopped pistachios.
9. Enjoy!

You can watch Nana make the recipe here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HozVRbdkdvA