The Legacy of the Coconut Cake

I never knew that a house could hold expectations of other owners until I inherited those expectations. Gifts created and given from that house and its owners that were missed when the owners moved on. You see, that previous owner of our home must have been an incredible cook, because one of our neighbors received her coconut cake recipe every year as a Christmas gift.

For years I had no clue that that recipe preceded me. Not until, that previous owner passed away.

Every year I give gifts to my neighbors. It’s usually a favorite Christmas candy, nuts & bolts or cookies that are given to this one former coconut cake recipient. She loved them and her children loved them.

After Frances, the previous owner, passed away, the coconut cake gift came into conversation. My husband is not a fan of coconut–taste or texture–so, few coconut recipes are in my files or produced here.

That first year, I went to a local bakery and got her coconut cupcakes added to the candy. The next year was a fabulous cake from Sam’s Club. I really had no clue what “THE RECIPE” looked or tasted like, until I finally asked the question: “Do you have Frances’ coconut cake recipe?”

A copy was texted to me in Frances’ handwriting. Perfect.

The discussion with that neighbor continued on how delightful it would be to add strawberry or chocolate or other ingredients to that cake because she was certain it was Frances’ icing that was the real star of the show.

Christmas was over when I received this recipe…so, I thought…I’ll surprise her for New Year’s. It passed. Plans were made for Valentine’s Day…and then for Easter…and Mother’s Day…and no cake was baked.

Christmas season came again, and I needed to meet those cake expectations that this house and owner had passed down to me. Sort of like ancestry.com when you have no clue about those ancestors, but you find out that they are similar to you in some way. Cooking was evidently our connection; and this recipe? the legacy that Frances and this house now passed on to me.

So, this coconut cake recipe was added to my collection.

It’s maiden voyage, (for me at least, not the house!) began.

Instead of the four layer large version that this cake recipe intended, I thought I’d be creative.

How about individual servings of that cake? After all this neighbor is single with all of her flock having flown the nest.

I pulled out a large muffin pan (mistake) instead of cupcake pans. Filled the first batch with a little too much batter, lesson learned.

After those cakes were baked and cooled, I realized that the tops were wider than the bottom.

Hilariously, I sliced them in layers and repositioned (or attempted) in similar sizes and iced the layers and the outside of each tiny “cake”.

Next hurdle, coconut cake packaging.

Frances’ directions are to refrigerate this cake for at least 3 days before serving or freezing it. Both required packaging.

I rummaged through my storage containers and realized that plastic storage bowls could be the solution. I had added parchment paper under each “cake” before icing and that made moving them to the lids of those plastic bowls much easier. The bowl portion was added and it was the perfect storage container.

A mini cake carrier of sorts.

NOTE: storage containers are available for this purpose…

She was delighted. Freeze them and have them anytime she wanted…genius!

Perhaps, not the most gorgeous of tiny cakes…but, by the look on her face, it was worth creating them all!

If coconut cake is your thing, perhaps you need to give this one a try.

The Secret is in the icing.

I think you could put this icing on anything and win the award– on a brownie or any cake and, if you are a coconut lover–you will be over the moon!

I love that these tiny cakes are the perfect serving size. If she has guests, she can remove how many tiny cakes she needs from the freezer and thaw for serving. The cake is designed to be served refrigerated so it’s the perfect dessert to have on hand when guests drop in.

For all the incredible baking perfectionists, no judgement, please…just here making hearts happy!

This year, a regular four layer cake was made and gifted for her New Year’s gathering.

Wouldn’t those be perfect for Valentine’s Day this year?

…with a few dipped strawberries added?

Add a few of those hot cocoa stirs and cocoa bombs and you are ready for Valentine’s Day!

Here are a few shopping links used to create this cake for your shopping convenience at no additional cost to use…but, may provide a tiny commission for the blog.

Enjoy!