Week10 Devine Lime Cake with Toasted Coconut

When I had the idea to make this week's recipe with lime, I was originally thinking key lime pie, but I always try to hunt around for inspiration to see if anything really pops out at me different. When I saw some photos of a light fluffy cake with lime in it, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go. This cake is super moist, fluffy, and just the right density. I has toasted coconut and lots of lime zest and juice. Fresh, light, delicious. 

Got to grate the lime zest first, zest is strong and has a great aroma.

This is the icing base, cream cheese and butter, whipped till combined.

Add powdered sugar and it stiffens and sweetens up. This is what helps it solidify when dry as well.

Add the lime zest so it has a fresh citrus-y flavor.

Next comes time to toast sweetened coconut. Unlike in the states, where one can only find sweetened coconut, here in Iceland, it's only possible to buy desiccated coconut (the dry unsweet kind). One must soak the coconut first in whole milk with some sugar tossed in to get a similar tasting coconut. Toasting it brings out a nutty crunch, and makes the flavor a bit stronger.

Look at that beautiful color. This is touchy as it only takes about 5 minutes total to toast, and one must stir it often within those 5 minutes to get even browning and no burnt bits.

Those poor limes! but I needed more zest. :-)

The cake batter base. White sugar, butter, and zest.

The batter was a bit complicated to make so I couldn't make photos. I had two bowls, one of a whole milk, lime juice, and vanilla extract mixture, and one of flour mixed with toasted coconut. It must be combined in alternating pours, starting and ending with flour to ensure the juice is soaked up. Must be done quick also so the lime juice can't curdle the milk.

Cooking in the beautiful new oven at Litli Bondabærin, the day identity of the kitchen Hveiti og Smjör cooks out of.

Mmmm, delicious golden brown top, light fluffy middle. Just right.

Next comes the icing, see those beautiful green bits of zest? This is the same base recipe as the carrot cake icing, but the zest really lifts the taste and makes it fresher.

Next more toasted coconut is poured over top.

Absolutely delicious. The cake is dense, but light and fluffy, with a sweet buttery citrus taste. Then you get the sweet smooth lime icing, and the slight crunch of the toasted coconut on the top. Devine!