Showing posts with label coconut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coconut. Show all posts

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Ultimate Easter Cake! Can you say Cut-Up?

When I was little my mom always used to make Cut-up Cakes.  Is anyone with me?  In 1959, Baker's Coconut came out with a little book that grandmas and moms for decades to come would use.  There was also a 1973 edition.  In fact, my first birthday cake was the full bodied bunny.  I believe the official title was the Baker's Coconut Animal Cut-up Cakes.  Last year I made one, but jazzed it up a bit for Easter.  I tinted the coconut light blue for the body and sticked with the soft pink for the ears and feet.  I then added a pink with white polka dotted grosgrain bow around the neck.  It was so stinkin' cute!  Unfortunately, I have no pictures of it.  My NEW external drive with all my pictures on it died and I need A LOT of money to get the photos restored for now, they are lost.  I thought I'd add the cut-up diagram for anyone interested in making their own this Easter.  Enjoy!

{this is the one i made this past easter}

If you're interested in obtaining a copy of this little booklet...expect to pay a pretty penny.  I belive they are running between $10-40 on eBay depending on their condition, if it is an original and how close it is to a holiday!  Amazon also has several starting at $27 and run up to $50.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Cupcakes Galore!


Who doesn't love a cupcake? The prettier the better! My favorite flavor is coconut. Mounds of soft, sweet coconut. I put these little ditties together to celebrate...today, I guess! My backdrop is from Jenny's Bakeshop~Everyday is a Holiday. I love her work!







If you are interested in the wrappers, they are available in my Etsy store.




Monday, June 29, 2009

The Artful Cupcake



Small, yet perfectly formed, who can resist the tempting treat called the cupcake? Doesn't everyone, young and old love a cupcake? So small, dainty and pretty. I came across these mini wrappers and couldn't resist them. They are sturdy, yet petite in pretty vintage colors...lemoney yellow, minty mint and peachy peach. Yummy!



This is a yumm-o recipe that works great with the vintage baking cups.



Coconut and Lime Cupcakes

3/4 c. wide strips of unsweetened coconut (found at a nicer grocer like Giant or my fav.~Wegmans)

1 1/4 c. unsweetened coconut milk (Thai section of grocer.)

1 egg

3 egg whites

2 3/4 c. cake flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 sticks of butter, room temp. and unsalted

1 1/2 c. sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350. Prepare muffin pans w/ liners or spray.

2. Soak the coconut strips in 1/4 c. of the coconut milk and set aside.

3. Combine the remaining cup of coconut milk w/ the egg and egg whites.

4. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.

5. Cream butter, sugar until pale and fluffy, add the soaked flakes.

6. Add the egg mixture to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating w/ the flour mixture in two parts. Between additions, mix thoroughly and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

7. Pour the batter into the pan, filling approx. 1/2 way. Bake 18-20 min, until the tops are starting to color.

8. Let rest a couple of mins. in the pans, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and allow them to cool before icing.

Lime Curd Icing

1 tsp. water

1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin

4 egg yolks

1/2 c. sugar

Juice of 3 Limes

Green food coloring

Zest of 1 lime

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces

1. Put the water in a small mixing bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it to soften.

2. In heavy saucepan, whisk the egg yolks and sugar to blend thoroughly. Whisk in the lime juice.

3. Place the saucepan on med. heat. Stirring constantly w/ a wooden spoon, cook the mixture until it begins to steam and then thickens. When you can draw a line w/ your finger across the curd on the back of the stirring spoon and the line stays w/o dripping, take it off the heat.

4. Strain the curd into the mixing bowl w/ the gelatin, and whisk to incorporate.

5. Put a drop of green food coloring in a small dish, and use a toothpick to transfer just a smidgen to the mixture. A drop might be too much.

6. Add the zest and butter, and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is an even color.

7. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until the lime curd has thickened to a spreadable consistency.

Finally, spread the cooled lime curd on the cooled cupcakes and top with coconut flakes. Top each with a lime wedge or a big, black raspberry. Enjoy!