When I was 7 years old, my mother stayed up late one night, in our house on Kent Street in Riverside, California and baked the most-perfect coconut cake I have ever seen or tasted in my life. Granted — it was my very first coconut cake experience and the only one baked by my mother in the entirety of my childhood. But I still remember it fondly to this day.
The house on “Kent Street in Riverside, Ca” as it looks today
The Cake of the Involuntary “Mmmmmm”
Our little rental house, came equipped with an old 1950’s style stove in cotton candy pink with a built-in stove-top griddle covered by a matching pink removable plate in the center. This stove and the expansive back yard were the highlights of my time spent on Kent Street — well, that and the coconut cake.
I can’t remember why I was allowed to stay up so late that night, maybe my father was working late on that warm summer night. I don’t remember him being around — or my much-younger sisters for that matter, who must have been sleeping by then. It was just me and my mom — up late, baking the most beautiful thing to eat, I had ever seen.
When she finished frosting it and covering the towering 3 layer cake (I’d never seen a cake with 3 layers before!) in sweet, shredded coconut, she called me in to get the first look. I was sufficiently awed and just stared at it at first, taking it in. The full white beauty of the cake, the sugary shimmer of downy coconut that made it look like the fluff on a baby duckling and its dizzying height.
I moved in closer, to see the coconut better and to smell it. My mother cautioned me not to touch it. I nodded and closed my eyes to smell it. The sweet, milky smell of coconut was like home, like being wrapped in a fluffy warm blanket, fresh from the dryer. I could only imagine what it would taste like.
I thought I might have to wait until the next day, when everyone was awake and around to have a slice, but then my mom pulled a dish from the cupboard and asked if I’d like a slice. I said “yes,” never taking my eyes off this ethereal confection for a moment. I watched her slice, carefully through the cake, as if she were making an incision in a cloud and as she slid the piece of cake from its place, I realized that it was completely white — even on the inside. I couldn’t wait to get my first taste of this unblemished heaven.
My mother poured me a small glass of milk and sat down across from me, not taking a piece for herself, and waited for my first taste. I slid my fork through the fluffy-light cake with ease, taking in the scent of the coconut again before placing the first bite on my tongue.
The cake was no longer warm but it was not completely cool yet — the memory of its oven warmth lingered just enough to make the frosting slightly loose and extremely creamy, the strands of sugared coconut adding texture and slight chew to an otherwise air-light experience. I closed my eyes and the sound escaped my lips, “Mmmmmmm,” I felt my smile and as I opened my eyes, I saw hers.
A Cake Lost
I know I must have told her how good it was, how amazing, delicious, wonderous it was but of all the things I remember about that night, exactly what I said about the cake, I am unsure. I only know that after I finished it, I felt satiated like no other cake experience and I happily floated off to bed at my mother’s urging.
But my mother never made that cake again.
I don’t know why — maybe it was too much trouble (she was in the kitchen for quite some time.) Maybe it was simply because my father never cared much for coconut. Maybe I never said anything other than that utterance of “Mmmmmm,” and a simple smile. Maybe this was not enough pay-off for the work involved to make it again. I don’t know but what I do know is that I have never forgotten that cake or that evening spent up late with my mom.
And I have always been too afraid to try to replicate its beauty.
I have bought and tasted many a slice of coconut cake since then and though they’ve all been different versions of good — none have ever measured up to that first cake — The Cake of the Involuntary “Mmmmmm.”
All Gone! I used every last morsel of this delish coconut butter. Artisana: PLEASE SEND MORE!! 
The Coconut Cake Challenge
So here we are, 33 years later, and that cake is still on my mind — or rather tucked back into the corner recesses of my palate memory, when Artisana Organic Nut Butters contacted Virtual Potluck about reviewing their products. We each got to choose several flavors of nut butters. Among my choices were Cacao Bliss, Organic Macadamia Nut Butter and their Organic Coconut Butter — not coconut oil (though they carry that, too!) but creamy coconut butter. The first thought that sprang to my mind — coconut cake with coconut butter frosting.
I don’t know what recipe my mother used that night. I have her old cookbooks and notes and as far as I can tell that coconut cake does not live among them. So when I set out to make the cake this time, I wanted to recapture the rapture of that experience, if not the actual cake. I decided I would make the best version of coconut cake my mind could conceive and we’d see if she’d do. But first, we’d make it my favorite way — as cupcakes!
A yummy breakfast: Breakfast sundae (greek yogurt, melted coconut butter, honey and chia seeds.) The coconut butter works like a healthful “Magic Shell” in this sundae- Yum!
She’s Gone Coco-Nuts!
What I came up with is a light, but moist and fluffy coconut cake and a weightlessly creamy coconut frosting, topped with natural, unsugared coconut. And because I wanted the coconut to really shine, (not like some coconut cakes that taste like glorified vanilla with coconut sprinkled on top) I decided to layer the coconut flavor throughout the cake and the frosting — 5 different ways.
These moist but airy little charmers contain coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut extract, coconut butter and coconut flakes for a Coco-Nutty Kapow! that will leave you speechless.
The Verdict
It may not be the recipe my mother baked all those years ago but I can tell you this — when I served it to my son and hubby, the only sounds I heard, besides chewing and the licking of fingers, were the involuntary “Mmmmms” filling the room.
Ultimate Quintuple Coconut Cupcakes
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp coconut oil (softened but still in its solid state)
- 2 tbsp softened, unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup whole coconut milk
- 2 large egg whites + 1 large whole egg
- 1 tsp organic real coconut extract
Pre-heat oven to 350° F and lightly grease your cupcake tins with coconut oil or use paper liners (I prefer no liners.)
Coconut Butter-Cream Frosting
- 1/3 cup Artisana Organic Coconut Butter
- 4 Tbsp (or half a stick) softened butter
- up to 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tbsp whole coconut milk
- 1 tsp coconut extract
- 8 oz of Unsweetened Coconut Flakes (I prefer Bob’s Red Mill’s Flaked Unsweetened Coconut)
Enter to Win Artisana Nut Butters for Yourself!
Congratulations to Aimee Bittinger, winner of Artisana’s Almond Butter! Enjoy!
Artisana Giveaway:
One lucky winner from each participating blog (you can enter on all 12 VP blogs!) will receive a variety of tasting squeeze packs AND an 8oz jar of their choice, picked from among the following flavors:
- Raw Coconut Butter
- Raw Cashew Butter
- Raw Almond Butter
- Raw Pecan
- Raw Walnut
- Raw Macadamia
- Raw Cacao Bliss
To Enter:
Disclaimer: Artisana’s nut butters were provided free of charge in order to facilitate these recipes. No monetary compensation was received. US mailing addresses only. One (1) winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends May 5th, 2012 at 11:59 Pacific time and prize will be shipped by Artisana directly to winners . The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 6th via email and will have 48 hours to respond with shipping information before a new winner will be chosen.
What a great memory of you and your Mom! My Dad grew up in Riverside, living on the air force base. I visited there when I was about 12. I got lost at the motel and couldn’t find our room after getting coffee for my parents. Scared me half to death and that’s what I always think about when I hear Riverside, CA! Crazy? Maybe.
I would love to make this cake! I’ve liked both pages on Facebook, but I’m not on Twitter. I don’t know what it is about coconut, but I just love it. I’ve tried so many versions in my quest to find the perfect one, but I haven’t found it yet. Hopefully this will be the one!! (o: I’d love the coconut butter, but I would also be very happy with the macadamia.
Not crazy at all Milisa — getting lost in Riverside (especially the 909) is no joke! lol
I loved your story, and this cupcake looks fabulous. I would love to try the coconut butter mixed in some oats. Also, I want to make these cupcakes..mmmm.
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This brings back memories of my Aunt Inez, she used to make a 3 layer coconut cake for special occasions, like Easter. I never forgot how good they were. But until I read your post I never thought about being able to make one like it. Thanks for the inspiration. I think I will give it a try! Oh, and I would choose the coconut butter for obvious reasons.
I’d like to try incorporating the almond butter into an almond cake recipe a cousin from Italy gave me.
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Raw cacao bliss sounds great, and I’d have to try a brownie with that!
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I tweeted about your giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/BoonieSooze/status/197439814390398976
I would pick the cashew butter and probably eat some of it directly from the jar! and make some brownies. Your cupcakes look great, nice and moist. I am a huge fan of coconut cake with buttercream and coconut flakes, as is my wife. The only thing I would change looking at your photographs is I would probably double, maybe triple the amount of frosting per cupcake! Just feeding my sweet tooth.
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I tweeted… https://twitter.com/#!/FireRunner2379/status/197468619326763008
These look yummy! I love coconut
I’d choose the Raw Cashew Butter, and I would immediately make a Grilled Cashew Butter and Sauteed Cinnamon Apple Sandwich. I mean, seriously, I cannot resist that combination! 😉
Many thanks!
I want to try the coconut butter and add it to my oats with some pineapple and coconut flakes!
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@j_mosh
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I would love to win a jar of walnut butter and I would just keep it simple and have a sandwich with a spread of this and fig jam.
That sounds amazing Bonnie– washed down with a cold glass of hazelnut milk.
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I already liked you, Groovy Foody, on facebook.
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@grobiemum
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These look awesome and I love your story 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
Raw pecan. I’d use it on banana nut bread.
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I want to try cashew butter!
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It sounds boring but the almond butter. I can’t get it anywhere locally. I love everything I’ve tried of theirs!
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The Cashew Butter sounds scrumptious!
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I would love to try their Cashew Butter. I’m not sure what I’d make – would it be wrong to eat it straight from the jar? LOL
Not at all, Artisana’s nut butters are SO delish — though, I’ve cooked with them, I’ve also had many a spoonful!
I love this blog post. The way you describe the scene in your Mom’s kitchen totally took me back to my childhood. My most visceral memories are all based on food! Thanks for sharing that priceless moment.
Thanks for the kind compliment Anita! I have a very personal relationship with food as well. I cook for the same reason I write — I love it and it is a way to share myself and my love with the other humans in my life. So glad it reached you.