Coconut Coffee Cake w/Chocolate Icing

Pin It

Today, I decided to make a simple, not-too-sweet coffee cake with coconut. I don't bake with coconut nearly enough and that needs to change.  In my opinion, the coconut gives this plain old simple vanilla coffee cake an added flair and extra sweetness. That's why I called it Coconut Coffee Cake instead of Plain Ol' Vanilla.  ☺

Coconut Coffee Cake w/Chocolate Icing

Coffee Cake

1 cup unbleached white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup sugar

1 stick butter or margarine

2 eggs
1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Coconut Topping

3 Tbsp butter, cold, cut into small pieces

¾ cup brown sugar

¼ cup flour
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Chocolate Icing (optional)

¾ cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp butter, softened

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract
2-4 Tbsp water

---

Instructions
Heat oven to 350° F. Generously grease a 9x9 pan.

For the topping
Combine butter, brown sugar, and flour into a bowl. With a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour and brown sugar until small pea-sized crumbs form. Add coconut and mix thoroughly. Set aside.

For the cake
Combine unbleached white flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each. Add sour cream and stir thoroughly. Gradually add flour mixture and stir until well combined. Add vanilla extract. Pour into greased pan and spread evenly. Batter will be thick. Top with coconut topping. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Cover cake with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and cool completely. Drizzle icing over cake if desired.

For the icing
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly. This icing turned out to have more of a frosting texture. Next time, I'll reduce the amount of butter and melt it.

Inspiration recipe(s): Blueberry Cake with Coconut Topping

Very rarely will you hear me tell you to forgo the chocolate. In this case, I think the coffee cake is just fine without it as the coconut sweetens up the cake. I'm not saying that the chocolate is bad; but you can take it or leave it.

Enjoy!

~CD