Coconut Pineapple Carrot Cake

Ingrédients

• 350 g self raising flour ((or all-purpose flour plus 4tsp baking powder))
• 325 g dark soft brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 75 g unsweetened desiccated coconut
• 50 g walnuts (chopped into small chunks)
• 250 g carrots (grated)
• 4 medium eggs
• 200 ml mild olive oil ((or melted and cooled coconut oil))
• 150 g pineapple (fresh or from a tin) (finely chopped or blended)
• 500 g full fat cream cheese ((I used Philadelphia))
• 100 g butter (softened)
• 250 g icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ((optional))
• 100 g unsweetened desiccated coconut ((optional))
• 25 g unsweetened desiccated coconut
• 50 g walnuts (chopped into small pieces)
• Zest of one orange
• Other options could include fresh coconut and dried pineapple pieces, mini eggs or creme eggs, edible flowers, or anything else you fancy!!

Préparation

1. 1

   --- Coconut Pineapple Carrot Cake ---

2. 2

   Preheat your oven to 170C / 150 fan / gas mark 2 / 300F.

3. 3

   Grease and line the base of two 18cm/7inch cake tins.

4. 4

   In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, coconut, walnuts and carrots.

5. 5

   In a smaller bowl or jug, beat together the eggs and oil

6. 6

   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, then add the pineapple and stir again to distribute the pineapple evenly.

7. 7

   Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared tins and cook in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out cleanly.

8. 8

   Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling wire and ensure the cakes are completely cold before covering with the frosting.

9. 9

   --- Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting ---

10. 10

    Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until completely combined and light and fluffy, either by hand or using a hand mixer. Do not overmix!

11. 11

    --- Decoration ---

12. 12

    Assess which is the flattest cake and if necessary trim to make flatter. Spread a generous amount of frosting on this cake then top with the second cake and cover with a generous amount of frosting.

13. 13

    You could also cover the side with frosting too if you wish.

14. 14

    Decorate using desiccated coconut, crushed walnuts and orange peel, fresh coconut and dried pineapple pieces, edible flowers, creme eggs or mini eggs (or use your imagination and have fun with it!!)