Pineapple Coconut Cake

 

A remarkably moist and dreamy summertime cake with a rich flavour and a slight sweet pineapple tang that is lusciously tropical with every slice.    

Pineapple Coconut Cake

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2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed 

1/2 cup coconut sugar

2 cup shredded or flaked  coconut 

2 eggs

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup light olive oil

1 - 2 teaspoons rum extract

1 can pineapple rings, drained

2 tablespoons coconut sugar, for sprinkling on top

shredded or flaked coconut, for sprinkling on top 

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). 

Lightly grease and flour an 8 - inch round cake tin. Line the bottom with baking parchment, ensuring that the parchment paper goes up the sides.

Place the drained pineapple rings on paper towel and lightly pat dry. Set aside. 

In a large bowl combine together the flour, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, coconut sugar and shredded coconut. Create a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the eggs, coconut milk, olive oil and rum extract, mix all the ingredients together until just blended and smooth. 

Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin. Place the pineapple rings on top, however you wish and then sprinkle with coconut sugar and shredded coconut. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. To prevent over browning, cover the cake with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time. Allow to cool before slicing.

Notes: 

The shredded or flaked coconut can be sweetened or unsweetened, it's your preference, keep in mind if choosing sweetened coconut the cake will be more sweet. You can replace the brown sugar and coconut sugar with white sugar, again, it really comes down to preference, I find that the brown sugar and coconut sugar offer a more rich caramel flavour. 

Coconut flavouring may replace the rum flavouring. If you do not have coconut milk, cannot find it or do not wish to use it, then just use regular milk instead. 

You can add chopped pineapple pieces or tidbits to the batter if you wish. 

You may also replace the all purpose flour with self raising flour, just omit the baking powder and salt from the recipe.