Senior Care Recipes: Coconut Cake

By Jamie Shapiro | August 12, 2015 | Comments Off on Senior Care Recipes: Coconut Cake

Senior Care in Des Plaines IL

There’s nothing like a sweet treat to end a day of your senior care plan. Creating something delicious to enjoy together is a wonderful way to connect with your aging loved ones, encourage mental stimulation and critical thinking, and build lasting, meaningful memories. A traditional coconut cake is a fantastic way to continue enjoying some of the favorite flavors of summer with a heartier dessert you can even carry through the fall and into the holidays. Bake up one of these cakes to enjoy after dinner with your aging loved ones, or bring it over as a surprise that they can indulge in with their senior health care services provider during the week.

 

What You’ll Need

For the cake

• 5 eggs, separated

• 2 cups white granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup canola oil

• 1 teaspoon coconut extract

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

• 2 1/4 cups cake flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 2 cups flaked coconut

• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

• Sharp knife

• 3 mixing bowls

• Rubber spatula

• Sifter

• Electric beater

• 3 9-inch round baking pans

• Nonstick baking spray

• Wire cooling racks

For the frosting

• 11 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 2/3 cup butter, softened

• 4 1/3 cups powdered sugar

• 1 1/4 teaspoons coconut extract

• 2 cups toasted flaked coconut

• Mixing bowl

• Electric beaters

• Rubber spatula

 

What to Do

• Place the 5 egg whites in a large mixing bowl and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees

• In a separate mixing bowl use the rubber spatula to cream the white granulated sugar and the butter together until light and fluffy

• Beat the oil into the mixture until completely combined

• Add the 5 egg yolks one at a time, incorporating completely after each yolk

• Add in the coconut, almond, and pure vanilla extracts and beat until completely combined

• Sift the cake flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into another mixing bowl. Be sure that you measure all of the ingredients before sifting as the sifting process will change the measurement

• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture into the creamed butter and sugar and beat well

• Add 1/2 of the buttermilk and beat well

• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat well

• Add the remaining buttermilk and beat well

• Add the remaining flour mixture and beat well

• Use the sharp knife to chop the flaked coconut and add to the mixture

• Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites

• Beat with the electric mixture on medium speed until stiff peaks form

• Use the rubber spatula to fold a quarter of the egg whites into the batter until fully incorporated

• Fold the rest of the eggs whites into the batter

• Prepare the pans with the nonstick baking spray. Make sure you are using baking spray and not regular cooking spray. Baking spray contains flour that makes releasing the cakes easier

• Evenly distribute the batter into the three pans

• Bake 25 to 30 minutes until cooked through

• Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to the wire cooling racks to cool completely

• Now make the frosting

• Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a small mixing bowl until pale and fluffy

• Beat in powdered sugar and coconut extract

• Assemble by placing one layer on the serving dish, spreading on an even layer of frosting and sprinkling with 1/2 cup coconut, and continuing with the other two layers

• Coat the entire outside of the cake with frosting

• Sprinkle toasted coconut on the top

• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care services in Des Plaines , IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro
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