BRYANNA'S VEGAN COCONUT-LIME CAKE
Servings: 12
The tangy Lime Curd filling contrasts deliciously with the sweet coconut cake and icing. The Nutrition Facts are calculated using the Vegan Coconut-Lime Mock Buttercream Frosting. You have a choice between two frostings!
PS: This cake is made and baked by the same method as the mocha cake at this link, so you can consult the photos there, if you like.
Creamed Mixture:
6 tablespoons Earth Balance
1 1/2 cups granulated organic unbleached sugar
2 tablespoons water
Dry Mix:
2 5/8 cups white pastry or cake flour (2 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons) (DO NOT USE ALL-PURPOSE OR 'PLAIN" FLOUR OR THE CAKE WILL BE TOUGH!)
NOTE: To measure the flour, stir the flour in the bag or container, then spoon it out into the cup measure and level off with a knife. Do not sift or pack down.
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Wet Mix:
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup lite coconut milk
1/4 cup lime juice (fresh or organic, bottled)
finely grated zest of 3 small organic limes
Assembling the cake:
1/2 recipe Vegan Lime Curd (recipe below)
1 recipe Vegan Coconut-Lime Mock "Buttercream" Frosting OR Vegan Coconut-Lime "Buttercream" (recipes below)
1 cup lightly-toasted unsweetened large flake coconut for garnish
Make the Vegan Lime Curd and refrigerate until serving time.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare the pans by greasing two 8" round cake pans with non-hydrgenated shortening and then coating with floure(shake excess off). If you like, you can also line the bottoms of the pans with cooking parchment cut to fit the bottom.
To the bowl of a stand mixer, add the Creamed Mixture ingredients and beat together for about 3 minutes, stopping the machine and scraping down the sides a couple of times.
Mix the Dry Mix ingredients together with a whisk in a large mixing bowl.
Mix together the Wet Mix ingredients in a pitcher or large measuring cup.
Add the Dry Mix and the Wet Mix to the Creamed Mixture in the stand mixer alternately, using about 1/3 of each mix at a time, starting with the Dry Mix. Beat on medium in the stand mixer just until mixed. Do not over-beat. NOTE: This batter is runnier than ordinary cake batter, so don't worry!
Divide equally between the two prepared cake pans. Bake 25-35 minutes, or until cakes tests done.
Cool the cake layers in the pans on racks for 10 minutes. To remove from pans, first, run a thin knife to loosen the edge of the cake layer from the pan. Then, place a wire cake rack over the top of it and with a hand on each side of the baking pan and rack, quickly invert. Gently shake or tap the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon handle to help remove the cake layer . Carefully peel off the parchment liner, if you used one, and turn cake layer right-side-up to cool on the rack. Cool thoroughly before icing.
While the cake layers cool, make the Vegan Coconut-Lime Buttercream Frosting and refrigerate it. Toast the coconut flakes lightly and set aside. (You can spread them on a plate-- leave the center empty-- and microwave 2-3 minutes.)
To assemble the cake:
Place the bottom layer on a plate with a slight raised edge, with the bottom, flat side of the cake layer facing up. Spread evenly with the Lime Curd. Top with the second layer, flat side down. Ice the whole cake with the Coconut-Lime Mock Buttercream or Coconut-Lime "Buttercream". Sprinkle the cake all over, top and sides, with the toasted coconut flakes.
Refrigerate until serving time. Just before serving, sprinkle the top with the remaining grated lime zest.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 484.3 calories; 27% calories from fat; 15.0g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 289.8mg sodium; 195.3mg potassium; 85.4g carbohydrates; 1.8g fiber; 55.5g sugar; 83.6g net carbs; 3.9g protein; 10.6 points.
Cooking Tips
BRYANNA'S VEGAN LIME CURD
Servings: 12
Yield: 2 cups
This makes a lovely cake filling-quite tangy, so it contrasts with the icing. It's important to use freshly-squeezed lime juice in this recipe. Refrigerate the leftovers to spread on toast or scones, or to fill tarts.
1 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups granulated organic unbleached sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch (you can get organic cornstarch)
1/8 tsp salt
grated zest of 2 small organic limes,
6 Tbs full fat soymilk, nut milk, coconut milk, or organic nondairy creamer
2 Tbs Earth Balance (regular)
In a blend, whiz together the juice, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Pour into a heavy saucepan with the zest. Whisk over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil. Boil 1 minute, not stirring. (OR microwave in a Pyrex bowl 2 minutes, whisk, then 2 minutes more.) It should be thickened and turning clear. Remove from heat. Add soymilk or alternate and Earth Balance. Blend well with the whisk. Cool the curd, then refrigerate in a covered container. It thickens as it cools.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons = 2 tsp. serving): 129.8 calories; 13% calories from fat; 1.9g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 45.0mg sodium; 35.5mg potassium; 29.2g carbohydrates; 0.2g fiber; 25.5g sugar; 28.9g net carbs; 0.3g protein; 2.7 points.
BRYANNA'S COCONUT-LIME "BUTTERCREAM"
Servings: 12
This is a creamy vegan "buttercream" with a lower percentage of fat than most "buttercreams". Chill until it's time to ice the cake.
(If you use this icing, the Nutrition Facts for a 12th of the cake are as follows: 563.0 calories; 32% calories from fat; 20.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 276.8mg sodium; 197.2mg potassium; 94.2g carbohydrates; 1.8g fiber; 66.6g sugar; 92.5g net carbs; 3.3g protein; 12.6 points.)
1/4 cup Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (NOT the stick variety or the whipped variety)
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated shortening (such as Earth Balance brand) OR solid coconut butter
3/4 lb organic powdered sugar, sifted (have a bit more on hand in case the icing needs thickening-up)
3 tablespoons coconut cream (or thick coconut milk)
2 tablespoons lime juice (fresh or bottled organic)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
grated zest of one large organic lime
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the Earth Balance and shortening until smooth. Add 1 c. of the sugar and the remaining ingredients. Beat until creamy. It may look curdled-- don't worry! Add the remaining sugar, a little at a time, as you beat it, until it holds it shape well and you can see "trails" in it from the beaters. Refrigerate until using.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 43.9 calories; 92% calories from fat; 4.5g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 42.5mg sodium; 8.9mg potassium; 0.7g carbohydrates; 0.2g fiber; 0.4g sugar; 0.5g net carbs; 0.1g protein; 1.2 points.
BRYANNA'S VEGAN COCONUT-LIME MOCK BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Servings: 12
1 cup lite coconut milk
5 Tbs white unbleached flour
1/2 tsp agar powder
3 Tbs Earth Balance OR solid coconut oil
1 cup granulated organic unbleached sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
grated zest of 1 organic lime
1/8 tsp salt
Whisk milk into flour and agar in small saucepan until smooth (You can use a hand immersion blender if you wish, or even run it through the blender). Heat and stir until it boils and thickens.
MICROWAVE OPTION: Whisk the flour, agar and milk in a microwave-proof bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds, whisk, and repeat twice, or until thick.
Cool thoroughly (place in a small bowl inside of a larger bowl of cold water). It will get quite stiff-don't worry!
With an electric mixer beat the butter, sugar, vanilla lime zest, and salt until light and fluffy-- several minutes. Beat in the cooled flour paste with the electric beaters and mix until smooth and fluffy. Chill thoroughly before frosting. Use to frost any cooled cake. Keep the frosted cake refrigerated until serving time.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 118.9 calories; 31% calories from fat; 4.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 55.7mg sodium; 7.5mg potassium; 20.1g carbohydrates; 0.2g fiber; 17.0g sugar; 19.9g net carbs; 0.7g protein; 2.7 points.