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Lemon Coconut Traybake
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5 from 2 votes

Lemon Coconut Traybake

An easy to make Lemon Coconut Traybake, soft and moist and topped with an amazing frosting, the perfect tea time treat.
Course cake / dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 16 slices

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

FOR THE CAKE

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup white granulated sugar
  • 2 cups dessicated coconut
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup buttermilk NOTE 1
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FOR THE FROSTING/ICING

  • SEE NOTE 2
  • 1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 2 Tablespoons boiling water
  • ¼ cup toasted desiccated coconut

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CAKE

  • Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, coconut, lemon rind and melted butter in a bowl and mix well. Stir in the milk, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Be gentle when mixing and do not overbeat. Overbeating will result in a dry texture of the baked cake.
  • Spread the mixture evenly into a greased and lined 12 x 9 inch ( 30 x 21 cm ) pan and bake in a preheated oven of 340°F / 170°C for 20 to 25 minutes until baked or a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  • Leave the cake in the tin to cool completely before frosting/icing.

TO MAKE THE FROSTING / ICING

  • Place the powdered sugar/icing sugar and butter in a bowl and pour in the boiling water to make a thick frosting/icing. If you find that the frosting is too thick, then just add a little more water. A teaspoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency. Keep in mind that the frosting will set firm once it has cooled down. If the frosting is too runny, then add in a bit more powdered/icing sugar. Spread the warm frosting over the cake.
  • Sprinkle with lightly toasted desiccated coconut if preferred.

Notes

  1. If you do not have buttermilk, then substitute it by adding 4 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup (250ml) full fat / full cream milk. Let it stand for 5 minutes before using it in place of the buttermilk.
  2. Make this frosting only once the cake has cooled. The warm frosting has to be spread immediately on the cooled cake. If you allow the frosting to cool, it becomes clumpy and difficult to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg
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