Coconut Cake & Cupcake Cookbook Winner

It is time to announce the winner of the first ever cookbook giveaway at My Feasts. Thank you all for the gracious comments! I had asked folks for their favourite cupcake flavour and most of you liked chocolate. I had an inkling that chocolate would be the the popular choice.




Some of you e-mailed to inquire the beautiful rose icing on top of the cupcake. You see...I had just bought a cake decorating kit ( in a blue tool box) and have been busy playing around with the tips. As you can see here, I have been attempting to make roses - not bad for a first timer I think ;)

Back to the winner - it is Zoe from Zoe Bakes. Check out Zoe's lovely creations at her blog. I made this coconut cake to celebrate this event (!) . This lovely cake is moist and rich (it is Ina Garten's recipe after all!) and also an early birthday cake for yours truly ;)


Coconut Cake - Ina Garten
3 sticks unsalted butter - room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
5 extra large eggs
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 12/ tsp almond extract
3 cups all purpose flour - sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
4 oz sweetened shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 , 9 inch pans and set aside. Sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder and set a side.




Using a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale and light. Add eggs one by one and beat till light and creamy. Pour in vanilla extract and almond extract. Alternate flour and milk in three stages with the mixer on slow. Add in salt and sweetened coconut. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake in the oven for 50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.