I gave myself the task of recreating my mother’s Christmas coffee cake, with mixed results, mostly wonderful.
Our weather has once again been all over the place 50 degrees out yesterday, rain, all the snow vanished and we have green grass again in the fields. Then, the Champlain Winds picked up again and a cold front settled from Canada and today’s temperatures hovered around 30. With the wind, it felt like 19 degrees F. cold.
A time to celebrate the return of the light
Since the solstice is tomorrow, it is a time to celebrate! Sunrise this morning was not until 7:25 a.m. and sunset at 4:16 p.m., less than a paltry nine hours of light, and twilight and dawn quite short, like a curtain falling. But alas! With the solstice comes the return of the light and after tomorrow, our days will slowing get longer. We often celebrate the evening with traditional bonfires, and we’ll be attending one tomorrow night. Time to say goodbye to the old year and welcome back the slowly creeping sun.
A pause in the hectic
Today was my day to address and mail my little-bit-late holiday cards. One of my rituals is to make a cup of tea, or maybe a glass of wine, put on holiday music, and enjoy the addressing and stamping and stuffing. It’s a calm break in everything else I’m doing, although this year I did keep things simpler which meant less running around and stress. It’s definitely a good thing, but I still enjoy that little break in the activities, and it’s a good way to put off some baking.
Pop in some music
I love the Christmas songs and carols in the background, especially when addressing cards or trimming the tree. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, Some Day at Christmas, Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock, Happy Xmas (War is Over), The Christmas Song, so many more, and of course Winter Wonderland. Although most of my life I associated the lovely song with the snowman Parson Brown, it’s only more recently that I’ve noticed frequently that he has become the circus clown That’s quite a career change. However, a quick check and it appears the clown has been around nearly as long as the song! the song was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernard Smith, a lovely Christmas song about a romance in the snow with a snowman officiating the wedding. It has been recorded over 200 times by many top names including Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga, Doris Day, Perry Como, the Andrews Sisters, Elvis, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, and Ringo Star. In 1947, the lyrics of some versions were changed to be more of a children’s song about playing in the snow, hence the appearance of that circus clown.
Task finished
Cards stamped and mailed, it was time for baking, and I like to do this a few days ahead and freeze, just so I can pay more attention to the other meal components as the day draws closer.
Family memories
I got the bake and freeze ahead method from my mother. Every year at Christmastime, my mom made a sour cream coconut coffee cake for every household in the family for folks to enjoy at breakfast while unwrapping presents. We all loved it, and looked forward to it. She would start baking a month before Christmas and tuck the cakes in the freezer as she turned them out. The freezing actually made them taste even better!
One last bite
The Christmas after Mom passed away, my sister and two brothers gathered at my house and enjoyed the last of her cakes, one I had tucked in my freezer the Christmas before. We ate the cake reverently, with tears, a tender communion, a last gift from her kitchen, and I can still taste it.
A glitch
I wanted to carry on the tradition in some form, so I pulled out the recipe and remembered it was a simple concoction that she had ripped from a magazine at some time. It called for a yellow cake mix and a box of Jello cream of coconut pudding. Both contained a lot of artificial ingredients and flavoring, preservatives, etc., and the coconut pudding proved impossible to find, so I set about trying to recreate the cake from scratch, a better option in the long run since I try to avoid all those food additives.
A swap, but still mom’s
Mom’s yellow cake was always delicious, so I thought this would be a great place to start, enhancing it with coconut flour and extract to achieve that coconut flavor. She instructed us in her recipe to use a cheap yellow cake mix, nothing deluxe; we would add the pudding, two extra eggs, sour cream, and a half cup of vegetable oil, which all contributed to a lovely richnesss.
So I fiddled with oil and butter in her yellow cake, added some coconut extract, desiccated coconut, and coconut flour. The batter was beautifully thick and luscious and I was hopeful.
There is good news and bad news. The good news is that the cake is absolutely delicious! The crumb was tender and smooth, the cake moist and flavorful. The bad news, for me at least, is that it tastes nothing like mother’s!
I guess the imitation coconut flavor from the pudding is what I miss, and that’s too bad because I could find it no where, but eventually located it online for another time perhaps.
In the meantime, if you are looking for a beautifully moist and delicious coconut Bundt cake, here’s the recipe!
Happy Holidays whatever one(s) you celebrate! It’s all about family, friends, love, and being together!
Sylvia’s Sour Cream Coconut Coffee Cake
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 2 ½ tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. coconut extract
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- Filling: ½ cup sugar mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon and ¼ cup chopped walnuts (nuts optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, 180 C. Grease and flour a Bundt pan. Set aside.
Combine the flours, baking powder, and salt and sift again. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat until fluffy. Drizzle in the oil and continue beating until well mixed.
Add the eggs, one at a time, then the extracts.
Slowly blend in half the flour, the sour cream, then the rest of the flour and desiccated coconut.
Spread half the batter into the Bundt, sprinkle half the cinnamon filling evenly, then cover with the rest of the batter and the rest of the cinnamon mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes, gently turn so browning is even, and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool for 15 minutes and remove to a wire rack until thoroughly cooled.
Drizzle with sour-cream glaze, and maybe sprinkle with a bit of toasted coconut.
Sour Cream and Coconut Glaze
Combine ½ cup sour cream, 1/3 cup confectioners 10X, and 1 tbsp. coconut extract. Thin with water, a few drops at a time, if necessary. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Sylvia’s Sour Cream Coconut Coffee Cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 box coconut cream pudding
- And for sprinkling: 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ cup walnuts.
Use a cheap store brand yellow cake mix, nothing fancy, no deluxe anything. Beat all ingredients together for two minutes (ignore box directions). Grease a large tube or Bundt pan. Put half of batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle half of sugar/cinnamon/nut mixture. Add rest of batter, and sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture on top.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for at least 15 minutes before removing from pan.
These freeze nicely if you want to make them beforehand for Christmas gifts.
Here’s Louis’s version of Winter Wonderland, complete with the Parson Brown:
‘Through family recipes, we celebrate our roots and branches.’ ~ Alice Waters
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Yum
Thanks! It’s quite tasty!
Another lovely story about your Mum. Lovely to read. Listened to Louis Armstrong getting us in the mood for the season.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas 🎄 🎉
Mary :))
Merry Christmas Mary! May your days be happy and bright!
You had me at coconut…definitely one to make as it reminded me of my mother …coconut and coffee were her favourite cake flavours…Then we had the raspy voice of Louis Armstrong a perfect morning post for me..Thank you, Dorothy…Merry Christmas xx
Merry Christmas to you my friend! My mom’s favorites were coconut and mocha!
That looks delicious, D! It reminds me of my grandmother’s lemon Bundt cake. Her drizzle was cream cheese; it was so light, but still had a very creamy texture. Sadly, I’m not baking this year; it’s a little difficult with this splint! ✨ 🌲 ✨
Ah, there’s next year! Everyone else can do the baking this year!
That’s Mckenna’s job …. and she loves it! She’s also very good at it. 😋
Couldn’t be more different ‘weather-wise’, Dorothy, 42C yesterday, 43C today! We are in the middle of a heat wave… and yet, we were stepping out dancing with friends at their Christmas Ball (air conditioned of course) and having a brilliant time. I even have a bit of a suntan this year – happily enjoying the early morning sun.
Lots of memories in this post. Your mum was definitely a thinker – seems that trait has certainly be passed on to you.
Thank you my dear dancing friend! I am proud of any trait of mine that can be traced to her!
There is something wonderful in keeping family traditions alive, one slice of coconut cake at a time! I’m sure this tastes like a little paradise!
It’s pretty good for sure! Happy holidays!
Thank you, Dorothy, for the tempting cake!
Joanna
Thanks for stopping by!
Such a wonderful Christmas morning tradition. We are never in the kitchen alone. We can connect with our loved ones through food. I love gifts from the kitchen. This season I’ve made oatmeal, cranberry, wht chocolate chip cookies; eatmore bars; butterscotch confetti squares; cranberry orange cornmeal cookies; sugar cookies; shortbread cookies. Can you tell that I like bakinig & eating? Merry Christmas to you from NE Alberta where the temps this week have been -30C.
That’s a lot of baking (and eating) and I’m sure you had a blast creating all this kitchen magic!
I won’t complain about my temperatures any more! Keep warm and Merry Christmas to you too!
I love the addition of coconut milk to the cake.
It has a lovely flavor, even if it doesn’t taste like mom’s!
This sounds too good to not try myself, Dorothy! 🥥🍃🥮
You deserve a break today!
Delicious! And it looks so moist.
Thanks Mimi! It’s a lovely cake.
Lovely memories, thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome! Happy holidays to you and yours, beginning today with the Winter Solstice. The light returns!
Great holiday post! The cake looks so light and tasty. No doubt your “from scratch” version is the one I’ll be choosing, especially with the delicious sour cream coconut glaze!
All the best wishes to you and yours! 🙂
A wonderful holiday season to you as well my friend!
I love how you try to keep the essence of your mom’s cake, but with a few healthy-ish adjustments! It sounds and looks really delicious!
Thanks Terrie! It’s a good one!
Looks delicious and includes such wonderful memories. How did your Mom cover the cake for the freezer?
Nothing like a cake served with a side order of lovely memories! It looks delicious. I’ve never heard the circus clown version but will have to listen for it. Wishing you a merry Christmas!
What a lovely cake!
Another great story! Both versions sound delicious…I might have to make them both. I find it amusing that you said you guessed the imitation coconut flavor of the pudding was what might be missing. Who would think that could be possible? Ha Ha, now, I have to make them both for sure!
That sounds incredible and moist!
Thank you! At some point, we’ll all swear this is what mom’s cake tasted like.
That looks SO good Dorothy. We always have a cake of some type for wishing Jesus happy birthday.
🎉🥳🎊🎈To you and yours.. the best, blessed holiday season dear Dorothy! Your foods look yummy and fabulous! Save some seatings for AOC!!! 🔔💞
Oh my friend, there is always a place at my table for you! Where are you!
Nothing can beat nostalgia, 💓
We mix it into all our recipes! It seems, we are never alone in the kitchen. ❤️
Special rituals, great music, good food…I love the way you live, so rich and full. Beautiful post my friend, hugs, C
Thank you dear Cheryl!
Hello there! How are you doing today? It’s my pleasure to meet you here and happy New Year 🎊
Happy New Year to you as well! We are all doing quite well here! Wish the same to you and yours.
Thank you for these recipes, Dorothy. I love coconut and coconut cake. I appreciate you taking the time to develop a healthier version.
Thank you! There’s just something so special about a coconut cake!