chocaroon cake

ever since i saw this cake in the cookbook, 'a second helping: more from ladies a plate', that i bought in new zealand a few weeks ago i've wanted to make it..i even started getting the ingredients out to make it a while back only to find i didn't have any desiccated coconut..anyway today i had everything on hand and also it was time for a little treat after two five hour gardening days..

i love this book because the author alexa johnston has compiled the recipes from community cookbooks, hand written recipes that she's borrowed and from family and friends..and she's tested them all too..i've also been collecting old recipe books so it's no coincidence that i'm enamoured of the style of this recipe book..i love the idea of dusting off neglected recipes and giving them an airing..having said that it's time to test out the chocaroon cake with a cup of tea!

mmm..it's really really good..

chocaroon cake

from 'a second helping: more from ladies a plate' 

alexa johnson

the recipe is from a community cookbook called 'our recipe book' published in 1967 by the karitane public hall building committee

 before making the cake

~lightly grease a 22 cm x 11 cm loaf tin and line the bottom with baking paper

~pre heat the oven to 180 deg c

ingredients

for the cake

85 gms butter

115 gms sugar

1 teaspoon (tsp) lemon zest

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 egg yolks

170 gms self raising flour

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons (tbs) apricot jam

for the chocaroon layer

2 egg whites

30 gms sugar

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1 tbs cocoa sieved 

method

chocaroon layer

~whisk egg whites until they are stiff and then continue beating and gradually add sugar

~fold in the coconut and cocoa

~put aside

cake layer

~beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy

~beat in vanilla and lemon zest

~add yolks and beat well

~gently fold in flour and milk

assemble

~spoon half of the cake mixture into the tim

~add half of the chocaroon mix spreading it as evenly as possible

~top with the remaining cake mix

~spread with the jam (it helps the topping adhere)

~top with the remaining chocaroon mix

then

~bake for 45-50 minutes

~cool in the tin

~dust the top with icing sugar before serving

i hope you've had an enjoyable weekend..x