Soft Coconut Cake with Cream Frosting – Gluten-free version

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Sponge Cake

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F).

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 2
   Whip the eggs with the salt and the sugar 6–8 minutes, until the mixture is pale, thick and very fluffy.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Room-temperature eggs whip better than cold eggs. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Warm eggs also make a more stable foam that holds up in the oven.
3. 3
   Add the oil, milk and vanilla and mix on low speed, just until they are absorbed.
4. 4
   Sift the flour and baking powder over the top and Fold gently, just until the flour is absorbed.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatulaSifter

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there are no streaks: vigorous mixing knocks the air out of the foam. Add whipped mixtures in stages: a quarter first, to lighten the mixture.

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
5. 5
   Add the coconut and Fold gently.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatula
6. 6
   Pour into a round pan 24 cm in diameter.

   Round pan
7. 7
   Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

   ⚙ BakingOvenRound pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Let the cake cool completely.

For the Cream Filling

1. 9
   Whip the cold cream on medium speed, until it starts to thicken.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixer

   💡Cold cream whips quickly and holds firm: warm cream won't hold air. Stop when the peaks are firm, before it turns grainy.

   💡Whip cream very cold, in a chilled bowl with chilled beaters, and stop when it holds firm: overwhipping turns it grainy and buttery.
2. 10
   Add the powdered sugar and keep whipping on high speed to firm peaks.

   Hand mixerorStand mixer

To assemble

1. 11
   Cover the cake with the cream.

   Offset spatula
2. 12
   Sprinkle the shredded coconut on top.