American style Christmas coconut cake

[singadream]

So I have just been reading online about the cocnut cake some Americans have for Christmas - all the recipes I can find use American measurements though. Anyone made this before - is it worth it? And anyone got a British recipe?

I'm a yank who does a good bit of baking and I'm afraid I've never even heard of a Christmas coconut cake. However I've now found the recipes and it looks great. I'll have to give it a go this year.

The measurements should be easy enough to convert.

Just buy some cup measures. They sell them in Homesense & Asda and probably plenty of other places.

How do you typically measure dry ingredients in the UK?

Grams or ounces MissConduct. Eg our butter usually comes in a block of 350g

Is this not a usual American cake then? It looks so yum. Though I would like to make smaller versions as I think I am the only one in my house who would like it.

250g not 350g. sorry typo

This cake looks the mutts nuts and uses grams measurements - make this OP and then report back. I'm dying to bake this but. I've not time with this newborn of mine.

Is this not a usual American cake then? It looks so yum.

It does look yum.

Based on where I found the recipes I think it's a regional tradition in the American South. I'm in New England (New York) where the Xmas food traditions are somewhat different..

Do give it go. I think I will as well, possibly a trial run at Thanksgiving.

Grams or ounces MissConduct.

So you'd measure flour or sugar this way? Here it's 8 ounce cups or fractions thereof.

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of it! Also American. But sounds nice

We tend to do more cookies at Christmas in the Northeast, maybe more German/Scandinavian influence.

We tend to do more cookies at Christmas in the Northeast,

And pies of course - apple at our house.

American cup measurements are different to uk ones just to mess with your head! There are conversion charts online.

Ive just googled this and now I want it!
Stupid question all the recipes Ive seen say to use all purpose flour - is that equivalent to plain or self raising flour?

AP = plain flour

Nigella has a Christmas coconut cake recipe in one of her books. I think it's called a snowball cake. Looks amazing.

Edit to add: it's in her latest book, 'at my table' so I don't think it'll be online yet. I can take a pic of the recipe as I have the book but not sure if that's allowed on here?

I am really really hoping a pic is allowed twix
Are these like coconut angel food cakes people mean? I can't picture them.

Here goes anyway.

Nigella says the frosting is like the inside of a tunnocks teacake - I was sold at that point! I'm going to give it a bash this year instead of a normal Christmas cake.

Hope the pics are clear enough. The quality seems to diminish slightly on here.

OMG twix that looks incredible.

We tend to do more cookies at Christmas in the Northeast

eeanne, what are your favorite Christmas cookies (biscuits for the Brits reading)? I do sugar cookies cut into Xmas shapes with colored sprinkles, chocolate chip, peanut butter and coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. And if I'm feeling really adventurous candy-cane cookies.

Twix, what lovely rings!

wow twix thank you - am going to save that now in case the powers that be have it removed@! I was just thinking that I would tell my kids it was snowball cake.

Sure - not exactly the handwritten ones my mother has but very similar recipes:

Jam thumbprints allrecipes.com/recipe/9618/thumbprint-cookies-i/

Soft gingerbread cookies www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/big-soft-ginger-cookies

I did the jam thumbprints last Xmas for the first time and everyone loved them. So easy too.

Thanks for the links.

Thanks missconduct!

Yes, save it quickly! Let us know if you make it!