You may or may not know that recently I started a new job. Everybody in the office knows that I bake, because Baking with Gab is on my CV…I think that the prospect of cake is part of what got me the job (and I’m totally okay with that!)
But this meant that there were expectations. Expectations that I would bring cake into the office. Delicious cake.
So much pressure!
I had to bring my A-game. Something that would be super delicious, without looking like I’d put in loads of effort and gone out of my way to make it.
I also had three eggs to use up after I forgot to put them in my baking over the weekend and tonne of desiccated coconut to use up.
This cake fulfilled all those requirements, and was fudgy, moist and chocolaty enough to garner some approval. Officially on my way to coercing work friendships with cake – oh yeah!
Choc-coconut cake:
- 220g dark chocolate
- 1 cup strong coffee (I used 2 tsp instant)
- 250g butter
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 ½ cups plain flour
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 2 tsp bicarb
- 200ml sour cream
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
For the topping
- 110g chocolate
- 60g butter
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
Preheat your oven to 170°C and grease a33 x 23 cm baking tray. Line the bottom of it with a rectangle of baking paper.
Make your coffee in a large jug and put the chocolate in there to melt, stirring it to help it along. Set to one side.
Cream your butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and mix well. Mix in your flour, cocoa and bicarb. Add the sour cream and coconut. Finally, pour in the chocolatey coffee and mix slowly (so that it doesn’t slosh) until combined.
Pour the mixture into your tray and pop in the oven for 50-55 minutes.
The cake is ready when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out with a few crumbs, but not clumps of mixture. It’s supposed to be moist, so don’t over-bake it.
Set aside to cool.
When the cake is cool, whip up the icing by melting the chocolate and butter together and mixing until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool for five minutes so that it’s not molten when you put it on the cake. Mix the coconut and almonds together in a small bowl. Spread a thin layer of chocolate over the cooled cake and top generously with the coconut/almond mixture.
Serve with a dollop of cream on the side for extra indulgence.
This recipe was inspired by a recipe I found on Pinterest.
Well, if this can’t win you some new friends, I don’t know what can! Looks like a perfect cake for mid morning coffee break 🙂
Haha thank you! It certainly is.
Congratulations on your new job! Wish I was luckily enough to score a piece of your cake! Looks rich and indulgent 🙂
Thanks Miss Emzyy 😀 Congratulations on your job also!
Chocolate and coconut – alwaysa winner!
I agree! One of my favourites 😀
Oh yum, that cake looks amazing. Chocolate and coconut are the best together. Congrats on the new job and is that artwork new also? I love it, that cupcake with the doggie is adorable.
Thank you Suzanne! Yes, it is new artwork, so glad you noticed 😀 😀
Looks amazing! I am definitely going to try this recipe out 🙂
Thanks Mimi, I hope you love it!
I just love chocolate cake and this looks wonderfully amazing.
Thank you K! It’s so simple as well 🙂
I have cake envy!! We need this cake in the office stat! Thanks for the recipe think I’ll be in serious baking mode this weekend baking up a HUGE batch of this cake!
Haha Raquel, cake envy! I hope that you got the chance to bake it! If you did, I’d love to hear/see how it went 🙂
Looks delicious!😊 congrats and lots of luck on your new job!
Thank you! You’re too kind 🙂
I have an upcoming Xmas lunch with colleagues at work and was wondering what to bake, think I found my winner ! Thank you 🙂
Oh thats lovely to hear! Thank you. Let me know how it goes 😊
I work with Gab and can vouch for the cake – it was amazing. Not that she needed it to win any friends.
Aww thanks Jo!!
cake is definitely the best way to make friends!
Haha I agree 😀