Step 1

Preheat the oven to Preheat oven to / 350°F /180°C (standard oven) or 320°F /160°C (fan/convection oven)

Step 2

Grease a 9 inch /23cm loaf tin well butter and line with parchment/baking paper.

Step 3

In a medium bowl sift the self-raising flour, and whisk in the desiccated coconut and sugar.

Step 4

Add the milk and any flavouring extract you are using.

Step 5

Whisk or mix with a spatula or until combined. Do not over mix. Over mixing will result in the cake being heavy and dense.

Step 6

Pour the mixture into the lined loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Step 7

OPTIONAL: Spread jam over the top of the baked cake while still warm and top with a sprinkling of toasted desiccated coconut.

Step 8

Substitute almond, lemon, or orange extract for the vanilla.

Step 9

Fold dried cranberries, blueberries, or chocolate chips into the batter before baking. If using fruit, remember to toss it in a Tablespoon of flour before incorporating it into the batter. This will ensure that the fruit does not sink to the bottom of the cake while baking.

Step 10

Mix rainbow sprinkles into the batter before baking.

Step 11

Mix equal parts of melted butter with a sprinkling of cinnamon powder. Swirl this mixture over the cake batter before baking. -

Step 12

Similar to the pictures in my post, you can top with your favourite jam/ jelly and a sprinkle of coconut, or give my other great toppings a try:

Step 13

Top the cake batter with toasted Chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Step 14

Spread Nutella or warmed peanut over the top of the baked cake

Step 15

Top with a simple dusting of powdered sugar

Step 16

Frost with piped or spread with my favourite chocolate buttercream

Step 17

Try my delicious stabilized 3 ingredient whipped cream frosting (without gelatin) and top with seasonal fruit

Step 18

Cover with a chocolate ganache.

Step 19

Yes, the cake is sturdy enough to be covered with either fondant or sugar paste.

Step 20

Over mixing is one of the causes of a dense bake.

Step 21

To avoid this, ensure that you mix all your ingredients at medium speed when using an electric mixer. If it is mixed on high or for too long, the cake batter loses the incorporated air and becomes dense.

Step 22

At room temperature, this cake lasts up to one week when stored in an airtight container