350g( 2¾ cups) plain flour(all purpose flour or cake flour)
330g(1 ⅔ cups) sugarcaster or granulated
1tbspbaking powder
½tbspbicarbonate of soda
200g(7/8 cup) Stork or softened butter
4medium eggs
120ml(½ cup) milkroom temperature
1tspvanilla extractor coconut extract
1lemonzest only
Topping
250g(1 cup) smooth jam of your choicesuch as raspberry or strawberry
100g(1 cup) desiccated coconut(or use sprinkles)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 170C (340F). Mist a rectangular tin with cake release and line with baking paper letting the edges hang over the sides.
Put the flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarbonade of soda in a large mixing bowl and mix together to combine.
Add the Stork or softened butter, eggs, milk, vanilla and lemon zest.
Start beating at lowest speed setting until ingredients come together. Increase the speed to maximum and beat until the batter is completely smooth - about 30 seconds to one minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl halfway through.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and level using a spatula.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake is golden and feels springy to the touch. A skewer or knife inserted in the centre should come out clean – if not cook for a further 5 minutes.
Lift the cake out of the tin using the overhanging paper and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Put half the jam in a saucepan and stir over low heat to soften. You can add a little water or lemon juice if it needs loosening.
Poke small holes over the cake using a chopstick. Liberally brush the cake with the warm jam.
Stir the remaining jam to soften and spread over the cake.
Sprinkle with the coconut, slice the cake into squares using a serrated knife and make sure to share!
Video
Notes
Unless specified otherwise all your ingredients including butter eggs and milk should be at room temperature in order to achieve a smooth batter. If one or more of the ingredients are cold they will cause your batter to split or look curdled.
If your milk is cold from the fridge then heat briefly in the microwave or saucepan until just tepid. Make sure the milk is body temperature - not too hot!
Place cold eggs into warm water for five minutes to bring them back to room temperature.
Cut cold butter into cubes and leave for an hour on your counter to warm up or use margarine (Stork).
This is a great cake for bake sales and parties as it serves a big crowd. It keeps well in an airtight container for 2-3 days if you want to keep it all to yourself!