As you may have guessed by the title, this Gluten free coconut cake is for all the gluten-free fans out there! But don’t be fooled by the name; this cake is a tasty treat for anyone! Not everyone understands what gluten is, though, so I’m going to share a few facts about it before I dive into the actual recipe. Here goes! 😀
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in several types of grain, such as wheat, spelt, barley, rye, and oats. It helps these foods maintain their shape, acting as a sort of glue that holds them together.
But a lot of people are intolerant to gluten. About 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder characterized by sensitivity to gluten.
People with celiac disease must avoid gluten, but there are multiple health benefits of avoiding gluten even for those of us without the condition. For example, gluten contains oligosaccharides, which can easily be fermented by intestinal bacteria and cause bloating, cramping, and/or diarrhea, so avoiding foods with gluten will help you avoid these unpleasant side effects. A gluten-free diet can also improve your health, help you lose weight, and increase your energy. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Anyway, back to the cake! 🙂
Why I Created a Gluten-Free Cake Recipe
The inspiration behind this cake recipe is my dad, who’s on a special gluten-free diet. (My mom has really done her homework and come up with tons of delicious recipes for all kinds of gluten-free food he can eat. Seriously, some of them are even ten times tastier than what I eat!) He really wanted to try some of my cakes, though, but I noticed that even though there are millions of gluten-free recipes out there, I didn’t yet have one for a gluten-free cake. Needless to say, I made sure to change that!
Honestly, I was blown away how delicious this cake turned out! It’s like eating a giant chocolate Bounty!
The cake was gone mere seconds after I made it! 😀 Sure, I have to make it again tomorrow because everyone loved it so much, but it’s worth it. Not only is this cake so much healthier than most others, it’s equally tasty and it doesn’t require flour! If you’re a fan of coconut, I have a feeling this recipe will become one of your favorites! 😉
As you can see, I’ve really taken an interest in this special diet, so expect a lot of gluten-free recipes in the future. The possibilities are endless! 🙂
○ RECIPE ○
<Ingredients>
Crust #1:
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup sugar (125g)
- 2 cups shredded hazelnuts
Crust #2:
- 6 egg whites
- 1 cup sugar (125g)
- 2 cups coconut flakes (200g)
Crust #3 is the same as Crust #1
<Filling>
- 10 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 200g melted chocolate
- 1 stick butter
○ PROCEDURE ○
- Preheat the oven to 360°F and prepare an 11-inch (28cm) pan.
Crust #1 and #3:
- Mix the egg whites with the sugar until a stiff peak forms.
- Gently fold in the hazelnuts. Repeat this procedure twice.
- Bake both crusts for about 15 minutes.
Crust #2:
- Mix the egg whites with the sugar until a stiff peak forms.
- Gently fold in the coconut flakes.
- Bake the crust for 8–10 minutes
<Filling>
- Cook the egg yolks and sugar in a double boiler for about 25 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Melt the chocolate and pour it into the egg yolk mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Let it cool completely, then mix the butter for 5 minutes and add it to the cooled filling
<Assembly>
Crust #1, Filling, Crust #2, Filling, Crust #3
☆ You can use any frosting of your choice. I used 200ml of heavy whipping cream mixed with 1/2 cup of sugar, then covered the whole cake with 100g of coconut flakes.
* If you prefer, you can use your favorite buttercream frosting recipe (because I’m sure you already have one ;)).
And that’s my recipe for Gluten free coconut cake! Whether you like gluten-free foods, coconut, or both, I’m sure you’ll love this recipe! And if you make this cake for a loved one with a gluten intolerance, I’m sure they’ll love it too. My dad certainly did! 😉