Tropical Treat: Pineapple Coconut Loaf Cake

When it's freezing outside, we eat a lot of soup and do a lot of dreaming about warm, tropical places.  While organizing my recipe box the other day, I came across this one, from Everyday Food, for Pineapple Coconut Loaf Cake.

It is so scrumptious,moist and buttery (not exactly health food) with the tropical tastes of coconut flakes and pineapple chunks.

It's almost enough to shake the winter blues away.

COCONUT PINEAPPLE LOAF CAKE (adapted from Everyday Food)

• 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice, drained well

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour the shredded coconut onto a baking sheet, and toast it for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven.

Butter and flour a 9x5" loaf pan.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (minus the coconut) and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar on medium with an electric mixer.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.   On the low setting, alternatively beat in the dry mixture and the sour cream (1/3 flour, 1/2 sour cream, 1/3 flour, 1/2 sour cream, 1/3 flour).  Mix only until combined (overmixing will make a tough cake).

Fold in the drained pineapple and 1 cup of the toasted coconut.  Pour into your floured pan, then top with the remaining coconut.  Bake for 65-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Oh, and about halfway through, it's a good idea to cover the top with a piece of foil, so that the coconut on top doesn't get burnt.  Let the cake cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan and slicing. 

It has such a crunchy topping from the coconut, as well as some coconut bits and sweet pineapple chunks spread throughout the cake.  Just be warned that it's hard to just have one piece!