Once upon a time, when I was too hip to explain on a brief blog post, I was the tanning Goddess. I would take out my coconut scented tanning oil and spray every inch of my body. Even my toes!
Coconut-Lime Berry Cake
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ¾ plus 1 tablespoon cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup packed sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3 large eggs
¾ cup buttermilk
zest and juice of two limes
3 cups mixed berries (like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries)
3 tablespoons orange juice
In a medium-sized bowl, toss together the 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, the berries, and the juice. Reserve on the side for when the batter is ready.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour a 9-by-13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ¾ cups flour, baking powder, salt, and coconut.
In another large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup sugar on high, stopping the mixer to scrape the bowl as needed. Beat until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes).
With mixer on low, add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions buttermilk, and beat until combined. Stir in the lime zest and juice.
Pour batter into your prepared baking pan and spread it out with a spatula.
Scatter the berry mixture over the cake batter. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature.
recipe: Martha Stewart Everyday Food
Enjoy this delicious summer cake and breath in the coconut smell while it's baking. 
Soon I'll back home and catching you up on the rest of my days in Italy.
Thank you for stopping by! CIAO:)
The smell of coconut makes me think of my grandmother's kitchen, and it's so funny that your association back to your younger days couldn't be any more different! This cake has the perfect flavor combo, btw. Love it!
Mmmm...coconut tanning oil....that scent takes me back.
What a beautiful cake....citrus and berries...so a tasty combination and so lovely.
Lol! I remember those days! I still prefer the smell of old Coppertone, but the coconut oil was the essence of summers!
Great looking cake! I hope you are thoroughly enjoying every minute with the family! I am getting ready to go to Serbia on Monday, and I will wave to you from there:)
That looks so good for summer time!! 🙂
Lora, I like the combination of flavors. If it tastes as good as it looks it is worth baking!!
Hugs
Nagyon szeretném megkóstolni!!!! nagyon finomnak nézem!!!
Yep, the bangs, the latest issue of Dolly magazine, the oil, the hot summer's day, the sunburn the next day - ah, memories. I'll show my true colors and admit that coconut always reminds me of a pina colada. I am a real sucker for tiki drinks. Anyway, back to your cake - love, love, love the idea of these flavors together, and they are all items that I generally have in the house at any given time.
Did we all have those giant poof bangs? 🙂 The smell of coconut always reminds me of summer. I love it! What a great cake 🙂
I love that coconut smell, even though when I was a teen baby oil was the frying medium of choice. That's a beautiful, simple cake- just right for the summer berries so abundant right now. 🙂
Love the memories you've stirred up...and I LOVE coconut! I keep a tube of coconut lip balm in my purse (and have since 2004) that I use for the sheer purpose of sniffing to take me to "vacation days/pre-kids." I've never used it on my lips..it's just there to use as a stress-reliever (aromatherapy!) 🙂
Was thinking about you this morning and wondering how you're doing. Happy to see a post here and thrilled that it's a yummy coconut cake.
What a cute post! I can totally see you sitting on the beach. This cake sounds great and the smell of coconut always transports me away to other places and times too 🙂
HA!!! Oh the days of big bangs, and coconut oil tanning! This cake sounds delicious! I am on a fruit and lime kick, and this sound great!
Oh wow, this looks so good! Coconut smells like summer, beach, Martha's Vineyard. Sometimes, I slather on suntan lotion just to be inside and smell happy thoughts!
The smell of coconut reminds me of the same thing! Sitting in the sun and talking about all the drama that comes with being a teenager. This cake looks phenomenal 🙂
I hide from the sun now but I don't hide from coconut, love it!
Look delicious.
Just the batter flavors sound fantastic! The addition of fresh fruit really makes it extra special. Simply delicious
This is my favorite kind of dessert... rustic, seasonal, and full of flavor. Beautiful job, Lora!
One of my friends is having surgery this weekend and she loves coconut.. this may have to be the dessert to brighten her day 🙂