Number Six

What else can I say about this Diva, that I haven’t already? 

My little girl.  So deeply sensitive, so smart and sweet and a touch high maintenance.  She’s the girl who climbed the high rope in gymnastics last week and the girl who asked for an iPad for her birthday (not happening.)

Love her.  Happy Birthday DEEEEEVA.

The cake?  Thanks Hayley.

Chocolate Cake with Coconut Milk

from the Little Red House

 

2 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
6 TBS butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Line bottom of pan with round of parchment paper, butter paper, and sides of pan.
Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot water and cocoa powder. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
Into a large bowl add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs (adding one at a time) until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes). Slowly add coconut milk, and melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined well. Add flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined.
Pour batter into pan, and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.

Cool cake completely before frosting.

Chocolate Coconut Buttercream
6 TBS butter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3-6 TBS coconut milk,
1/2 tsp - 1tsp pure coconut extract, depending on how coconut-y you want it.
(be sure to get pure coconut extract, and not imitation, or your cake will taste like sun-tan oil.)
Beat butter, cocoa, powdered sugar, and coconut extract, and add coconut milk a little at a time until you reach a consistency you like.
enjoy!