This Coconut Cake with Fresh Berries, Ganache, and Whipped Cream is tender, slightly sweet, and fragrant. Plus, it is a truly decadent gluten free dessert.
It’s difficult to imagine where I’d be without mom’s table. I grew up at that table amidst plates, casserole dishes, and the Sunday paper. It’s where I took my first bites. It’s where my brother and I fought for elbow space, where I slurped cereal and read the comics before school. It’s where I ate stuffed crust pizza and giggled about boys with my friends. It’s where I learned to hull strawberries and play a mean game of Rook. It’s where we hashed out curfews and dating relationships, where I agonized over college decisions, and where I cut, pasted, and sealed hundreds of wedding invitations. It’s where we celebrated birthdays and Thanksgivings, long summer nights and wedding mornings.
Over the years, Mom’s table has welcomed friends and family, neighbors and distant guests. It’s captured stories from the walls of elementary schools to the safaris of Uganda. It’s seen celebration and grief, fights and forgiveness. It’s been full of turkey and mashed potatoes and full of junk mail. Laden with candles and china or paper plates and solo cups (or both). It’s been a desk. A counselor’s office. A crafting nook. A bakery. A card table. A refuge.
Anyone that’s lucky enough to spend some time around Mom’s table has experienced it. There’s a sense, a feeling you get, sitting there, that this is the kind of place you want to be. It’s the kind of place you can let loose a little bit. Be yourself. Laugh until you snort. It’s the kind of place you want to stay awhile and cozy into. The kind of place that feels like home.
It’s not the table that draws me back there, time and again, and makes me stay into the wee hours of the morning. It’s not mom’s colorful, vintage decorating style (though it’s so inviting), and it’s not even the smell of her fresh baked goods (though I can’t resist them).
No, the reason this table is so powerful is because of Mom. It’s her person, her presence,that draws people. Mom’s love hits you the moment you sit at her table. It whispers: You are welcome here. You are loved. You are enough. You belong.
I can never thank Mom enough for that simple message. For showing me, through brownie batter and breakups, what it means to be unconditionally loved. What it means to be welcomed, no matter the circumstance. What it means to be generous with my time and my food, and with my own kitchen table. Her love has changed and shaped me, and pointed me to Jesus, time and again. And that’s the greatest gift she could have ever given me.
This week all of our #SundaySupper contributors are honoring our mothers by making special dishes just for them. Our kitchen table has looked a little different since mom found out she has to follow a gluten free diet. You’d never hear a complaint come out of her mouth, but mom has had to pass over too many desserts since then. I made this cake so she could enjoy a truly decadent gluten free dessert.
The cake is made with coconut flour which is light and nutty and has an absolutely intoxicating scent. Coconut flour soaks up a lot of liquid, so this recipe requires a lot of eggs. But this couldn’t be easier to make. Honestly, it’s easier than any gluten-full cake I’ve ever made. You just throw all the ingredients together in a mixer or food processor and blend until smooth. That’s it. No separating the wet and dry ingredients. No creaming butter and sugar. Just throw it in and blend.
The resulting cake is tender, slightly sweet, and fragrant. It makes a beautiful base for frosting or, in this case, piled high with fresh berries, rich chocolate ganache, and fluffy, orange-scented whipped cream.
I love the understated elegance of this cake. It reminds me of mom. It’s not fancy or glamorous, but has a graceful beauty about it that just begs you to grab a slice.
Gluten Free Coconut Cake with Fresh Berries, Ganache, and Whipped Cream
Ingredients
For the cake:
For the ganache:
For the whipped cream
For the berries:
Instructions
For the ganache:
For the whipped cream:
To assemble:
Recipe adapted from Deliciously Organic
Make sure you take a look at what all the other #SundaySupper participants are sharing for Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day Brunch:
- Blueberry Coffee Cake from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Cornbread Pancakes with Blackberries from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Crepes from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Hot N Sweet Mango Chutney from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Lemon Glazed Raspberry Scones from Juanita’s Cocina
- Quiche Lorraine from Supper for a Steal
- Seafood Quiche from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Simple Gluten-Free Buckwheat Buttermilk Waffles from Buffy and George
- Strawberry Rhubarb Compote from Noshing with the Nolands
- Sweet French Breakfast Crepes from Curious Cuisiniere
- Vidalia Onion Quiche from Comfy Cuisine
Mother’s Day Entrees:
- Cod with Stewed Tomatoes from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Grilled Vegetable Sandwiches with Herbed Goat Cheesefrom Foxes Love Lemons
- Lemon Risotto from Healthy. Delicious.
- Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp Caper Sauce from Family Foodie
- Pork dumpling (Shumai) from The Urban Mrs.
Mother’s Day Starters and Sides:
- Crab Bread Pudding from Kimchi MOM
- Cream of Asparagus Soup from Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Spaetzle from Magnolia Days
- Spring Orzo Pasta Salad from The Messy Baker
- Vegetable Tart from Sustainable Dad
Mother’s Day Desserts and Drinks:
- Bailey’s Caramel Apple Lava Dumplings from Gourmet Drizzles
- Blackberry Cobbler from Country Girl in the Village
- Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls from Gotta Get Baked
- Chocolate Kahlua Cream Pie from Ruffles & Truffles
- Espresso Brownies from What Smells So Good?
- Fresh Blackberry Elderflower Sorbet from Shockingly Delicious
- Fresh Fig and Walnut Pie from Vintage Kitchen
- Gluten Free Coconut Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Berries, and Fresh Whipped Cream from Neighborfood
- Lavender Shortbread Cookies from girlichef
- Lemon Meringue Pie from Pies and Plots
- Lemon Petit Fours from Home Cooking Memories
- Lemon Sorbet in Prosecco from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Milky Way Brownies from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Mini Strawberry and Cheese Pies from Basic N Delicious
- Mom’s Apple Crisp from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Mom’s Texas Sheetcake from Daily Dish Recipes
- Mum’s Strawberry Cake from My Cute Bride
- Pastel Imposible (Impossible Cake) from The Foodie Patootie
- Pineapple Empanadas from La Cocina de Leslie
- Raspberry and Hazlenut Friands from Happy Baking Days
- Semolina Balls (Suji Laddoo) from Soni’s Food
- Too-Good-to-Be-Lowfat Chocolate Eclair Icebox Dessert from The Weekend Gourmet
- Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting from Growing Up Gabel
Don’t forget to join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter today to celebrate Mother’s Day! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share our delicious recipes. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.
This post is all linked up to the Chocolate Party over at Roxana’s Home Baking. They’re sharing recipes with Strawberries and Chocolate…which is my kind of recipe. 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
Hezzi-Ds Books&Cooks says
I can’t believe this is gluten free! I’m pinning it for later because it looks so decadant and delicious I’m going to have to make it soon! YUM!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
I know! I was seriously impressed by this cake. It was the easiest cake EVER to make and tasted and smelled so good!
Kanak Hagjer says
That’s an amazing cake!! Wonderful family pictures and a kitchen that looks so welcoming.
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
Thank you. It’s the most welcoming place I know.
Jennifer Drummond says
Ok, first I have to say, oh my gosh your cake looks amazing! Gorgeous photos!! Love your post today and I love your family pictures!
katyabroad says
What an unbelievably decadent dessert – and gluten-free! Beautiful 🙂
Cindys Recipes says
So beautiful!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
For me that´s a glamorous dessert, great looking and rustic! And gf, how awesome. This is a beautifully written post, so heartfelt!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
Thanks Paula. It’s somehow fancy without trying. That’s my favorite kind of dessert.
Laura Dembowski says
That is definitely one super decadent looking gluten free cake, and it sounds like your mom deserves this lovely treat!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
She definitely does. 🙂
DB says
What a gorgeous cake…I am salivating!!!
Tara says
Great pictures and post and amazing looking cake!!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
Thank you Tara!
Sarah R says
Wow! Nicely done!
Liz says
What a magnificent cake for your mom! Your description of your mom’s table brought back such memories of mine. Excellent post…and such a wonderful tribute to your dear mother.
Life in the Slow Lane says
Wow, haven’t seen that kitchen for years. That place is full of memories.
Happy Mother’s Day to your mom. 🙂 Nice tribute…
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
Such a beautiful cake! A beautiful treat for your mom!
Nancy says
Courtney, I totally want to come visit your family and spend time around that table. You guys look like you’re having so much fun in every single photo! You look a lot like your mom – you’re both beautiful ladies. This is one of my favourite posts from this week. Your words are like poetry, so melodic and descriptive. And your cake, with all its incredible components and flavours, is a wonderful ode to your mom. I want to reach into my screen and eat the whole thing!
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
This was so sweet Nancy. Thanks for your kind words. I wish we could enjoy this cake together in that cozy kitchen!
Family Foodie says
Oh my gosh! That cake looks heavenly! I loved the story and all of the pictures in the kitchen and around the table! Your mom sounds like she is a wonderful person to be around!
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
That looks positively luscious! Great recipe for #SundaySupper!
Katie C says
Oh. My. Gosh. Please excuse me for a moment as I drool all over my keyboard. This dessert not only looks gorgeous, but the flavors and textures sound incredible!
Renee Dobbs says
Seriously, truly, decadent, and amazing cake! Stunning dessert for sure. Don’t tell anyone it’s gluten-free and they would never be the wiser. Wonderful tribute to your mom too. How great to have such love around a family table because of her.
Lori | Foxes Love Lemons says
I loved your writing, and all of the photos! How special for your mom to read this. And that cake is GORGEOUS. Stunning. Amazing!