Summer Cake

Summer cake is a pineapple-coconut-walnut mixture of absolute deliciousness and joy. It is everything I loved about spending a week at my Cici's (grandmother) house and is equally as good in the winter as it is in the summer. The pineapple-coconut flavors remind me of vacation and the walnut is a great compliment to level out the sweetness with a little bitter/savory side. The cake is incredibly easy to make and I am excited to share it! 

Summer Cake

Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Finely Chopped Walnuts
​- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Unsweetened Flaked Coconut
- 20oz Can Crushed Pineapple with Juice
- 2 Eggs
- Cake Flour (or all-purpose as a sub.)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla

FDirections:
- Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl
- In a separate bowl mix eggs, vanilla, and pineapple; then add and mix with dry ingredients.
- Pour into a greased 9X13in pan (we use a Pyrex)
​- Bake 35-40 minutes (35 is typically plenty for us but it is good to have a range) at 350F or until a butter knife or toothpick can be stuck in and come out clean.
- Let cool for Almond-Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting or make a Glaze Icing and pour on while the cake is still hot. Both are below!

Almond-Whipped Cream-Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
​- 8oz Cream Cheese
- 1&1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Almond Extract (or more vanilla as a sub.)
- 1 Cup White Sugar

Directions:
​- Put all ingredients into a stand mixer bowl.
- Mix with stand mixer and medium to high speeds for 3-6 minutes (or until the frosting is nice and thick).
- Once the cake is cool carefully spread the frosting over.
*Optional - add toasted coconut on top of the frosting for garnish

Hot Glaze

Ingredients:
- 1 Box Powdered Sugar
- 1 Stick Margarine
​- 1 tsp Almond Extract

Directions:
- Melt the margarine in a pot.
- Add the sugar and the extract.
- Bring to a high temperature and continue to stir for 2-3 minutes or until it comes to a boil
- Drop the temperature and continue to stir until it settles into a thicker but still some-what clear liquid.
- Poke small holes throughout the hot cake and carefully pour the glaze over the top. 
*Optional - add toasted coconut on top of glze for garnish