Coconut Cake with Sticky Coconut Butterscotch Topping

Grease a 26 cm springform cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper.

Preheat the oven to 150˚C.

Cake: Beat the butter and sugar until light and pale. Whisk the eggs together and gradually beat in until well combined. Combine the flour, baking powder, cardamom and the coconut and gently mix into the butter mixture along with the buttermilk and lemon zest.

Pour into the tin and bake for 1 hour, covering the top loosely with foil after 40 minutes to prevent the top from over-browning.

Topping: Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and slowly bring to the boil. Take off the heat and set aside while the cake cooks.

Increase the oven temperature to 180˚C.

Remove the cake from the oven after 1 hour. Carefully spoon the warm topping over the cake to an even layer. I find using two forks is best for this. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes until the topping is golden. Let the cake cool completely before removing from the tin.

To serve: Place on a serving plate and dust with icing sugar. Makes 1 cake

Cook’s tip: Buttermilk is available at some supermarkets and food stores. Or to make your own quick version stir 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into 1 cup of milk and leave for 10 minutes for the milk to curdle.