This lovely Coconut and Cherry Cake takes me straight back to the cosy Scottish tearooms of my childhood. The kind with lace tablecloths, china cups, and a glass cake stand piled high with home-baked treats. The chewy sweetness of glacé cherries paired with soft, fluffy coconut sponge is comfort in every bite. It’s one of those bakes that brings a wee smile with every slice.
You’ll also find this recipe featured in my Scottish Tearoom Cookbook, a collection of treasured classics inspired by those special places and memories. This delicious Coconut and Cherry cake recipe is in the video at the end of this post and you can jump straight to it by clicking the link below. The full recipe cards are available over on The Wee Larder Patreon membership.
Click here to jump straight to the Coconut and Cherry Cake Recipe
I love this Coconut and Cherry Cake recipe it always comes out so well and is really delicious with a cup of tea. Why not try making this recipe as part of an Afternoon Tea tower or for a weekend treat. It also makes a lovely addition to a family picnic basket as it travels well. I like to use golden icing sugar for this coconut cake because it adds a bit of colour into the decorating and personally I think the taste is better too.
This recipe is featured in my Scottish Tearoom Cookbook which is packed with lovely recipes that are inspired by the Scottish tearooms we have visited on our travels around Scotland. You can find out more about my Scottish Tearoom Cookbook by clicking the image below.
In a traditional Scottish tearoom, you’d find a range of classic treats like buttery shortbread, fruit-studded scones, empire biscuits, traybakes, sponge cakes, and delicate slices of handmade loaf cakes. I’ve tried to recreate my experience of these delicious treats in the book above.
Scottish tearooms began to flourish in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They offered a refined, yet affordable place for people, especially women, to gather socially outside the home. They became cherished community hubs and were known for their warm atmosphere. You’d quite often find delicate china and a delicious selection of home baking, from scones and shortbread to layer cakes and traybakes. Tearooms played an important role in social history, providing not just food and comfort but also a sense of independence and connection during a time of great change. Today they are visited by locals and tourists from afar. People will travel miles at the word of a good tearoom to visit for the cakes and treats on offer. They are treasured in Scotland.
If you like the sound of this recipe you may also enjoy these delicious cake recipes below. I love these two home baking recipes I posted recently on The Wee Larder Youtube Channel . The Scottish Wartime Dripping Cake is a classic and is such a unique and interesting recipe to try. I also love the Marmalade Cake Bars as they are so easy to make and so delicious. Both recipes are below.
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Tips for making this lovely Coconut and Cherry Cake.
- Make sure your oven is preheated before you pop the cake into the oven and don’t open it until nearer the end of the cooking time to ensure an even rise.
- Grease up your loaf tin well with butter so that it doesn’t stick to the tin.
- You could try turning this recipe into a cupcake or muffin tin but make sure you only cook them for about 15-20 minutes. I am sure this recipe would make delicious cupcakes.
- If you want to try baking this in a square brownie tin you could make coconut slice cake bars. These would be lovely for the kids.
- You don’t have to top with additional cherries and coconut on the top but it does look lovely.
If your a member of The Wee Larder Patreon don’t forget to print out your Coconut and Cherry Cake Recipe Card from your membership. If you want to find out more about whats available on The Wee Larder Patreon pop over by clicking the image below.
