Blueberry. Coconut. Lemon.

A brilliant triple combination, if you ask me. This cake is deliciously moist and light and tastes like a perfect muffin in cake form. And the lemon sauce? Don’t get me started, man. The slightly sweet and tart sauce is wonderful drizzled on top of the coconut-crusted cake…or just enjoyed by the spoonful. Lemon sauce makes me happy.

The dreamy part of this cake is that it can be made with fresh or frozen blueberries (don’t thaw those blueberries before using if they are frozen!) which makes it perfect all-year round when fresh blueberries may not be in season. This refreshing little cake is perfect, in my book, for potlucks or upcoming summer BBQ’s. It kind of fits in the category of some of these other quick, 9X13-sheet cakes that taste out-of-this-world but come together so easily. Why does life feel so complete when such a simple cake tastes so utterly terrific? I’ll ponder that question while you head to the kitchen to make this.

Blueberry Coconut Cake with Lemon Sauce
Yield: Serves 12

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (unthawed)

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 cup flaked sweetened coconut

For the sauce:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

• 1 cup water

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch aluminum baking dish and set aside. (Editor’s note: See this link if you use a glass baking dish.)

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula just until moistened. Toss the fresh or frozen blueberries with the 2 tablespoons flour and fold them in very gently to the batter. Don't overmix or the batter will start take on a blue-ish tinge.

3. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the coconut and bake for 18-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack.

4. For the sauce, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and grated lemon zest. Gradually whisk in the water until blended. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking often, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes at a boil until the mixture is thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon juice. The sauce can be used warm or at room temperature.

5. Cut the cake into squares and drizzle each piece with the lemon sauce. Serve.

Recipe Source: adapted from an old, old recipe card I found in my pantry (no source)