Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Coconut Easter Lamb Cake - Kokosnuss Osterlamm


As with other predominantly Christian countries, in Germany Easter is about re-birth and renewal. Germans, like Americans, celebrate with an Easter bunny delivering eggs and an Easter egg hunt. The Easter Rabbit tradition is believed to originate in Germany, with the first mention in 1684 in a Heidelberg medical professor’s notes. But Germany also has other Easter traditions and the Easter Bunny is not the only one in the egg-delivering business, although he seems to have taken over the German market. Other Easter egg deliverers include the Easter Chick or the Easter Rooster.
Wie in anderen überwiegend christlichen Ländern ist in Deutschland Ostern das Fest der Wiedergeburt und Erneuerung. Was wäre das gute deutsche Osterfest ohne den Osterhasen, bunte Ostereier und eine Ostereiersuche. Man nimmt an, dass die Tradition des Osterhasen seinen Ursprung in Deutschland hat. Er wurde zum ersten Mal im Jahre 1684 in Heidelberg von einem Medizin-Professor erwähnt. Aber es gibt auch jede Mange andere Osterbräuche in Deutschland. Und der Osterhase ist nicht der einzige der Ostereier bringt. Da wären zum Beispiel auch noch das Osterküken oder der Osterhahn.




In many parts of Europe, including Germany, the Easter Lamb Cake is a central part of any Easter table. For Christians, the lamb symbolizes Christ, the ‘Lamb of God’. However, there is a general tradition, not confined to Christians, that Easter is the time of new life and the season’s new lambs.

Many families in Germany have their own slight variation on this cake. Traditionally there are quite a few different recipes for this cake that is baked in the form of a lamb. It is made with either a simple yeast dough version or with a marble cake batter, similar to a pound cake batter.

If you are interested in my traditional Easter Lamb Marble Cake recipe and/or would like to take a look at some of my Easter baking pans, vintage and new, you can click here.

For this recipe, I created a delightfully moist and coconutty Easter Lamb Coconut Cake, a recipe that has become a “new tradition” at our house. I like the look of the shredded coconut on this baked lamb.
In vielen Teilen Europas, einschließlich Deutschland darf der Osternlamm Kuchen auf der Kaffeetafel nicht fehlen. Für Christen symbolisiert das Lamm, Christus, das Lamm Gottes. Allerdings gibt es auch eine nicht religiöse Bedeutung, denn das Osterfest ist die Zeit neuen Lebens und die Zeit wenn junge Lämmer geboren werden.

Traditionell gibt es viele verschiedene Rezepte für diesen Osterkuchen, der in Form eines Lammes gebacken wird. Man macht ihn entweder mit einem einfachen Hefeteig oder mit einem Marmorkuchenteig, der einem Sandkuchenteig ähnelt.

Man kann sich mein traditionelles Rezept für ein Mamorkuchen Osterlamm und einige meiner alten und neuer Osterbackformen hier anschauen.

Für dieses Rezept habe ich eine herrlich saftiges Rezept entwickelt, ein Kokosnuss Osterlamm, dass bei uns eine "neue Tradition" geworden ist. 




Coconut Easter Lamb Cake 

Ingredients for the Cake
  • 150 grams cups AP (plain) flour 
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder 
  • a pinch of fine sea salt
  • 120 gram unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 150 grams superfine (caster) sugar, divided into 100 grams and 50 grams
  • 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla sugar
  • 80 ml coconut milk
  • 2 egg whites (L), organic or free range 
  • 40 grams shredded sweetened coconut
Kokosnuss Osterlamm

Zutaten für den Kuchen
  • 150 Gramm Weizenmehl
  • 3/4 TL Backpulver
  • eine Prise feines Meersalz
  • 120 Gramm Butter, Zimmertemperatur
  • 150 Gramm feinster Zucker, einmal 100 Gramm und einmal 50 Gramm
  • 1 1/2 TL Bourbon Vanillezucker
  • 80 ml Kokosmilch
  • 2 Eiweiß (L), Bio oder Freiland
  • 40 Gramm Kokosraspel



Ingredients for the Topping
  • confectioners´ sugar
  • 1 tbsp coconut milk
  • shredded sweetened coconut
Additional
  • a lamb-shaped cake form
Zutaten für den Guss
  • Puderzucker
  • 1 TL Kokosmilch 
  • Kokosraspel
Zusätzlich
  • eine Lamm-Backform



Preparation of the Cake
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prepare a lamb-shaped cake form by greasing it and dusting it with flour.Shake out any excess flour.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and 100 grams of the sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
  5. Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the coconut milk and beginning and ending with the flour, beat until just combined.
  6. In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 50 grams of sugar. Beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form.
  7. Gently fold a third of the egg-white mixture into the butter-flour mixture until combined. Gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture then stir in shredded coconut.
  8. Fill the prepared cake pan with the cake batter. Bake the cake for a good 40 minutes or until a wooden skewer pushed into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  9. Transfer the pan to a wire rack. Invert onto rack and let cool completely.
  10. Decorate the cake with just a dusting of confectioners´ sugar or mix the confectioners´ sugar with the coconut milk and pour the glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with shredded coconut. NOTE: this recipe is enough for a baking pan with a volume 1100 ml - in order to avoid any spills while baking, please make sure to the measure the pan before you start baking. If your baking pan is smaller, bake a small cake on the side.
Zubereitung des Kuchens
  1. Den Ofen auf 175 Grad Celsius (Elektro) oder 150 Grad (Umluft) vorheizen.
  2. Die Lamm-Backform mit Butter einfetten und mit etwas Mehl ausstreuen.
  3. In einer mittelgroßen Schüssel das Mehl, Backpulver und Salz mischen. Beiseite stellen.
  4. In der Rührschüssel die Butter mit 100 Gramm Zucker schaumig schlagen. Das dauert zirka 3 bis 4 Minuten. Den Vanillezucker dazu geben und ebenfalls unterrühren.
  5. Die Mehlmischung abwechselnd  mit der Kokosnussmilch zu der Buttermischung geben. Nur kurz unterrühren.
  6. In einer anderen Schüssel, das Eiweiß schlagen und langsam die verbleibenden 50 Gramm Zucker dazu geben. Auf höchster Stufe so lange weiter schlagen, bis das Eiweiß steif und glänzend ist.
  7. Vorsichtig ein Drittel des steif geschlagenen Eiweiß zu der Butter-Mehlmischung geben. Dann den Rest des Eiweiß unterheben, dann die Kokosrapeln ebenfalls vorsichtig unterheben.
  8. Den Teig in die vorbereitete Lamm-Backform geben. Den Kuchen ungefähr 40 Minuten backen, oder mit einem Holzstäbchen in die dickste Stelle des Teiges stechen. Wenn beim Herausziehen am Holz noch Teigreste kleben, muss das Lamm  noch im Ofen bleiben.
  9. Aus dem Ofen nehmen und das Osterlamm in der Form abkühlen lassen. Anschließend vorsichtig stürzen.
  10. Entweder nur mit etwas Puderzucker bestäuben oder den Puderzucker mit etwas Kokosnussmilch verrühren, das Lamm damit bestreichen und mit Kokosraspeln bestreuen. HINWEIS: das Rezept passt in eine Backform mit 1100 ml Volumen, wenn die Lammform kleiner ist, ein wenig vom fertigen Teig abnehmen und einen kleinen Kuchen damit backen.



For this Easter cake you will need a lamb-shaped cake pan.  Alternatively, you can use a rabbit cake form or any other Easter related form. Please note that similar pans are available in the US here.
Für diesen österlichen Kuchen braucht man eine Lamm-Backform. Man kann aber auch eine Hasenbackform oder jede andere Osterbackform  nehmen. Man findet diese Backformen in vielen Fachgeschäften oder online hier.




Dusted with confectioner’s sugar or a coconut glaze with shredded coconut, and decorated with some beautiful tulips,  this Easter Lamb Cake makes a lovely centerpiece and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Das Osterlamm eignet sich als leckere Tischdekoration, egal ob man es mit ein wenig Puderzucker oder mit einer Kokosglasur mit Kokosraspel verziert.




Look who dropped in a little early for Easter but just in time for the photo shoot.

Da war der Osterhase zwar ein wenig zu früh für Ostern aber pünktlich zum Fototermin.




I would like to take this opportunity and wish all of my readers a very Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Frohe Ostern! Buona Pasqua! Bonnes Pâques! Vrolijk Pasen! 
Bei dieser Gelegenheit möchte ich allen meinen Lesern ein schönes Osterfest wünschen!

Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua! Bonnes Pâques! Vrolijk Pasen!



51 comments:

  1. Oh, Andrea! Your lamb cake looks delightful, the tulips are gorgeous, and leave it to you, to have a live bunny for your photo shoot! Is that powdered sugar on his nose?

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    1. Cathleen, yes, that is powdered sugar on his nose - first he took an interest in the "Marble Easter Lamb Cake" (the second lamb I had baked for this post) but then he decided he would rather much on my red daisy props...

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  2. Cute rabbit! Is he your pet? Your Lamb Cake is beautiful. Ever since I was a kid, I have loved Easter Lamb cakes, and I also ADORE coconut cake, so this one is lots of goodness all rolled into one! Happy Easter to you and yours!

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    1. Cara Adri, the rabbit a.k.a. Easter Bunny belongs to our girls who could not resist but place him on the table during the photo shoot.Thank you for your nice comment an dthe link-up on FB as well - aren´t these cakes just wonderful - I baked three different kinds this year: Marble, Yeast and this Coconut version - this one is our favorite, it tastes moist and coconutty and it makes for a lovely Easter gift or centerpiece on our Easter table.

      Tanti auguri - per una meravigliosa primavera ed una felice Pasqua!

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  3. That's very nice ! Even in Italy for Easter we make a sweet lamb with marzipan ! Ciao e buona Pasqua !!

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    1. Grazie mille, Anna!

      Buona Pasqua ed i migliori auguri per una meravigliosa primavera!

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  4. Ausgezeichnet! I actually love your coconut cake version - and am starting a search for a mould! Ganz lieve Grüße für ein schönes Ostern! ~ David

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    1. I found a vintage mold online... actually, quite a few. There were some very expensive ones (of course I wanted them most) but I got one with clips for only $15. A question - it seems the bottom is open. how do you keep it upright while baking?

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    2. Lieber David, I did sent you a mail on FB - I have two Easter baking pans for you, a lamb and a rabbit. The bottom is indeed open. You close them with clips and attach two so-called feet on each side, then bake them upside down. Once baked, you cut off the top which is actually the bottom, so they can stand up on a cake platter. You will see once you get them.
      Liebe Grüße,
      ANdrea

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  5. Your lamb is gorgeous and, you're right, the coconut is perfection for the lamb's coat. My girls and I used to make a rather large Easter Bunny and his coat was shredded coconut. Since the girls were decorating it, we were heavy on the frosting, shredded coconut and jelly beans. What type of cake it was made no difference to them. Then, they really didn't like shredded coconut so would scrape that off before eating the cake and frosting. Ohhhhhhh. What is the bunny's name and who takes care of it the most? (The answer should NOT be: Mother does.) Happy Easter and love from Colorado

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    1. Dear Mary, the Easter bunny cake that you baked with your girls sound ´s like it was a lot of fun! Our rabbit/bunny in the picture does belong to the girls. It is aptly called "little tiger" and although I get the green stuff for all of the bunnies (we have 8), Gretchen and Klara have to clean the cages, at least most of the time...grumble...

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  6. Happy easter to you too Andrea! your lamb cake looks perfect for the occasion… shredded coconut has given it a wonderful appearance.. its a easter egg hunt party at my son's montessori today, so I baked mini cupcakes for his class.

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    1. Kai, thank you so much for the kind comment! I certainly hope that the Easter egg hunt at your son´s school will be tremendous fun! And I am sure that the cupcakes you baked were absolutely delicious!

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  7. Hi Andrea, not sure what happened to my previous comment so I will do over, hope I'm not duplicating. The lamb cake is gorgeous and makes such a lovely centerpiece, very clever. Your rabbit is adorable, my girls used to have rabbits when they were little and they made such nice pets.

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    1. Cheri, thank you - a lovely centerpiece indeed but an eatable one for sure! The coconut cake is moist, coconutty and rather delicious. And, yes, those bunnies, they do make nice pets.

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  8. What a beautiful cake Andrea! and the rabbit I am in love! Happy Easter!

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    1. Maria, thank you very much - these kinds of Easter cakes are very popular around here - apart from these lambs, we bake bunnies, hens, roosters and Easter chick cakes.

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  9. Your photos are just so lovely, Andrea.
    The lamb cake is so pretty and looks delicious, too!
    Your bunny is adorable. What's his/her name?
    Wishing you & your family a very sweet Easter. Have a great day, my friend. xo

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    1. Colette, my dear, this very bunny is one of eight and is so aptly called "little tiger" (do not ask). I just could not resit including his picture as part of this post. First he took an interest in the cake (powdered sugar on his nose), then he munched on my red daisies - that was the end of his photo session.
      Very Happy Easter to you and your lovely family as well!

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  10. Danke für diesen österlichen Post! Ich werde den saftigen Kokosteig ausprobieren, ist es genug für die Hasen- und Lammform??? Meistens ist es so viel Teig, dass meine Formen überlaufen... Bisher habe ich immer einen Zitronenkuchen gebacken. Und heute habe ich ein kleines Butterlamm hier im Supermarkt gefunden :-) Sicherlich kennst du 'het boterlam', was man in Holland an Geburtstagen auf den Frühstückstisch stellt... Herrlich, diese Traditionen... Der Hase ist niedlich :-) Schöne Ostertage mit perfektem Wetter für die Eiersuche :-)

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    1. Also, liebe Wally, damit kein Malheur beim Backen passiert, habe ich nachgemessen:

      1. das Rezept für das Kokosnuss-Osterlamm ist genug für eine 900ml Lammform PLUS eine 200 ml Lammform - wenn deine Lammform also nur 900 ml groß ist, nehme ein Viertel vom Teig ab und backe einen Minikuchen mit dem Rest, ansonsten verfahren wie im Rezept beschrieben.
      2. das Rezept für die Mamorkuchen-Osterhasen ergibt genau zwei Osterhasen (siehe Fotos der Hasenformen), du kannst das Rezept aber ganz einfach halbieren, dann gibt es einen Hasen, ohne überlaufen:

      http://kitchenlioness.blogspot.de/2013/03/easter-baking-pans-vintage-and-new.html

      Bei weiteren Fragen, einfach mailen.
      Gutes Gelingen und liebe Grüße,
      Andrea

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    2. Danke, Andrea. Das Lamm ist wunderbar geworden und natürlich konnte ich den 'Hängebauch' gleich verkosten.... Ein ganz tolles Rezept, In der Tat sehr saftig und nicht süß!
      Wunderschoene, sonnige Ostertage!

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    3. Liebe Wally, lieb, dass du mir Bescheid gesagt hast und umso schöner, dass die das Kokosnusslamm geschmeckt hat!
      Ich wüsche dir schöne Ostertage, viel Sonnenschein, gutes Essen und etwas Ruhe!

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  11. A beautiful cake indeed, the coconut dusting makes the cake looks even more like a real lamb, interesting to note that this cake do not use egg yolks, got to pin this for future bakes:D Happy Easter Andrea:D

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    1. Jeannie, this is a basic "white cake", thefore, no eggsyolks in the batter. But you could make some delicious lemon curd for Easter brunch with the yolks - just an idea - I sometimes add them to our scrambled eggs the next morning.
      Happy Easter and enjoy your baking!

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  12. This is such a beautiful post Andrea. I have that knife with the bee on the handle... I cannot remember the brand but I am obsessed with the details! Love that you have some photos of it in this post. As for the cake? It's lovely. That fluffy coconut exterior, the gorgeous moist vanilla cake... yum! The rabbit is sweet too. Have a very, very happy Easter my dear! xx

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    1. Dear Laura, the cake server is from "Laguiole" - I love there knives, cake servers, cutlery, etc.so when I do get a chance, I try to show off the lovely little bee on the handle, be it a logo or not. These Easter-themed cakes are very popular around here and I bake really a lot of them for gifts, as centerpieces and, of course, for eating. Ah, the bunny, I am not one for putting pictures of my pets in posts but since it is Easter, I could not resist!
      Thank you so much for your wonderful comment - whishing you a very Happy Easter in Australia!

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  13. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Easter and lots of yummy Easter eggs!

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    1. Candy, same to you - wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter!

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  14. Your lamb cake is so cute!! I bet the kids love it too. I checked out your vintage pans, so pretty! The cake sounds delicious too and I love the light coconut glaze, looks so cute on the little lamb! Have a wonderful Easter, dear Andrea! Hope the girls have fun with Easter eggs and egg hunts xx

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    1. Nazneen, thank you very much, my dear! The kids love Easter and for now I still have the privilege of hiding eggs and chocolate on Sunday and cook/bake up a storm for the Easter brunch table.

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  15. Wow Andrea, this is the first time that I have seen a cake shaped as a lamb...it is so cute...I love all the clicks...
    Have a Happy Easter my dear :D

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    1. Dear Juliana, these Easter baking pans originated in EU, I did provide a link to some similar baking pans that are available in the US - might want to take a look at them!
      Have a very happy Easter with family and friends!

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  16. Your posts are always so charming. I wish we celebrated with an Easter Rooster! Happy Easter to you, too, Andrea.

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    1. Beth, thank you very much - I have an Easter rooster baking pan and it dioes look cute once baked and all decorated. Different countries, different customs indeed.
      Have a very lovely Easter with family and friends - hope the weather in Canada is somewhat springlike these days and not so cold anymore!

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  17. marvelous cake and that bunny looks so cute... we loved everything about this wonderful post Andrea...those pink tulips look charming....thanks so much for sharing :-)

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    1. Kumar, yes, it is Easter season, so pink tulips, lamb-shaped cakes and bunnies abound! Thank you very much for stopping by!

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  18. Fabulous cake Andrea! Very impressive and perfect for the season.

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    1. Gaye, yes, we love those lamb-shaped Easter cakes around here. We like Marble Cake Easter Bunnies and Lemon Cake Easter Hens and now Coconut Easter Lambs!
      Wishing you also a very happy Easter with some very lovely food!

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  19. Happy Easter Andrea! Love the cake and of course the rabbit is very cute :)

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    1. Karen, you are so kind - hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend and got a chance to relax a bit from all that baking!

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  20. Andrea, I hope you and your family had a memorable Easter celebration this year. I can just imagine how wonderful your table looks with the food you must serve. I loved the photo of your girls bunny with powdered sugar on his nose as he contemplates eating the flower. Sorry but I've been having trouble again with blogspot and my comments going through but since they seem to be working at the moment, I'm catching up.

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    1. Karen, we did have a nice Easter - yesterday we had a rather copious Easter picnic, I think I carried my entire household around. That has become a tradition in our family and the weather was incredibly nice too. Today, Eatsre Monday, was the more fancy sit-down lunch with tons of wonderful food and fabulous desserts. And, yes, the picture of the bunny with the powdered sugar on his nose...I could not resist and, yes, he did like those red daisies better than the cake.
      Thank you so much for trying with the comments again - we have checked and double-checked with blogger but could not detect a problem.
      All the very best - hope you are having springtime weather conditions in New England!

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  21. I'm ready for Easter again! This time I need your cake, the tulips and that cute little bunny! I didn't realize the Easter bunny originated from Germany - that is not too surprising though, since my family didn't celebrate holidays growing up.

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    1. Christy, there are so many stories around that lovely Easter bunny, most of them date back quite a few years and, as the trdition of pputting out an Advent Wreath or a Christmas Tree, it seeme to have originated around here and was brought to the US by the many immigrants with German origins. Thanks for the lovely comment!

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  22. O,
    My heart leapt when I saw the bunny w/ powered sugar upon his sweet fuzzy nose.
    Exquisite. Where oh where did you find him?
    Magnificent feast for the eyes.
    magical tulips.
    everything is wonderful.
    PS. I've not been getting your posts. SORRY> XXXXXXX

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    1. Dera Kim, the bunny is one of eight bunnies that belong to our daughters (we used to have 13) - one of the girls put him there during the photo session and when I saw the powdered sugar on his nose, I just could not resist and included him in this post!
      About recieving the posts, I have heard from a few blogger friends of mine, that there seems to be a problem with receiving posts these days. Sorry about that, I hope that the issue will be resolved soon. Thank you for all your wonderful comment, dear friend!

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  23. Awww, pretty - and you have a real bunny!

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  24. I am very excited about this. We live in Upstate New York and my daughter (14) and I am making an Osterlamm for her German Language teacher. I have been plotting this since last spring. (I found out about Osterlamms too late to buy a pan.)

    Then, we will probably make another for our family get-together, too. It seems only fair. My father will love it because he's obsessed with the fact that we have German heritage ever since we found out in the late 1990's. (We've been here since 1710 and *no one* was making what we'd consider modern cakes yet, but this will not occur to him.) And everyone will ooh and aah because my daughter made it with me.

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