Sepia Saturday with Be-Ro, Tea Time Treats and Rich Jam and Coconut Cake
Sepia Saturday with Be-Ro, Tea Time Treats and
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake Recipe
Sepia Saturday with Be-Ro, Tea Time Treats and Rich Jam and Coconut Cake
It’s Saturday and it’s Sepia, as in Sepia Saturday, the weekly baking challenge where I attempt to bake my way through eighty years of Be-Ro cookbooks……although, I have not posted a Be-Ro bake for the last three weeks due to travelling and other events! My last Sepia Saturday post was Sepia Saturday, Happy Baking Days with Tala and Be-Ro: Strawberry Iced Butterfly Fairy Cakes, those little cakes are just a distant memory now, but, they were delicious…..take my word for it! But not only is my post today all about Be-Ro, but it’s also my first entry into October’s Tea Time Treats, the theme being preserves…….and as my Rich Jam and Coconut Cake recipe has some home-made raspberry jam in it, it’s the perfect entry I think. I have also been VERY sneaky and have managed to enter this old-fashioned recipe into Dom’s Random Recipes too…..where the task is to make or bake a recipe with a “random” store cupboard find…….and after delving my hand into my store-cupboard, I pulled out a jar of dessicated coconut, luckily, as I needed to use it up – it’s been sitting there for ages! I just love it when a plan comes together!
Be-Ro 24th Million Edition
My recipe for Rich Jam and Coconut Cake, comes from the 24th million edition of the Be-Ro book of Home Recipes; I guesstimate that it was published on the 1940’s…..the original recipe only uses jam in it, and it called a Rich Jam Cake (rich as in a rubbed in method of cake) but, we have always spread more jam onto these little cakes and sprinkled coconut over them, so I am using my families adapted version today. My mum also used to make these little jam and coconut cake sandwiches with stale left over cake (and yes, there was some sometimes!) and I remember having them for Sunday tea. They are easy to make and any jam can be uses, although I used some home-made raspberry jam when I made these today. If you are not a lover of coconut, then the added jam and coconut finish is not necessary……
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake Recipe
What I love about this recipe is its simplicity – we are surrounded by over laden iced “cupcakes” and multi-layered cakes nowadays, as well as “cake pops”, “giant American muffins” and other gargantuan bakes and cakes; but these cake sandwiches are simple and constrained, whilst they showcase all that is good about family baking – using good ingredients with great home-made produce, such as my jam! These cakes aren’t showy or blousy, they are comforting and wholesome in a way that a generously butter-cream iced cake is not…..plus, the combination of home-made raspberry jam and coconut is, frankly sublime! Simple they may be, but I bet they have put a smile on many a face at the tea time table over the years, and I love them…..they are a taste of my childhood; they are an “heirloom bake” with a long tradition of happiness at the family table.
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake
So, the next time you fancy making a simple cake for the tea time table, or for a picnic or the school lunch box, I can recommend this recipe. I must also share another little family secret – these are also très lush when made with lemon curd! I hope you have enjoyed my Sepia Saturday Random Tea Time Treat Recipe today, the recipe is below, and dont foreget you can print my recipes with ot without a photo………we have two slices of this left, and I am away to pop the kettle on now, and enjoy one more of these jammy coconut treats…….see you later, and have a wonderful weekend. Karen
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake Recipe – in Sepia!
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake
Print recipe
| Serves | Approx 8 pieces |
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | 20 minutes |
| Total time | 25 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg, Wheat |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Dessert, Side Dish, Snack |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Halloween |
| From book | Be-Ro Home Baking 24th Million Edition |
Ingredients
- 8 ozs Be-Ro self raising flour
- half teaspoon salt
- 2 ozs sugar
- 4 ozs margarine (I used Stork margarine)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- raspberry or strawberry jam
- dessicated coconut
Note
A family favourite, taken from an old Be-Ro cookbook; these simple cake and jam sandwiches have coconut sprinkled over them and make a perfect tea time treat for all the family, as well as being a welcome addition to the school or work lunch-box.
Directions
| Step 1 | Mix the flour and salt. Rub in the margarine and then stir in the sugar. |
| Step 2 | Mix to a stiff paste with the beaten egg and add a little milk if necessary. |
| Step 3 | Divide into two parts and roll out thinly, both same size. |
| Step 4 | Place one piece on a greased baking sheet and cover with jam. Place the other piece on top and nip together. |
| Step 5 | Bake in moderately hot oven (375F/180C/Gas 4-5) for about 15 to 20 minutes. |
| Step 6 | When cool, spread a little more jam over the top and sprinkle dessicated coconut over; then cut into fingers, squares or triangles. |
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake Recipe
Rich Jam and Coconut Cake Recipe has been entered into:
Jacqueline says
They look absolutely delicious Karen. Bring back Grandma’s baking!!
Karen says
Thanks Jac! Absolutely, bring it back……simple is often the best! Karen
Janice says
Aw Karen I feel so bad for not taking part in this! Too many challenges not enough time! Love your Bero Bakes although not a huge fan of coconut so would give this one a miss.
Karen says
NO need to feel guilty Janice, this is mainly my little pet project and not a real full blown challenge! I just love baking with Be-Ro! I know lots of people aren’t keen on coconut, the original recipe is jam only, so it’s me who added the coconut, well my mum actually!
Phil in the Kitchen says
This really reminds me of the little cakes sold in the local bakers when I was a kid. They look so inviting as well as nostalgic. I seem to remember they were cheaper than the ‘fancies’ and iced and cream cakes in the baker’s window, so I probably ate plenty of them back then.
Karen says
Yes, I agree Philip, they were often sold in old fashioned bakeries when I was little too.
Dom says
Desiccated coconut is one if those ingredients I always think I have in the cupboard but when I look for it it’s never there! These cakes are so nostalgic they really do remind me of tea at Betty’s with my grandma. I would always go for anything with coconut all over it. Sticky and messy to eat but divine all the way down. Excellent post. Thank you so much for joining in this month xx
Karen says
I was surprised when I pulled it out Dom, as I thought I had used it last time I made a fruity curry! So, the was only recipe to make, this one!! Love your random recipes challenge darlink…..Karen
Kathryn says
Coconut and jam is such a classic combination isn’t it? Love the idea of cake sandwiches too!
Karen says
Thanks Kathryn, these cakes are easy and as you say, a classic combination too! Karen
charleneflash says
Can anything beat a retro coconut cake? I’ve never heard of Be Ro, but I am discovering the old fashioned recipes. Yum x
Karen says
Thanks Charlene – Be-Ro is British flour, and they have been publishing little cookbooks since about 1927…simple family bakery recipes! Karen
CJ says
Love the vintage coconut cake recipe and the sepia photo too.
Karen says
Thanks CJ! The sepia photo really does look like an old copy of one of my Be-Ro cookbooks! Karen
Choclette says
Love your Be Ro bakes Karen, they always remind me of being young – oh to be young again!!!
What Kate Baked says
Karen! You are bringing so many (yummy) memories back for all your many readers wityh your wonderul Be Ro series! Such a classic range of books. Thank you for entering this into this month’s jammy TTT challenge- deeelish!
Karen says
Thanks Kate, loved this month’s theme, love my preserves! Karen
Makey-Cakey says
These look so yummy – and deliciously messy to eat – anything that you need to lick your fingers after is always a winner!
Karen says
Thanks Ruth – very messy and very sticky,suitable for finger licking! Karen
KIT says
YUM! This looks absolutely delicious; Definitely bookmarking this recipe. My hubby loves coconut & really glad to find another amazing coconut recipe; Thanks for sharing! AWESOME! 🙂
Karen says
Thanks Kit, it is a simple and yet delicious recipe, old fashioned! Karen
Tink Rhonda Lee Mse says
Ah these look yummy!
ashleigh says
Oh yum – love coconut!
Chloe King says
Love the idea to cook your way through eighty years of Be-to recipes! I only discovered Be-ro recently when my aunt lent me a copy of the thirteenth edition. I wrote a blog post about it and have linked to your Sepia Saturdays, which I think are fab. Thanks!
http://www.gannetandparrot.com/2013/01/19/be-ro-guide-to-home-baking/
Fiona Matters says
These look lovely and a great idea. A bit like a ready made Victoria sponge! Shared on twitter.
Maya Russell says
Love jam and coconut cake! Funny how the sepia pictures are still so nice and somehow makes the cake look more enticing.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/311061242204786688
Maya Russell says
Retweeted your post as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/326924214663794688. (Tweeting these lovely recipes in the morning as it makes me so hungry!)
Lisa Williams says
these look so great thank you 🙂
Laurenne @ This Mummy says
This looks gorgeous and is one recipe out of my Be-Ro book I have never tried, it is on my to-do list now after seeing how yummy it looks here.
I know this is an old post of yours but I was googling around for Be-Ro recipes as I have just posted one of my favourites on my blog http://thismummy.com/easy-orange-cake-recipe/
I have long been a fan of your blog, it is so inspiring and your photographs are just beautiful, I hope to one day be as good with mine!
L x
Karen says
Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I will pop over to see your post, I love orange cake, my grandmother used to make one every week for us! Lovely to meet you too, Karen
plasterer bristol says
We made this yesterday and boy was it good. Thanks for sharing this. Simon