Pineapple Cake with Coconut Topping

So there where things I was always scared of once Indigo was old enough to sleep in a bed and roam freely at night. Things like falling down the stairs, wondering the house getting into things, falling in the toilet. Well for some reason I left off that one freakish thing that can give you nightmares…


You know, that time where you wake up in the dead of night and your little human has made her way to your room and stares at you square in the face all horror movie like. Yes, that is some freaky stuff.







My first inclination was to identify the creature so I said her name “Indigo?” I thought if I quickly got her to talk I could see if perhaps she had been changed into a zombie before she got even closer. There was no response so I quickly scooped her up, I pinned her arms to her side to prevent any zombie like flailing or biting...I've seen movies people!


My next move was to kiss her head, because perhaps if she were a zombie a mother’s kiss would make her feel some emotion and not harm her own mom. After a few minutes of this she fooled me into thinking she fell asleep, stupidly I released her and she started the zombie toddler bed boogie.







What is the zombie toddler bed boogie? Let me explain. Lots of times when you’re tired you think that you’re doing yourself some favor by bringing your loving kidlet into your bed when they are already up. What this truly leads to is a kicking, hitting, poking assault on you. I always think we will cuddle and sleep deeply but end up needing to file assault charges by morning.


So after the toddler boogie assault of over 45 minutes which led to the poking of my eyes, I gathered up my toddler Zombie baby and re-deposited her into her own bed. I  strapped neatly tucked her in bed  and placed a thoroughly loved teddy bear in her arms for further assault on her part if desired.


Then I went back to bed, and woke up 15 minutes later when my alarm clock went off.







INGREDIENTS
Delightfully borrowed from AllRecipes, slightly altered
{Printable Recipe}

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, with juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup flaked coconut for topping
• 1 ½ cups flaked coconut to sprinkle on topping







DIRECTIONS

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, or 2 cake rounds.


In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, oil, pineapple and vanilla, mix until well blended. Pour into the prepared pan.


Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.


To make the topping: In a small saucepan, combine butter, evaporated milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup coconut. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until hot, pour in the powdered sugar and whisk till smooth. Poke holes in the cake with a fork, then pour the warm mixture over the cake. Sprinkle cake with the rest of your coconut.







Be warned this topping is fairly thin. I placed a ¼ cup between my cake rounds. Under the rounds I had parchment paper because the topping runs down the sides when poured. Originally this was a sheet cake, in my opinion that would make making this cake way less messy.

Keep this cake refrigerated overnight, even better the 2nd day. Cake slices much easier when cold...and zombies are cold so now we have come full circle with this post.