Sri Lankan Coconut Christmas Cake

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.

2.In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3.Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4.In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Mix well.

5.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the coconut milk. Mix until just combined.

6.Fold in the grated fresh coconut, chopped dried fruits, and nuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

7.Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle the desiccated coconut on top for added texture and flavor.

8.Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9.Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.