A Honeymoon in Bora Bora with Tahitian Coconut Cake

From one island to another, Christopher and I left Coronado Island to visit Bora Bora on our honeymoon. As a foodie and as a lover of anything beach and sand, it ranked high on my bucket list. I really can’t describe it. It was almost like a dream – turquoise water and soft sea breezes. The water was so clear that you could see to the floor.

We stayed at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso. The grounds of the resort were incredible. You really don’t have to leave the resort. Two restaurants, an infinity pool. That’s only if you got bored of paddle boarding and kayaking. Daily stingray feedings, a coconut show, massages in a bungalow with a view of the fish underneath. I always knew paradise existed…

The bungalows are amazing. They are suspended above the water with a glass coffee table that offers a view of the little fishies in the water. A luxurious bathtub and stairs to the water. Our view was of the mountain in Bora Bora called Mount Otemanu, meaning “bird” because it resembles a bird.

One of those days, we did a snorkling trip with Thierre. We snorkeled with sharks! Nope, not kidding! I was kinda nervous at first. I mean, can you blame me? Thankfully, lemon sharks are not interested in humans. They like good ol’ fashioned sashimi, or raw tuna. There were also stingrays and a few colorful fish. Very cool!

The best part of the trip was snorkeling in the coral reef with over 1000 species of fish. This snorkling experience of holding hands with the love of my life under the clear water among colorful fish in the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to… Yeah, that goes right up there in my life experiences next to giving birth to my child.

The latter part of the trip included me swimming for dear life in extreme waves. Nope, not kidding about that either. We left the lagoon that surrounds Bora Bora and went into the ocean to do more swimming with sharks, but since we were experiencing the tail end of Cyclone Pam, the waves were too powerful for me to handle. Luckily, Thierre, saved the day. He helped pull me and a few others out of the water and unto the boat. Christopher somehow managed to swim around the boat and get up by himself with the help of the outrigger. Needless to say, we escaped the area and back into the calm lagoon water.

Thierre was great! He’s a Bora Boran. His entire family lives there and had tons of great insider information. He even made us a fruit salad and gave us some Tahitian beer and homemade coconut cake. It’s a traditional cake from the South Pacific that’s not too sweet and with a subtle coconut taste. I loved it so much I had to come back home and share the recipe with all of you.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Tahitian Coconut Cake

A traditional dessert from French Polynesia.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French Polynesian

Servings: 8

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter softened
• 4 eggs separated
• 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1-1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Instructions

• Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour three 9" cake pans.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Cream the butter and gradually add the sugar to the butter until well combined.
• To the butter mixture, add one egg yolk at a time.
• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture at a time to the butter mixture.
• Add the milk.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the coconut and lemon rind.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites just until combined.
• Fold the egg whites into the cake batter.
• Bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cakes.
• Cool the cakes for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Tried this recipe?Mention @MaggieUnz or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

More on Bora Bora and my #EpicLoveStory honeymoon … Stay tuned!