Banana, Blueberries and Coconut Cake

With abundance of fresh berries, I find myself buying more than needed, and, as they don’t keep well, I try to find ways to use them in baking. I often also have some overripe bananas around, so I’ve decided to combine both in the form of a tasty cake.
Coconut, another favorite ingredient of mine, found its way to the cake in four forms: coconut sugar, coconut oil, desiccated coconut and coconut flakes on top, each contributing another layer of flavor and texture.
The cake came out wonderfully aromatic and moist, with caramel tones, due to the use of coconut sugar, and with bursts of blueberries in every bite. The cake is mildly sweet and perfect for breakfast or brunch, or, of course, at any other time of the day you feel like having a tasty snack. Try it and enjoy.

Notes:
* Dark brown sugar can be used instead of the coconut sugar.
* Mixing the blueberries with cornstarch helps distributing them better in the cake and, along with baking on fairly low temperature, helps them not to sink to the bottom. Don’t skip this steps.

Makes: 1 X 10” (25cm) loaf pan
Prep time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (from 3 medium)
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup coconut oil, soft
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup coconut sugar (see notes)
2 L eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
Dash salt
¼ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
¼ cup coconut flakes

1. Preheat the oven to 330F (165C). Oil and lightly flour a 10” (25cm) loaf pan, and keep in the fridge until using. In a small blow, mix the blueberries with the cornstarch.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, sour cream, coconut oil, applesauce, coconut sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix briefly to a smooth batter. Add the desiccated coconut, and the blueberries mixed with cornstarch. Mix lightly with a spatula and pour into the prepared pan. Top with the coconut flakes.

4. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the cake is golden, and a toothpick inserted into cake comes out almost dry. Transfer to a rack for 10 minutes, before taking out of the pan. Cool to room temperature before slicing.

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