Mojito Tray Bake Cake

It’s June 1st and the weather is stunning in West Cork! Time for something light and zesty that reminds you of Summer holidays…Mojito!!

I love a Mojito but they can be rocket fuel! This recipe gives you the best of the cocktail without the alcohol and of course, it’s cake which is a win-win in our book 🙂
The sponge is so simple, just put all the ingredients in a bowl together and beat for 2 minutes! The sponge is soaked in the mint & lime syrup after baking, so this cake will store great for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Mojito cake ingredients on a kitchen countertop.
Summer mojito cake on a sideplate with a cup of tea.
Cake Ingredients:
  • 320g margarine or unsalted butter softened. I like to use Stork with Butter brand for this cake.
  • 270g caster sugar
  • 320g self-raising flour
  • 5 large eggs
  • finely grated zest 2 limes
  • 50g desiccated coconut
Topping:
  • 75ml water
  • 100g caster sugar
  • A few sprigs fresh mint
  • 200g icing sugar
  • finely grated zest of 3 limes
  • 50g desiccated coconut
  • 20cmx30cm baking tin, lined with baking parchment
Method:

1. Preheat oven to 170C or 160C fan oven.
2. Put all the cake ingredients in a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes until smooth. You can do this either with a hand-mixer or using a free-standing mixer. Tip into the prepared tin and bake in centre of oven for 45 – 50 minutes until well risen and golden.
3. While cake is in oven, make the lime & mint sugar syrup by putting water & caster sugar together with 2 sprigs for fresh mint in a pot. Bring to boil then turn down and allow to simmer until it has thickened and reduced by half. Remove the mint sprigs then add the juice of 3 limes to the syrup.
4. Toast the 50g desiccated coconut in a dry pan until lightly golden.
5. When cake is ready, remove and prick all over with a skewer. Pour the syrup over the top carefully while cake is still warm then allow to cool slightly.
6. Make the icing by combining the icing sugar with the juice of 1 – 2 limes until it has a consistency that’s spreadable. Pour and smooth over cake. Top with the toasted coconut, the grated zest of limes and some sprigs of fresh mint to decorate.
7. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up