Coconut Layer Cake

Bev's Note:

At Shubox Cafe, this dessert is known as Awesome Coconut Cake, aptly named by one of the cafe's best customers. To make this recipe, you'll need to buy one 15-ounce can of sweetened cream of coconut. Some of it is used in the cake; be sure to save the rest for the Cream Cheese Frosting(Cream Cheese Frosting). From Bon Appetit.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup canned cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 pinch salt
• cream cheese frosting (See recipe I posted, Cream Cheese Frosting)
• 4 cups sweetened flaked coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl to blend.
4. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and sweetened cream of coconut in large bowl until fluffy.
5. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
6. On low speed, beat in dry ingredients and then buttermilk, each just until blended.
7. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites with pinch of salt in another large bowl until stiff but not dry.
8. Fold beaten egg whites into batter.
9. Divide cake batter between prepared pans.
10. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
11. Cool cakes in pans on rack 10 minutes.
12. Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cakes.
13. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
14. Place 1 cake layer on cake plate.
15. Spread 1 cup Cream Cheese Frosting over cake layer.
16. Sprinkle 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut over.
17. Top with second cake layer.
18. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
19. Sprinkle remaining coconut over cake, gently pressing into sides to adhere.
20. (Coconut Layer Cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours before serving.)*Canned sweetened cream of coconut is available in the liquor section of most supermarkets nationwide.
21. Makes 10 servings.

Reviews

[Ginny Sands Chef #506020]

My husband always requests coconut cake for his birthday and I have tried many recipes and improvised a couple of my own. This one is a keeper and the one I will make again and again. The dense texture is exactly what he likes and works perfectly with the rich cream cheese frosting and coconut garnish. I did have a problem, though, with the pans overflowing. I used the size pans described, but the pans still ran over and I had to bake an extra 5 or so minutes. I will make 3 or 4 cupcakes the next time to have less batter in the pans. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.

[Chef #573398]

I just finished making this cake and it is absolutely yummmmy!!! My husband loved it as well. Note: You will need to mix up the coco lopez in a bowl before measuring as it separates in the can. Ended up having to go back to the store to buy a 2nd can of it to have the right amount for cake & frosting. A regular bag 14 oz of coconut is perfect - may have a little bit left over. Decoration is really easy because the coconut flakes are forgiving. A wonderful cake and will be a wonderful suprise to my co-worker. THANKS FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE!!!! YUMMM!!!!!

[Femmesss]

A very good cake. Very rich!! and very big!! I toasted the coconut partly- it was very impressive visually!! My dad loved it...wish it was a little lighter, but that's not the type of cake it is. Try this if you like denser cake. It's very good tasting though, by all means!! :)