Fuzzy Red Velvet Cake

This confession will probably get me kicked out of the Southern Girls Club: I do not like red velvet cake. It just never has any flavor to me, aside from the cream cheese frosting. Although this is by no means a true red velvet cake, the coconut and cherries add some of the flavor I crave. Recipe is from Comstock.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4ounce) package  duncan hines moist deluxe  red velvet cake mix
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
• 1 (21 ounce) can  comstock more fruit cherry pie filling
• 1⁄2 cup butter, melted
• 3  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 9  ounces  white baking chocolate
• 12  ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 6  tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 4 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 7  ounces flaked coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour 3 round 8-inch cake pans. Separate the cherries from the syrup by placing in a kitchen strainer over a bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup of the syrup.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add cake mix, buttermilk, 1/2 cup cherry syrup, melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Blend with an electric mixer until the batter is combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
3. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 28-30 minutes.
4. Remove the pans from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and cool completely for 30 minutes.
5. Place the white chocolate in a small glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
6. Place the cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl. Beat until well combined. Add the melted white chocolate, vanilla and 2 1/2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar. Blend on low speed until the sugar is incorporated. Add the additional sugar and blend until the frosting is fluffy.
7. To Frost: Place one cake layer on a serving platter and spread with frosting, top with Cherries. Place the second layer on the first and frost. Place the third cake layer on top and frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle and gently press coconut over entire cake.