In The Kitchen: Homemade Coconut Cake

After church, the egg dying and Easter egg hunts, families and friends gather together to celebrate Easter. Once the Easter dinner has been eaten, it only makes sense that there’s something scrumpious for dessert! And what says Easter better than a delicious coconut cake? We found this recipe for this homemade treat on tasteofhome.com. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 5 eggs, separated
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2-1/4 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups flaked coconut, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• FROSTING:
• 2 packages (one 8 ounces, one 3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 4-1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1-1/4 teaspoons coconut extract
• 2 cups flaked coconut, toasted

Directions

1. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 325°. In another large bowl, beat sugar, butter and oil until well blended. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut.
4. Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites.
5. Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
6. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar and extract; beat until smooth.
7. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting and sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings.

Nutritional Facts
1 slice equals 689 calories,
37 g fat (21 g saturated fat)
123 mg cholesterol
353 mg sodium
85 g carbohydrate
1 g fiber
6 g protein

Originally published as Incredible Coconut Cake in Taste of Home April/May 2011, p42