Coconut Cake

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box cake mix
• 3/4 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons coconut extract
• 8 ounces shredded coconut (toasted)
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate (melted)
• 12 vanilla wafers (divided per prep)

Recipe

• 1 for cake: preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 grease & flour 3 (9-inch) rd baking pans. prepare cake mix according to pkg directions, adding 3/4 tsp coconut extract.
• 3 pour batter into prepared pans & bake according to pkg directions, but baking time should be reduced due to dividing the batter into 3 separate pans. cool 10 min, remove from pans & cool completely on wire racks.
• 4 for coconut buttercream frosting:.
• 5 in a sml mixer bowl, combine sugar & egg whites. place over simmering water, but do not allow water temp to exceed 120 degrees.
• 6 whisk whites till sugar is dissolved & remove from heat. beat at high-speed till stiff peaks form & mixture has cooled.
• 7 using med-speed, gradually beat in butter + vanilla & cont beating till mixture is smooth & fluffy. fold in 2 tsp coconut extract. remove about 2 tbsp & put aside to use for garnish.
• 8 to decorate cake:.
• 9 place 1 cake layer on serving plate. spread w/buttercream frosting & repeat process w/2nd cake layer. top w/3rd cake layer. spread remaining buttercream frosting on sides & top of cake.
• 10 drizzle melted chocolate over top of cake.
• 11 crush 8 vanilla wafers, combine w/8 oz shredded/toasted coconut & coat sides of cake w/mixture.
• 12 using the reserved buttercream frosting, pipe 12 sml rosettes on top of cake just inside the edges. crush last 4 vanilla wafers & lightly sprinkle a dusting of crumbs atop ea rosette. refrigerate till ready to cut & serve.
• 13 note: except for a cpl of minor chgs, i pretty much entered this recipe as written ~ but i have to admit i would be sorely tempted to use my favorite non-cook buttercream frosting recipe & get on w/decorating the cake as directed. i enjoy taking extra care for recipes, but i allow my practical side to overrule such time extravagances. :-).