coconut easter cake

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
• 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, or as needed - divided
• 2 drops green food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon water
• 5 jelly beans in assorted colors, or as desired

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Ready Time: 1 hr 35 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
• stir cake mix, 1 cup water, vegetable oil, eggs, and 1 teaspoon coconut extract together in a bowl until moistened; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• pour batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
• bake in preheated oven until the cakes are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans to finish cooling on racks, at least 30 minutes.
• beat butter with an electric mixer on low in a large bowl until creamy and smooth. beat in 2 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract.
• beat 1 cup confectioners' sugar into butter mixture until thoroughly combined; beat in 1 tablespoon heavy cream. continue to beat in confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, alternating with 1 tablespoon cream, until the confectioners' sugar and cream have been incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.
• with a long serrated knife, level the tops of the 3 cakes. place 1 cake a serving platter; frost the top of the cake with about 1/4 of the frosting. sprinkle with about 1/3 cup flaked coconut.
• place second cake layer on top of the first, and frost and sprinkle with coconut as before. place third layer on top of the second; frost top and sides with remaining frosting. lightly press 1/3 cup of coconut evenly into sides of cake.
• place 1 cup of remaining coconut into a resealable plastic bag, add 1/2 teaspoon water and the green food coloring, and seal bag. shake and press bag to mix food coloring with coconut, tinting it light green. remove to paper towel to dry.
• spread the green coconut over the top of the cake; place colored jelly beans in the middle and press lightly to secure.