Coconut Cream Cake

(3)

Look for packaged coconut shavings in your grocer's natural foods section.

Fluffy Coconut Frosting
Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Hands On Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
6 hrs 25 mins
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  • FILLING

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

  • 1/8 teaspoon table salt

  • 4 large egg yolks

  • 1 cup half-and-half

  • 1 cup coconut milk

  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract

  • CAKE LAYERS

  • 1 cup butter, softened

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 4 large eggs

  • 3 cups cake flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

  • Shortening

  • ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • Fluffy Coconut Frosting

  • GARNISH

  • Toasted coconut shavings

Directions

  1. Prepare Filling: Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Whisk egg yolks and next 2 ingredients in a glass bowl. Gradually whisk egg mixture into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 6 to 7 minutes or until mixture just starts to bubble. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 more minute; remove from heat.

  2. Whisk flaked coconut and next 3 ingredients into sugar-egg mixture; transfer to a medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on warm filling to prevent film from forming. Let stand 30 minutes; chill 4 to 24 hours.

  3. Meanwhile, prepare Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350°. Beat 1 cup butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

  4. Stir together cake flour and next 2 ingredients in a bowl. Stir together milk and 1/2 cup coconut milk in a measuring cup. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. coconut extract. Spoon batter into 2 greased (with shortening) and floured 9-inch cake pans.

  5. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 1 hour).

  6. Beat 1 cup heavy cream at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into chilled Filling.

  7. Assemble cake: Split each layer in half horizontally with a serrated knife to make 4 layers. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on a serving platter; spread with 1 1/3 cups Filling. Repeat with remaining Cake Layers and Filling, ending with a Cake Layer, cut side down. Spread top and sides of cake with Fluffy Coconut Frosting.

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