Alton Browns Coconut Cake With 7 Minute Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Lightly oil two 9" round pans and line with parchment paper. Spray paper with a little additional oil.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Combine coconut milk and cream in a separate bowl.
• Cream the butter in a 3rd bowl (I know, I know) til fluffy (1 min.) and then gradually add sugar at a low speed. After sugar is incorporated, increase the speed to medium and cream about 2-3 minutes until it's lighter in color and texture.
• Turn speed back to low and add flour mixture and milk mixture alternately in 3 additions. Do not over mix!
• In another bowl beat egg whites until stiff and then slowly fold into the batter. You'll want to add a bit of the batter to the egg whites and then switch to adding the egg whites into the batter bowl.
• Divide batter evenly between two bowls and bang on the counter to remove air bubbles.
• Place on center rack and bake about 40 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Cool in pans for ten minutes and then cool completely on a wire rack.
• Once cakes have cooled, slice horizontally in half to form 4 layers. Then brush or spray them with the coconut juice.
• Frosting: Bring 1 quart water to a boil in a saucepan and decrease to maintain a simmer.
• Meanwhile, place egg whites, coconut water, sugar, salt and cream of tarter in a medium-sized bowl.
• Place bowl over the simmering water and immediately begin beating with hand mixer at slow speed for 1 minute, then high speed for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and beat in coconut and vanilla extracts, beating for an additional minute.
• Allow frosting to sit for 5 minutes before using. Allow about 3/4 cup frosting per layer, sprinkling about 1/2 cup coconut on top of each frosted layer. Repeat until the final layer and frost top and sides with last of the frosting and coconut.

Steps:

• Cook's Note: To open a coconut: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the coconut onto a folded towel set down in a large bowl. Find the 3 eyes on 1 end of the coconut and using a nail or screwdriver and hammer or meat mallet, hammer holes into 2 of the eyes. Turn the coconut upside down over a container and drain the water from the coconut. Store the water in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Place the coconut onto a 1/2 sheet pan and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven. The coconut should have cracked in several places. Using an oyster knife or other dull blade, separate the hard shell from the brown husk. Using a serrated vegetable peeler, peel the brown husk from the coconut meat. Rinse the coconut meat under cool water and pat dry. Break the meat into 2 to 3-inch pieces. With the grater disk attached to a food processor, grate the coconut.
• For the milk:
• Place 2 ounces of the coconut into a small mixing bowl and pour over the boiling milk. Stir to combine. Cover tightly and allow to sit for 1 hour. Transfer the mixture to the carafe of a blender and process for 1 minute.
• Place a tea towel over a mixing bowl and carefully pour the mixture into it. Gather up the edges and squeeze until all of the liquid has been removed. Discard the coconut. You may use the milk immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• For the cream:
• Repeat the same procedure as above only using 4 ounces of freshly grated coconut.

Steps:

• NOTE: The cake needs to be completely cooled before it can be frosted so don't start making the frosting until it is. Preheat a small stove burner on medium-high heat. While it's preheating, add the water to a small, heavy 1-quart saucepan; add the sugar BUT do not stir it. Place on the preheated burner and cook, undisturbed, until it reaches soft-ball stage, or 238 degrees on candy thermometer. (This may take 15-20 minutes). A few minutes before the syrup is done, place the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in a large mixing bowl and beat on high speed of hand mixer until soft peaks form. (This took about 1 minute). Set aside until the syrup has finished cooking. Pouring in a thin stream, a little at a time, very slowly beat the hot syrup on high speed of mixer into the egg white mixture over 3-4 minutes, beating constantly. Beat in the vanilla and continue beating on high speed until it holds together well and forms firm peaks, 5-7 minutes. Immediately spread frosting on top of cake. Sprinkle shredded coconut over frosting.