Buttercream Coconut Cake Icing Recipes

Steps:

• Beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth; beat in vanilla extract.
• Gradually beat confectioners' sugar into butter mixture until well blended. The mixture will appear dry.
• Stir enough milk into butter mixture to achieve desired consistency for icing.
• Fold half the coconut into the icing; spread icing over cake.
• Sprinkle remaining coconut and pecans over icing.

Steps:

• For the cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil 2 (9-inch) cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper. Oil the parchment paper and then flour the pan. Set aside.
• Place the flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
• Combine the coconut milk and coconut cream in small bowl and set aside.
• Place the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, cream on medium speed until fluffy, approximately 1 minute. Decrease the speed to low and gradually add the sugar slowly over 1 to 2 minutes. Once all of the sugar has been added, stop the mixer and scrape down the sides. Turn the mixer back on to medium speed and continue creaming until the mixture noticeably lightens in texture and increases slightly in volume, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the coconut extract.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture alternately with the milk mixture to the butter and sugar in 3 batches, ending with the milk mixture. Do not over mix.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the batter, just until combined. Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bang the pans on the counter top several times to remove any air and to distribute the batter evenly in the pan. Place in the oven on the middle rack. Bake for 40 minutes or until the cake is light golden in color and reaches an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.
• Cool the cake in the pans for 10 minutes then remove and transfer to a cooling rack. Once the cakes have cooled completely cut across the equator of each to form 4 layers. Place the 1/3 cup coconut water into a small spritz bottle and spray evenly onto the cut side of the 4 layers. If you do not have a spritz bottle you may brush the coconut water on with a silicone pastry brush. Allow to sit while preparing the frosting.
• For the frosting:
• Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium to maintain a steady simmer. In the meantime, place the egg whites, sugar, coconut water, cream of tartar and salt into a medium size-mixing bowl. Place the bowl over the simmering water and immediately begin beating with an electric hand mixer set to low speed. Beat for 1 minute and then increase the speed to high and continue to beat for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat in the coconut and vanilla extracts for 1 minute. Allow the frosting to sit for 5 minutes before using.
• Place approximately 3/4 cup of the frosting on the first layer of cake, sprinkle with 1/2 cup coconut and top with the next layer. Repeat until you reach the top layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake and sprinkle with the remaining coconut. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-by-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Whisk together the milk, egg whites, vanilla seeds and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the 2 1/4 cups flour, the sugar, baking powder and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, add the 12 tablespoons butter, one piece at a time, and continue beating until the mixture resembles moist crumbs. Add all but 1/2 cup of the milk mixture and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the remaining 1/2 cup milk mixture. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds more. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 20 seconds longer. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool in the pans on a baking rack for 10 minutes. Run a small knife around the sides of the pans and invert the cakes onto the baking rack. Remove the parchment paper and let cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Make the coconut filling: Combine the Coconut Custard and cream in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form.
• Make the coconut buttercream: Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the Coconut Custard and salt; beat until the buttercream is smooth.
• Assemble the cake: Use a long serrated knife to slice each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Reserve one of the flat bottom layers for the top of the cake. Place another one of the layers on a cardboard round, cut-side up, and brush with some of the Coconut Simple Syrup. Spoon one-third of the coconut filling onto the cake, and using a small offset metal spatula, spread it into an even layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge of the cake. Repeat with 2 more layers. Brush the cut side of the reserved cake layer with the remaining syrup. Place the layer, cut-side down, on top of the cake. Frost the sides and the top of the cake with the buttercream. Pat the toasted coconut onto the sides of the cake and sprinkle some on the top.
• Combine the milk, coconut milk and vanilla bean and seeds in a medium nonreactive saucepan; bring to a simmer over low heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch together in a large bowl. Slowly whisk the warm milk into the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the pan, set it over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened. Scrape the mixture into a bowl, remove the vanilla bean and whisk in the rum and vanilla extract. Let the custard cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Combine 1 1/2cups water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the coconut, remove from the heat and let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Strain the liquid into a clean saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, then line with parchment paper. Grease again and dust lightly with flour.
• Prepare cake: Cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes. Crack eggs into a small bowl. With mixer on medium speed, add eggs 1 at a time, scraping down bowl once during mixing. Add vanilla and almond extracts and mix well. Don't be concerned if the mixture looks curdled.
• In a separate bowl, sift together dry ingredients.
• With mixer on low, alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the the batter. Mix until just combined. Fold in the coconut.
• Pour batter into prepared pans, smoothing the top. Bake in center of oven 40-50 minutes, until tops are brown and cake tester comes out clean. Cool on baking rack for 30 minutes before removing cakes from pans.
• Prepare frosting: Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and almond extract. Add confectioners sugar and mix until just smooth (don't whip).
• Assemble cake by placing one layer, top side down, and spreading it with frosting. Place second layer on top of the first. Frost tops and sides. Sprinkle cake lightly with coconut.
• Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack set in the lower third. Butter and flour two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; set aside.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom; set aside. In a large measuring cup or a small bowl, stir together cream of coconut, 1/4 cup water, vanilla, and almond extract.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary.
• With the mixer on low, add flour mixture in thirds, alternating with the cream of coconut mixture and beginning and ending with the flour. Mix just until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops with a spatula. Tap firmly on work surface to remove air bubbles from batter. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes; remove from pans and transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• Using a toothpick, poke several holes in each layer of cake. Brush cake layers with simple syrup; let stand at least 15 minutes to allow syrup to absorb.
• Trim the top of one of the layers so that it is flat. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a lazy Susan or serving plate. Place layer cut side down on serving plate. Using an offset spatula, spread the top of the layer with a large dollop of buttercream; sprinkle with 1/4 cup coconut. Top with second layer, right-side up, and frost top and sides with remaining buttercream. Sprinkle coconut over top of cake and press into sides. Remove parchment paper strips and serve. Cake can also be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• For filling: In heavy saucepan, combine lemon juice and 1/2 cup water.
• Add cornstarch and whisk to dissolve.
• Add sugar, egg yolks, butter, lemon zest and salt.
• Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to low and whisk 1 minute.
• Strain through a coarse sieve into a medium bowl.
• Let cool to room temperature, press a piece of plastic wrap directly on surface and put in refrigerator until very cold.
• (Filling may be prepared up to 2 days in advance).
• To make cake: Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly greaes and flour three 9-inch round layer pans.
• Line bottoms with parchment paper.
• In medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt.
• In another bowl, cream sugar and butter with electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then vanilla.
• On low speed, add flour in three 1-cup additions, alternating with two 1/2-cup additions of coconut milk.
• Begin and end with flour and beat until smooth, scraping bowl often with rubber spatula.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites (with clean beaters) on high speed until they form stiff peaks.
• Whisk 1/4 of the whites into the batter, then fold in the remainder.
• Spread mixture evenly in pans.
• Place in oven on center rack.
• Make sure pans don't touch each other and that they are not too close to sides of oven so air can circulate evenly around them.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until toothpick inserted in centers come out clean.
• Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.
• Invert and remove from pan and peel off parchment paper.
• Tun right sides up and cool completely.
• To make icing: In the top of a double boiler, combine sugar, egg whites,corn syrup, cream of tartar, and 1/3 cup water.
• Place over simmering water.
• Beat on high speed with handheld electric mixer until icing forms soft peaks, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and beat in vanilla.
• Continue beating 5 minutes, or just until stiff peaks form.
• Place one layer upside down on serving plate.
• Spread with half of lemon filling.
• Place second layer on top, right side up.
• Spread with remaining half of filling.
• Add the final layer right side up.
• Spread icing over top and sides of cake.
• Press handfulls of coconut all over icing.

Steps:

• Combine egg whites and salt in bowl of a standing electric mixer or other large bowl.
• Stir together sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. When syrup reaches a boil, start beating whites with electric mixer at medium-high speed. Once whites are frothy, add lemon juice and beat at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. (Do not beat again until sugar syrup is ready-see below.)
• Meanwhile, put thermometer into sugar syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, until it reaches soft-ball stage (238-242°F). Immediately remove from heat and slowly pour hot syrup in a thin stream down side of bowl into egg whites, beating constantly at high speed. Beat meringue, scraping down bowl with a rubber spatula, until meringue is cool to the touch, about 6 minutes. (It's important that meringue is fully cooled before proceeding.)
• With mixer at medium speed, gradually add butter 1 piece at a time, beating well after each addition until incorporated. (If meringue is too warm and buttercream looks soupy after some butter is added, chill bottom of bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice and cold water for a few seconds before continuing to beat in remaining butter.) Continue beating until buttercream is smooth. (Mixture may look curdled before all butter is added, but will come back together before beating is finished.) Add coconut extract and beat 1 minute more.

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and coconut extract in a small saucepan until combined. Place saucepan over medium heat and gradually whisk in remaining 1 1/2 cups milk. Cook, whisking, until mixture comes to a low boil; reduce heat to low and continue to whisk until mixture thickens and big bubbles form and pop, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a small heatproof bowl. Let cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally as it cools to make smooth.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix butter on medium until soft and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat on high until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Gradually add milk mixture. Increase speed to medium-high and whisk until buttercream is light and fluffy, scraping down bottom and sides of bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula. Frosting can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.