Perfumed Coconut Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch diameter cake pans with 2-inch high sides.
• Pour the flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Use a whisk to stir together. This will get rid of any lumps and pseudo-sift the ingredients. In a separate large bowl, beat the sugar, butter and sweetened cream of coconut until fluffy and it resembles whipped cream, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir to incorporate all the ingredients. With the mixer on low speed, beat in 1/2 the dry ingredients, followed by the buttermilk, and the remaining dry ingredients, scraping down the sides in between each addition, just until blended.
• Using clean, dry beaters, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt in another clean large bowl until the egg whites are stiff but not dry. Cook's Note: You want to get the most volume from your egg whites, that's why it is essential that the beaters and bowl are clean. Just to be safe, I like to wipe the bowl out with a dash of vinegar, white or apple cider is best. The vinegar cuts through any fat in the bowl leaving only a sparkling bowl behind. And don't worry, you won't be able to taste the vinegar-I promise!
• In batches, fold the beaten egg whites into the batter, being careful not to deflate the whites. Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Spread the batter with an offset spatula to level the batter in the pan. Bake the cakes until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on a wire rack, about 10 minutes. Gently run a small sharp knife around the pan sides to loosen the cakes. Cook's Note: As the cakes cool they will shrink slightly, pulling away from the sides of the pan. By running the knife around the sides of the pan you are helping in the process by taking away any resistance. Turn the cakes out onto the racks and cool completely.
• With a pastry brush, gently brush any crumbs from the cooled cake layers. If the cake baked up with a slight dome in the center, you can trim it to even it out or just remember to place that cake layer dome-side down on the cake plate. Place 1 cake layer, flat-side up, on a cake plate. Spread 1 heaping cup Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting over the cake layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border of cake around the edge. This will give the filling a place to go or spread when the second cake layer is placed on top-you don't want it to bulge out the sides!
• Sprinkle 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut mix over the frosting. Top with the second cake layer, flat-side up. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake. For a retro look, I like swoopy swirls. The best way to achieve it is to spread the frosting using the back of a spoon. It's that easy!
• Sprinkle the remaining coconut mix over the cake, gently pressing into the sides to adhere. Coconut Layer Cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the butter and beat until smooth. Add the sugar, sweetened cream of coconut, vanilla extract and pinch of sea salt and beat until well blended, scraping down the sides as needed, for about 3 more minutes. Cook's Note: For a tropical twist, I add just a splash of fresh lime juice and a dash of finely grated lime zest to the mix!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don't be concerned.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
• For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond extract on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until just smooth (don't whip!).
• To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and dust with flour.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary.
• With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and coconut extract (if you are adding it).
• Turn the mixer to low speed and add half of the flour mixture. Stir in 1/2 the cream of coconut. Stir in the remaining flour mixture until just combined.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes; invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk together the remaining cream of coconut and cocoa until smooth. Place the cake, still on the rack, on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides.
• Store uneaten cake in a cake keeper or wrap in plastic and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Put the cake mix and the instant pudding in a mixing bowl and stir until completely combined. Crack in the 3 eggs, then add the coconut milk, coconut extract, and butter.
• Blend for approximately 3 minutes in a stand mixer, or 5 minutes with hand-held mixer. This will give the pudding time to develop.
• Spread the batter evenly in the two prepared cake pans. Bake for about 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cakes are set and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pans.
• Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool completely. Because they are moist the cakes will be heavy. Don't worry.
• Whip the frosting ingredients together until completely fluffy. (Add a tablespoon of milk at a time if you need it to whip up fluffier.)
• Frost the cooled cake, placing the first cake layer round side down on a plate, then spread frosting across the middle. Put the flat side of the other layer down on frosted center. Frost sides and top of cake.
• Toast some coconut until golden brown (not dark brown) in the oven. If you are using the pecans, toast them as well. Toss nuts and coconut together, then sprinkle on top of the cake.
• Refrigerate cake if not serving within one or two hours. Bring to room temperature for at least one hour before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Put the cake mix and the instant pudding in a mixing bowl and stir until completely combined. Crack in the 3 eggs, then add the coconut milk, coconut extract, and butter.
• Blend for approximately 3 minutes in a stand mixer, or 5 minutes with hand-held mixer. This will give the pudding time to develop.
• Spread the batter evenly in the two prepared cake pans. Bake for about 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cakes are set and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pans.
• Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool completely. Because they are moist the cakes will be heavy. Don't worry.
• Whip the frosting ingredients together until completely fluffy. (Add a tablespoon of milk at a time if you need it to whip up fluffier.)
• Frost the cooled cake, placing the first cake layer round side down on a plate, then spread frosting across the middle. Put the flat side of the other layer down on frosted center. Frost sides and top of cake.
• Toast some coconut until golden brown (not dark brown) in the oven. If you are using the pecans, toast them as well. Toss nuts and coconut together, then sprinkle on top of the cake.
• Refrigerate cake if not serving within one or two hours. Bring to room temperature for at least one hour before serving.