Coconut Cream Cake Recipe Southern Living

COCONUT CAKE WITH COCONUT CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Prepare the Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray, and set aside. Beat butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add lemon zest (if using), vanilla, and coconut extract; beat just until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition.
• Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form (don't overbeat, or they will be dry), about 2 minutes. Fold about one-third of beaten egg whites into cake batter; fold in remaining egg whites in 2 additions. Spoon batter evenly into prepared cake pans (about 2 ⅓ cups batter per pan).
• Bake cakes on middle rack in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; place directly on wire racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Prepare the Coconut Cream Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; gradually add cream of coconut, vanilla, and coconut extract, beating until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer 3 tablespoons of the frosting to a small bowl; stir leaf green food coloring to reach desired shade of green. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the frosting to a separate small bow; stir in super red food coloring to reach desired shade of red. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Let remaining frosting stand, covered, at room temperature until ready to use or up to 1 hour.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 layer on a serving plate or a cake stand. Spoon 1 cup Coconut Cream Frosting into a ziplock plastic bag. Snip a ½-inch tip off 1 bag corner. Pipe a ring of frosting just inside the top edge. Spread with half of desired filling (if using the Whipped Chocolate Ganache Filling, spread with 1 cup filling), spreading to edge of piped frosting. Repeat process once with 1 additional Cake Layer, frosting, and filling. Top with remaining layer. (If using ganache filling, reserve any remaining for another use.) Spread cake top and sides with a thin layer of the remaining frosting. Refrigerate, uncovered, 1 hour. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Gently pat coconut around bottom edge of cake and about 1 inch up sides. Sprinkle coconut on top of cake. Pipe green frosting in a garland pattern around sides of cake; pipe red frosting on garland to resemble berries. Insert Peace Dove Cookies into top of cake.

COCONUT CREAM CAKE

Steps:

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

SOUTHERN LIVING'S LEMON COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup butter at medium speed with electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add 2 cups sugar. Add 4 egg yolks one at a time, blending well after each.
• Combine flour and baking powder. Add this alternatively to mixture with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add vanilla.
• Beat egg whites at high speed until peaks form. Gently fold in egg whites into batter mixture. Spoon into three greased and floured pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until done. Cool on wire racks for ten minutes. Remove cakes from pans and cool on wire racks.
• Spread lemon filling between layers. Spread cream cheese frosting over all and cover top and sides with coconut. Garnish with lemon slices.
• For lemon filling: Combine 1 cup sugar, cornstarch and boiling water in medium pan. Cook while stirring until dissolved. Temper eggs. Then add eggs to cooked mixture. Whisk in lemon juice and rind. Cook whisking constantly until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in butter. Cool completely. (Do not stir once cooled as fillings made with cornstarch will breakdown and liquefy if stirred; just spoon on).
• For cream cheese frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla.

CREAM CHEESE COCONUT PECAN POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Grease and flour a 12 cup tube or bundt pan.
• Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until the yellow yolk disappears.
• Sift together flour and salt; add to butter mixture.
• Beat batter at low speed just until blended after each addition.
• Stir in vanilla, pecans, and coconut.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 12-cup tube pan.
• Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.

INCREDIBLE COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 325°. In another large bowl, beat sugar, butter and oil until well blended. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. , Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut and extracts.. , Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites., Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth. , Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting and sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

SOUTHERN LIVING COCONUT CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Remove liquid from coconut and reserve.
• Remove the"meat" of the coconut and shred.
• Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 2 cups of sugar, beating well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Beat at low speed until blended after each addition.
• Stir in flavorings and pour into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans.
• Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pans on wire racks.
• Make frosting: Combine sugar and water in a heavy saucepan.
• cook over medium heat stirring, constantly until mixture is clear.
• Cook without stirring until syrup reaches the soft-ball stage or a candy thermometer reaches 240°F.
• while syrup cooks beat egg whites at low speed with an electric mixer until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar and salt; beat at medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Increase to high speed and add hot syrup in a heavy stream.
• Add marshmallows, a few pieces at a time.
• Beat until stiff peaks form and frosting is thick enough to spread.
• Combine 2 tbsp sugar and coconut milk.
• Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir until sugar dissolves.
• Brush one cake layer with half of the coconut milk"syrup" leaving 1/2" margin around the edges.
• Spread with 1/2 cup boiled frosting and sprinkle with1/2 cup of shredded coconut-- repeat with each layer.
• Top with remaining cake layer.
• Spread remaining frosting on top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut.
• Cover and chill.

COCONUT CREAM CHEESE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cream the butter, shortening, and cream cheese together in a bowl.
• Gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
• In another bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt.
• Add to creamed mixture, stirring just until blended.
• Stir in coconut and remaining ingredients.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.
• Bake in a 325° oven for 1 1/2 hours or until a picks tests clean.
• Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes.
• Turn out of pan and cool completely on a wire rack.