Sunday, January 21, 2007

Coconut Triple-Layer Cake with Fluffy Coconut Frosting

Coconut Triple-Layer Cake with Fluffy Coconut FrostingAndrew's favorite--and I mean FAVORITE--flavor is coconut. When I make this luscious cake he purrs like a kitten. Or he would if his mouth weren't stuffed full of cake. Best thing is, this was originally from Cooking Light magazine and is low-fat--under 300 calories per slice. Assuming of course you cut 16 pieces, because if you only cut six pieces each one will have more than 300 calories. You've been warned.

I made this cake for some guests coming for dessert on Friday night. With everyone looking and eagerly anticipating, I reached out to cut the cake and knocked it off the pedestal and nearly onto the floor--catching it before it fell. There I stood, everyone looking at me, with the cake practically in my hands and a "Now what do I do?" expression on my face. I put it back on the stand, sliced it up and dished it out. No one seemed to mind.

Cooking spray
cake flour
3 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large egg whites
1 2/3 cups fat-free milk
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
Fluffy Coconut Frosting
2/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350°

Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour. Lightly spoon sifted flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine sifted flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Combine sugar, butter, and oil in a large bowl, and beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the milk and yogurt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in extracts.

Pour cake batter into prepared pans. Sharply tap cake pans once on counter top to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks, and remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks.

Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 2/3 cup Fluffy Coconut Frosting, and top with another cake layer. Spread with 2/3 cup frosting, and top with the remaining cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle top of cake with coconut. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.

For frosting:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Dash of salt
3 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract

Combine first 5 ingredients in top of a double boiler; place egg white mixture over barely simmering water in bottom of double boiler on cook top. Beat at high speed of a hand-held mixer until stiff peaks form and candy thermometer registers 160°. Add extracts; beat until blended.

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21 comments:

Anna said...

OK, seriously...that looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Lisa said...

mmm my mouth is watering just looking at the picture. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Oh good catch too.

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

That cooks looks delicious! I wish I had a piece right now to go with my coffee!

Carina said...

You know what I thought when I saw the picture? First thought was, "Hey, that looks like snow!"

If I knew how to cook and had more than one hand free to do it, I'd try to make it. I'll have to wait a while, though. It does look delicious. (Nice catch, too.)

Anonymous said...

YUM! The only problem about me making that cake is I would be the only one who ate it and I would eat the WHOLE thing. Pictures are better.

Sandy said...

I am printing this recipe as I type. Thank you so much! All of your recipes rock...

Anonymous said...

That looks so delicious!!!!

An Ordinary Mom said...

As I type, I am wiping the drool off my mouth. Simply heavenly! I hope it is easy to make.

Loralee Choate said...

Oh, your poor cake! I am glad that people got to eat it, though. I love coconut and it is one of my favorites, too.

That's why my I started to roll my shortbread thumbprint cookies in it. It was a stroke of inspiration. Everything is better with it! (Ok, so you may not want to put it on potato salad...)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

I just discovered your blog; your photos and writing are delicious. This is a beautiful cake. I'm saving this recipe for my next "special occasion."

Susan
Food "Blogga"

Mary said...

Oooooh, num nums! I am going to copy this recipe, thanks for sharing it. I am trying to branch out from just chocolate... trying new things :O)

Jen said...

Mmm...so if you have a coconut lover, you must have a killer macaroon recipe. Please share. I knock people over for good macaroons. :)
I'll have to make this cake.

Scribbit said...

I didn't really say much about the frosting, but I LOVE this frosting, it's light like meringue and is great when you are out of powdered sugar.

You'd think I'd have a good macaroon recipe, but I don't. Chocolate chips, yes, but not macaroons. I ought to look around.

It's such a pretty cake, the frosting always goes on perfectly--no crumbs, easy coverage, stays in place. Assuming of course you don't knock it over onto the floor, then it doesn't stay so well.

palmtreefanatic said...

looks SCRUMPTIOUS!

Wendy Ann Edwina D'Cunha e Pereira said...

that cake looks delcious.... yum...
and you're a juggler too... good luck on catching the cake!

Are your parents really considering shifting to Bangalore? It will really be a huge change, if they do...

JChevais said...

this cake looks amazing.

and I LOVE coconut.

wayabetty said...

So let me know when you'll be baking this cake next and I'll be by for dessert. I'm drooling and it's only 9 in the morning.

Anonymous said...

That cake looks yummy.

Overwhelmed! said...

Yummmmmyyyy! I do so wish that my husband didn't dislike coconut! Oh well, maybe I'll make this just for me. :)

Anonymous said...

Is that the picture of your actual cake? It looks perfect! Yum!

Anonymous said...

i just finished making this cake, it took a few hours ( i only have 2 round pans ) but it looks perfect and was definately worth it.