Coconut Dream Cake & A Happy New Year!

Prepping the Cake Pans:

1. Lightly grease the inside edges of 3, 8-inch cake pans, then cut out circles of parchment or wax paper to line the bottom of the pans. Set aside.
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

The Cake:

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
2. In another mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Then beat in the egg yolks, and vanilla, until well mixed.
4. Add the flour mix, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
5. Stir in the coconut.
6. Then in a clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then fold the egg whites into the cake batter.
7. Divide the batter between the 3, 8-inch cake pans, then bake for 25-35 minutes (depending on your oven), or until a toothpick that is inserted in the centres come out clean.
8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before you ice them.

Making the Icing and Filling:

1. First you need to toast some coconut. Take the 3/4 cup coconut, and toast it in a frying pan on your stove. Just have your pan dry (no oil or butter) and turn the heat onto medium, and stir the coconut constantly until it is golden brown. When it is done, set it aside and cool completely.
2. Cream together the cream cheese and butter, until smooooth.
3. Add the vanilla and coconut extract. Blend.
4. Slowly add the icing sugar, and mix until the icing is smooth.
5. Separate the icing into 2 batches: One batch is for the top and outside of the cake, and the second batch is for the filling.
6. To one batch, add the 3/4 cup coconut. Mix.

Icing the Cake:

1. Once the cakes have cooled completely, it’s time to ice them!
2. Lay one cake onto a pretty serving plate, then using the icing with the coconut, spread 1/2 of the mixture evenly onto the top.
3. Then lay another cake down onto the iced cake, and spread the remaining filling.
4. Lay on the top cake, and use the remaining icing to completely cover the cake.
5. Once the cake is iced, use the toasted coconut to cover the outside edges of the cake.
6. Enjoy!