Page 28 - Baking

SOUTHERN PECAN-COCONUT CAKE

MAKES 1 (9-INCH) CAKE

1 cup unsalted butter, soft ened 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with baking spray
2 cups sugar with flour.
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer at medium speed until
2½ cups all-purpose flour fluff y, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a
1 tablespoon baking powder time, beating well aft er each addition. Beat in vanilla.
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt 3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg and nutmeg. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter
1 cup whole buttermilk mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour
½ cup finely ground toasted pecans mixture, beating just until combined aft er each addition. Stir in pecans and
½ cup sour cream sour cream. Divide batter among prepared pans.
Coconut Filling (recipe follows)
Sour Cream Frosting (recipe 4. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to
follows) 25 minutes. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut completely on a wire rack. Spread Coconut Filling between layers. Spread
Garnish: sugared pecan halves Sour Cream Frosting on top and sides of cake. Gently press coconut into
sides of cake. Garnish with sugared pecans, if desired.

COCONUT FILLING
Makes about 3 cups

2 cups Sour Cream Frosting (recipe follows)
1½ cups sweetened flaked coconut
½ cup sour cream

1. In a large bowl, stir together Sour Cream Frosting, coconut, and sour
cream until well combined.

SOUR CREAM FROSTING
Makes about 5 cups

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, soft ened
½ cup unsalted butter, soft ened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer at medium-
high speed until creamy. Reduce mixer speed to medium. Add confectioners’
sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth. Add vanilla, beating to combine.
Add sour cream, beating well.

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