The Butterfly Garden Toasted Coconut Cake
Yield: 12 to 16 servings
Ingredients
White Layer Cake
- 1 (18.25 ounce) box white cake mix* (do not use one with "pudding-in-the-mix")
- 1 (3 3.4 ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
White Layer Cake
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and dust with flour** two round, 9 inch cake pans.
- Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil and eggs with 1 1/3 cups water; beat just until combined, using an electric mixer's medium speed (about 2 minutes). Stir in coconut and nuts, if using.
- Spoon batter into cake pans. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove layers from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet; stir in coconut. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until coconut begins to tan and edges are golden brown (about eight minutes). Set aside.
- Combine remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cream cheese; beat with an electric mixer until no lumps remain and mixture is smooth and creamy. Add confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Stir in 2 cups of the toasted coconut (reserve 1/2 cup for garnish).
Assembly
- Place a cooled cake layer on cake plate. Spread with frosting; repeat with remaining layer. Frost sides of cake. Sprinkle reserved toasted coconut on top.
Notes
* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe.
** For best results, use our Pan Release!
