Barbara Wheeler's Fresh Coconut Cake

[Afra]

Here's a recipe I found when I was 15. I remember making it a few times and I really liked it. Reminds me that I had a similar cake on my 7th birthday; my father bought it for me. Since its been a while since I've had this kind of cake, I hope to be able to make it again in the near future. I just thought of you guys at cheftalk and I thought you would like to try the recipe too! Here it is:

BARBARA WHEELER'S FRESH COCONUT CAKE

Description: This 3-layer beauty of a cake is as light and luscious as it looks. Barbara Wheeler of Laverne, Oklahoma, makes it extra special by using fresh coconut. However, if you're short on time, we found that packaged coconut works just fine.

This special recipe comes to us from a cookbook compiled by the Junior League of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mrs. Wheeler says, "Everyone I serve this cake to just loves it. It is showy!" She makes this special cake on her husband's birthday every year-now you can make it for your special someone.

DIRECTIONS:

Cake:
4 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, cut up
1 cup hot milk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped black walnuts or toasted walnuts or pecans

Frosting:
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
3 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups shredded fresh coconut

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans.

2)To make the cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, whole eggs and sugar with an electric mixer for at least 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Stir the butter or margarine pieces into the hot milk until the butter has melted. Combine the flour with the baking powder. Add 1/2 cup of the flour mixture into the egg mixture, beating slowly. Add half the hot milk mixture, 1 cup of the flour mixture, then the remaining hot milk, beating after each addition. Add the remaining flour mixture and the vanilla. Beat well. Fold in the nuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.

3)Bake the layers in the 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pans. Remove the cakes from the pans and cool completely on wire racks.

4)To make the frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar with the water. Bring the mixture to boiling and boil for 2 minutes or until it is syrupy and the sugar dissolves. (Undissolved sugar will make the frosting grainy.) Make sure to scrape down the sides of the saucepan and stir in a figure-eight motion.

5)In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar with an electric mixer until foamy. Slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the egg whites, beating constantly at the highest speed for 4 to 6 minutes or until the frosting is stiff enough to spread. Use a rubber spatula to guide the egg whites toward the beaters and scrape down the sides of the bowl to be sure that the frosting is evenly mixed. Beat in the vanilla. The finished frosting should be smooth and fluffy, yet hold stiff peaks.

6)Place a cake layer on a cake plate; spread with about 1 cup of frosting and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of coconut. Repeat with the remaining layers. Frost the sides of the cake and sprinkle with the remaining coconut. Store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

*TIPS FROM OUR KITCHEN* Garnish this lovely cake with fresh coconut pieces, kiwi fruit, fresh pineapple and pineapple leaves.

Nutrition Analysis (Per Serving): Calories:477 / Cholestrol:129 mg / Carbohydrates:74 g / Protein:8 g / Sodium: 201 mg / Fat: 18 g (Saturated Fat: 10 g) / Potassium: 155 mg

**********

I hope everyone enjoys this recipe as much as I do! I look forward to all your comments, suggestions, questions, etc.!

By the way, there are pictures on the recipe page that I copied this recipe from for you but I don't know how to put the pictures on the computer. hehe

[Afra]

By the way, everyone, I have lots and lots of recipes in my recipe archieves! If you are looking for certain recipes, please do not hesitate to ask me; I might have the recipe you are looking for. If I don't I may be able to find it on the web for you.