Recipe(tried): Fresh Coconut Cake

Title: Recipe(tried): Fresh Coconut Cake
Posted By: Velma, TN
Date: October 27th 1997
Board: Holiday Cooking Club

Fresh Coconut Cake is a favorite Christmas tradition
in Southern homes of the Southeast.

FRESH COCONUT CAKE

3/4 c. shortening--Crisco
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
or 1 cup coconut milk drained from coconut
3 c. sifted cake flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. lemon extract or almond extract
6 egg whites

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating until
light and fluffy. Combine milk and water. Combine
cake flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring well. Add
to creamed mixture alternately with milk mixture,
beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla
and lemon extracts. Beat egg whites (at room
temperature) until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
Line bottom of two greased 9 inch round cake pans
with waxed paper. Pour batter into cake pans. Bake
at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool in pans 10
minutes; remove from pans and peel off paper. Cool
cake completely before adding frosting.

FROSTING

5 tbsp. water
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. light corn syrup
2 egg whites, unbeaten
1 tsp. vanilla
Grated fresh coconut

Put water, sugar, corn syrup, unbeaten egg whites in
top of double boiler; blend with rotary beater. Beat
constantly about 7 minutes. If an electric mixer is
used at high speed, takes about 3 minutes. Frosting
should stand in stiff peaks and cling to beater.
Remove pan from hot water. Add vanilla and continue
beating only until thick enough to spread. Spread on
cake and sprinkle top and sides with grated fresh
coconut.

Cracking the coconut: Punch holes in two of the
coconut eyes and drain juice or milk to be used in
the cake. Bake coconut in a 350 degree oven for 30
minutes. Cool slightly and crack with a hammer.
Meat will pull away from the shell. Peel off brown skin
and grate the fresh coconut for use in the frosting.

NOTES: You may use a white or yellow cake mix of
your choice--I prefer white.
If at all possible, chose a clear sunshiny day to make
icing. With high humidity, the frosting does not set up
properly.