Lemon-Coconut Cake
Recipe from Southern Living
Yield: Makes 12 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Lemon Filling
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- Garnishes: fresh rosemary sprigs, gumdrops
Directions:
- Beat butter at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
- Combine flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
- Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold one-third of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining beaten egg whites just until blended. Spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
- Bake at 350° for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
- Spread Lemon Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with coconut. Garnish, if desired.
Lemon Filling
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup boiling water
- 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Combine sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan; whisk in 1 cup boiling water. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until sugar and cornstarch dissolve (about 2 minutes). Gradually whisk about one-fourth of hot sugar mixture into egg yolks; add to remaining hot sugar mixture in pan, whisking constantly. Whisk in lemon rind and juice.
- Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened (about 2 to 3 minutes). Remove from heat. Whisk in butter; let cool completely, stirring occasionally
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended; stir in vanilla.