Coconut Layer Cake with Chocolate and Coconut Buttercream Frosting
A.K.A. Justin's birthday cake. He asked for it. He got it! There is a little Italian deli not too far from home that makes a really good coconut cake. We go there to eat and make sure we save room for dessert. And sometimes we don't save room so we get a slice of cake to go. Since we like that cake so much, it was time for me to make one myself. I followed the recipe, then deviated when it came to the frosting. After each taste-test lick from the beaters, I knew this one was a keeper. The cake was nice and tender, spongy, light. The coconut frosting was very mild. The chocolate frosting was rich. It was a great combination. Ingredients For the cake 2 3/4 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter (room temperature) 1 cup canned Coco Lopez sweetened cream of coconut 4 large eggs, separated 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk For the frosting 1/2 cup shorteni