I didn't find this cake to be as much work as the reviews below led me to believe. I did the filling the night before, so it was thickened and ready to go by the time the cakes were finished the next day. I used a brand new oven and it cooks super fast so the cakes were a little browned, but I think if they'd cooked less they would have been more moist. I will say, though, this cake is INCREDIBLY RICH. I am the type that could eat a whole sheet cake single handed, and I couldn't have more than one piece of this. The coconut and almond flavors come through beautifully, but between 16 oz of cream cheese, a lb of butter and over 4 cups of sugar, this cake pushes the sweet boundary even for me. That being said, my fiance and I both loved it and I will definitely make it again at some point.
Coconut-Almond Cream Cake
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Brooks Hamaker, from New Orleans, makes this cake with the precision of a skilled baker who has made his masterpiece many times. If the tops of the layers are a little rounded, he recommends leveling them with a serrated knife. "This is a tall cake," he says, "and it needs to be level if you want your friends to admire your work before they devour the cake--as they absolutely will."
Yield: Makes 12 servings
Recipe from
More From Southern Living
Recipe Time
Prep Time:
Bake:
47 Minutes
Cool:
1 Hour, 10 Minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- Parchment paper
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1/3 cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- Coconut-Almond Filling
- Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
- Garnishes: kumquats, currants, fresh mint sprigs
Preparation
- 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Bake coconut in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 minutes. Place almonds in a single layer in another shallow pan; bake, with coconut, 7 to 9 minutes or until almonds are fragrant and coconut is lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
- 2. Line 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper. Grease and flour paper.
- 3. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a very large bowl.
- 4. Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating until blended. Beat 8 minutes or until very fluffy, scraping bottom and sides of bowl as needed. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition (about 30 seconds per egg). Stir in whipping cream and next 3 ingredients.
- 5. Gently fold butter mixture into flour mixture, in batches, just until combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
- 6. Bake at 325° for 30 to 32 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 1 hour).
- 7. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Spread half of chilled Coconut-Almond Filling over cake layer. Top with 1 layer, pressing down gently. Repeat procedure with remaining half of Coconut-Almond Filling and remaining cake layer.
- 8. Gently spread Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Press toasted coconut onto sides of cake; sprinkle toasted almonds on top. Garnish, if desired.
Coconut-Almond Cream Cake Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Desserts, Cakes/Frostings
- CONVENIENCE: Entertaining
- CUISINE: Southern
- PUBLICATION: Southern Living
More Recipes for Desserts
-
Coconut Cupcakes
Sunset -
Mile-High White Chocolate Hummingbird Cake
Oxmoor House -
Angel Food Cake Pops
Health
advertisement
Indulge your cravings!
Free Daily Indulgence Newsletter: You'll get our most indulgent sweets and savory treats.
We Respect Your Privacy. Privacy Policy