WHITE CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING RECIPES

Steps:

• For the CakePreheat the oven to 325 degrees Grease and flour your pans & also add circles of parchment to the bottom of your pans. We used three 8 inch cake pans. You could also use two 8 inch round pans. *The baked layers using 3 pans are a little thinner than our usual--about 1 inch thickness...but we wanted the extra layer of filling that three layers gives us! Heat the coconut milk in the microwave or on the stove top, do not let it boil. Add the white chocolate that has been cut into very small pieces, the smaller the pieces the easier it will melt. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to soften, then stir until melted and smooth. Allow to cool down before using. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, whisk for 30 seconds to blend and set aside. In the bowl of your mixer, mix the butter until smooth. Slowly add the sugar and mix on medium speed 4 to 5 minutes, until the mixture lightens in color and becomes fluffy Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each until the yellow is blended in. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk/chocolate mixture, beginning and ending with the flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk mixture). Mix until just combined, do not over mix and do not mix above medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pans- if baking in three 8 inch pans, bake at 325 for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. If using two 8 inch pans, bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pans on a cooling rack and flip out. For the White Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheese FrostingFirst, cut/chop the white chocolate into very small pieces.  This will ensure easy melting.  Put into a microwave safe bowl and add 3 Tablespoons milk.  Microwave for 15 seconds— let sit for a minute or two, stir and microwave again for 10 seconds, letting it sit again to soften further.  Stir.  Be careful not to overheat the white chocolate.  The chocolate will continue to melt as it is stirred so stir for several minutes until it is completely melted.  Let it cool to before using. Do not refrigerate to cool because it would firm up quickly. In the bowl of your mixer add the softened butter and cream cheese.  Mix on medium speed until smooth.  Add the white chocolate mixing until combined. Add the coconut extract.  Gradually add powdered sugar mixing on low sped until combined and smooth.   The frosting may be too soft at the point so chill in the refrigerator a short while until it is the consistency you like for spreading.   Assembling the CakePlace first cake layer on the pedestal. Spread with a layer of white chocolate coconut cream cheese frosting. Repeat for the next layer and top with final layer. Frost the cake and press shredded coconut into the frosting, covering the entire cake. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Prepare the Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray, and set aside. Beat butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add lemon zest (if using), vanilla, and coconut extract; beat just until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition.
• Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form (don't overbeat, or they will be dry), about 2 minutes. Fold about one-third of beaten egg whites into cake batter; fold in remaining egg whites in 2 additions. Spoon batter evenly into prepared cake pans (about 2 ⅓ cups batter per pan).
• Bake cakes on middle rack in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; place directly on wire racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. 
• Prepare the Coconut Cream Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; gradually add cream of coconut, vanilla, and coconut extract, beating until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer 3 tablespoons of the frosting to a small bowl; stir leaf green food coloring to reach desired shade of green. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the frosting to a separate small bow; stir in super red food coloring to reach desired shade of red. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Let remaining frosting stand, covered, at room temperature until ready to use or up to 1 hour.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 layer on a serving plate or a cake stand. Spoon 1 cup Coconut Cream Frosting into a ziplock plastic bag. Snip a ½-inch tip off 1 bag corner. Pipe a ring of frosting just inside the top edge. Spread with half of desired filling (if using the Whipped Chocolate Ganache Filling, spread with 1 cup filling), spreading to edge of piped frosting. Repeat process once with 1 additional Cake Layer, frosting, and filling. Top with remaining layer. (If using ganache filling, reserve any remaining for another use.) Spread cake top and sides with a thin layer of the remaining frosting. Refrigerate, uncovered, 1 hour. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Gently pat coconut around bottom edge of cake and about 1 inch up sides. Sprinkle coconut on top of cake. Pipe green frosting in a garland pattern around sides of cake; pipe red frosting on garland to resemble berries. Insert Peace Dove Cookies into top of cake.