Would you like a White Christmas? You can have one. You can bake one up. All you need is some white chocolate, some coconut, and some happy time in your kitchen. This magnificent cake is from Sweet by Valerie Gordon.
On the outside, there is a white chocolate buttercream frosting. On the inside, there is a passion fruit buttercream filling. In the cake itself, and sprinkled atop, you have fragrant coconut. This cake is truly worthy of a holiday table.
White Chocolate Coconut Cake
Yield: one 9-inch cake serving 10 to 14
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 3 ¼ cups (16.25 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 ½ sticks (10 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups (15.75 ounces) sugar
- 1 cup (3.75 ounces) sweetened shredded coconut, roughly chopped
- 8 large eggs
- 6.5 ounces 31% white chocolate, melted and cooled
- 1 ¼ cups (10 ounces) evaporated milk
For the passion fruit buttercream filling:
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (1.68 ounces) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) light corn syrup
- ½ cup (4 ounces) passion fruit puree, at room temperature
- 4 ounces 31% white chocolate, melted and cooled
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For the white chocolate buttercream filling:
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (2.25) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces 31% white chocolate, melted and cooled
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For finishing:
- 3 cups (11.25 ounces) sweetened shredded coconut
Preparation:
To Make The Cake:
Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F. Coat the bottom and sides of four 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray and line with parchment circles.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer), cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the coconut into the bowl and beat until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in the melted chocolate and mix well. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix for about 15 seconds. Scrape the bowl once more. Alternately add the dry ingredients and evaporated milk in batches, beating until thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter equally among the prepared cake pans, spreading it evenly. Place two pans on each oven rack and bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the pans and bake for10 to 15 minutes, until the cakes are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for10 minutes in the pans on cooling racks, then remove, peel off the parchment, and cool completely on the racks. Wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the cake.
To Make The Filling:
In the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer), beat the butter on medium speed until very soft and creamy, about 4 minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for an additional minute. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat for 1 minute. Pour in the corn syrup and passion fruit puree and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat on low speed as you stream in the melted white chocolate. Add the salt and continue beating until the buttercream is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape the bowl once more and beat for 30 seconds on medium-high speed. Set aside.
To Make The Frosting:
In the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer), beat the butter on medium speed until very soft and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat for 1 minute. Pour in the corn syrup and vanilla and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat on low speed as you stream in the melted white chocolate. Add the salt and continue beating until the buttercream is shiny and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape the bowl once more and beat for 30 seconds on medium-high speed.
To Assemble The Cake:
Place one layer top side up on a cake stand or turntable. Slide four strips of parchment under the edges of the cake to catch any stray frosting. Using an offset spatula, spread one-third of the passion fruit buttercream evenly over the surface. Repeat with 2 more cake layers and the remaining passion fruit buttercream. Place the fourth cake layer on top and refrigerate the cake, uncovered, for 15 minutes so the buttercream sets and the layers adhere to each other.
Using an offset spatula, frost the sides and top of the cake with the white chocolate buttercream.
Take a handful of coconut at a time and press onto the sides of the cake until the sides are covered. Sprinkle the remaining coconut on top of the cake. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Storing:
The cake can be stored, lightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Source: Sweet by Valerie Gordon [Artisan, 2013]