Coconut Cake With Raspberry Filling

A little coconut flour (look for it with specialty flours) adds extra nutty essence. But don't get overzealous and use more than we specify; because this flour lacks the gluten of wheat-based cake flour, it would wreck the structure.

Ingredients:

• Filling:
• 2 pints fresh raspberries (12 ounces)
• 1/3 cup sugar 
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons Chambord (raspberry-flavored liqueur)
• Cake:
• Baking spray with flour
• 8 ounces cake flour (about 2 cups)
• 2 ounces coconut flour (such as Bob's Red Mill) or cake flour (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided 
• 1/3 cup canola oil 
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup coconut water (such as Goya)
• 6 large egg whites 
• Frosting:
• 3 large egg whites 
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted

Directions:

1. 1. To prepare filling, combine raspberries, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons water, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently until ­berries break down. Combine cornstarch and liqueur; stir with a whisk until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to raspberry mixture, stirring with a whisk; return to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until very thick, stirring constantly. Spoon mixture into a bowl; cover and refrigerate until needed.
2. 2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. 3. To prepare cake, coat 3 (8-inch) round metal cake pans with baking spray, and line bottoms of pans with wax paper. Coat wax paper with baking spray; set prepared pans aside.
4. 4. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; stir with a whisk. Place 1 1/4 cups sugar, oil, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed for 5 minutes or until fluffy. Add coconut water; beat at low speed 1 minute or until combined. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed 1 minute or until well combined.
5. 5. Place 6 egg whites in a large, clean bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until medium peaks form using clean, dry beaters. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; beat 1 minute. Stir one-fourth of egg white mixture into batter; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 19 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack.
6. 6. To prepare frosting, place 3 egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until medium peaks form using clean, dry beaters. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons water, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until candy thermometer registers 250°. With mixer on low speed, pour hot sugar syrup in a thin stream down the side of mixing bowl. Gradually increase speed to high; beat 3 minutes or until thick and cool.
7. 7. To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of filling (about 1 cup), leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with another cake layer, and spread with remaining filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Gently press coconut flakes into sides of cake.

Deb Wise, Cooking Light
DECEMBER 2012