White Almond Sour Cream Wedding Cake Recipe

Okay obviously this isn't a wedding cake. I made this for my sons end of the baseball year party. But boy oh boy is this cake good! It's moist and flavorful yet dense enough to layer and hold fillings. This recipe starts with boxed cake mixes then is doctored up with sour cream, flour, sugar and flavorings (I prefer Betty Crocker. But you can use what ever brand you so desire.)

Keep in mind this makes a large batch of batter but can easily be halved and several flavor variations are listed below. The picture above is of a 1/2 sheet cake made in Wilton's 18x12x2 inch cake pan. (and isn't finished being decorated I might add.) I greased the pan well with Crisco using a pastry brush, lined bottom with parchment paper, then greased paper and floured the whole pan. Cake popped right out with no troubles. I recommend this pan. I torted this cake and filled with 3 cups of Rose Levy Beranbaums "Lemon Curd" (from The Cake Bible). I then frosted and decorated with about 6-7 cups of cream cheese frosting. Got rave reviews!

*NOTE* Be sure all wet ingredients are at room temperature. This really does make a difference.

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White Almond Sour Cream Wedding Cake*

SERVES 40 -50

2 (18 ounce) boxes white cake mix (Betty Crocker or Pillsbury)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 2/3 cups water, room temperature
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons real vanilla
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 cups sour cream, room temperature
8 large egg whites, room temperature (save yolks for a lemon curd)

Sift all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Stir with a whisk.
Add the remaining ingredients and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stopping and scraping sides of bowl as needed.
Pour into greased and floured cake pan/pans, filling each pan a little over half full.
Lightly tap cake pans on counter to bring air bubbles to top.
Bake in preheated 325° F. oven until cake tests done. (18x12x12 in. pan 40-45 minutes)

*Baking time varies according to the size and depth of pans being used.

In 2" deep pans, this recipe makes:
One 14" round and one 6" round
or One 16" round
or One 12" round and one 10" round
or One 12 X 18 X 2" sheet cake
or One 12" round and one 8" round and one 6" round
or Two 9" squares.
or 5 dozen cupcakes.

Half the recipe makes:
Two 7" rounds
or Two 6" rounds and 6 cupcakes.

For chocolate cake: use chocolate mixes and substitute 6 whole eggs for the egg whites.

For liqueur flavors: substitute alcohol (such as champagne or Kahlua) for about 1 cup of the water in the recipe.

For berry flavors: use frozen berries, thaw reserving the juice. Substitute the berry juice for part of the water in the recipe, and stir the berries in at the end.

For lemon cake: substitute lemon juice for about 1 cup of the water in the recipe, use 6 whole eggs instead of the whites, stir in 1 Tbsp. lemon zest, and use 1 tsp of a good lemon extract in place of the almond.

For white chocolate: melt 8oz white baking chocolate & cool slightly. use 6 whole eggs in the recipe instead of the whites, temper the chocolate by stirring in a small amount of the batter, then add the white chocolate to the entire batter and stir well. Doesn't bake up quite as high as the original, so add a pinch more batter to the pans.

Classic White Layer Cake with Butter Frosting and Raspberry Almond Filling

I found this recipe in my Cooks Illustrated cookbook. It got rave reviews on their site as well so thought I would give it a try. After screwing it up my first attempt... I had the sugar measured out but forgot to add it to batter. That's what I get for trying to talk on the phone and make a cake at the same time.. Oops!... the second attempt was a pretty good success.
The cake is light but I wouldn't necessarily say it's "fluffy" To me the cake itself tasted kind of bland but once the filling was added and frosted it tasted too sweet. The frosting is of a good consistency and pipes well. It's very tooth aching sweet though. It kinda tastes like the frosting in the can you get at the store. The Smuckers jam tasted too sweet to me as well. Maybe it was just my taste buds that day (as I'm seeing a pattern here) but not sure if I would make this cake again or not.
I think this would be better with a lemon curd or some other type of tart filling. It is however a nice looking cake and easy to throw together. The only changes I made to this recipe was I omitted the almonds, used fine sugar in place of the regular sugar and halved each layer to make a 4 layer cake.

Anyway, give it a try and let me know what you think. The frosting by the way is lighter than it looks I didn't have good lighting in my kitchen when I took the pictures.

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Serves 12
Classic White Cake

Nonstick cooking spray
2 1/4 cups cake flour (9 ounces), plus more for dusting the pans
1 cup whole milk , at room temperature
6 large egg whites (3/4 cup), at room temperature
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened but still cool

Butter Frosting:
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened but still cool
4 cups confectioners' sugar (1 pound)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon whole milk
Pinch table salt

Raspberry-Almond Filling:
1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds (2 1/2 ounces), toasted and chopped coarse
1/3 cup raspberry jam (seedless)

1. For the Cake: Set oven rack in middle position. (If oven is too small to cook both layers on a single rack, set racks in upper-middle and lower-middle positions.) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray; line the bottoms with parchment or waxed paper rounds. Spray the paper rounds, dust the pans with flour, and invert pans and rap sharply to remove excess flour.

2. Pour milk, egg whites, and extracts into 2-cup glass measure, and mix with fork until blended.

3. Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of electric mixer at slow speed. Add butter; continue beating at slow speed until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no powdery streaks remaining.

4. Add all but 1/2 cup of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed (or high speed if using handheld mixer) for 1 1/2 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium (or high) speed and beat 20 seconds longer.

5. Divide batter evenly between two prepared cake pans; using rubber spatula, spread batter to pan walls and smooth tops. Arrange pans at least 3 inches from the oven walls and 3 inches apart. (If oven is small, place pans on separate racks in staggered fashion to allow for air circulation.) Bake until thin skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes.

6. Let cakes rest in pans for 3 minutes. Loosen from sides of pans with a knife, if necessary, and invert onto wire racks. Reinvert onto additional wire racks. Let cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.

7. For the Frosting: Beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt in bowl of electric mixer at slow speed until sugar is moistened. Increase speed to medium-high (high if using handheld mixer); beat, stopping twice to scrape down bowl, until creamy and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Avoid overbeating, or frosting will be too soft to pipe.

8. For the Filling: Before assembling cake, set aside 3/4 cup of the frosting for decoration. Spread small dab of frosting in center of cake plate to anchor cake, and set down one cake layer. Combine 1/2 cup of remaining frosting with almonds in small bowl and spread over first layer. Carefully spread jam on top, then cover with second cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of assembled cake. Pipe reserved frosting around perimeter of cake at the base and the top. Cut the cake into slices and serve.

Peanut Butter Devil Cake

Yum yum yum and more yum! The frosting will make more than enough for decorating so go for it!

Moist and Tender Devils Food Cake

Makes two 9-inch cakes

Regular, or natural, cocoa like Hershey's can be used with good results, though the cakes will bake up a bit drier, redder, and with slightly less chocolate flavor.

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate , chopped

1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups water (boiling)

3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 ounces unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened, plus extra for greasing pans

1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar

3 large eggs , room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peanut Butter Frosting (Below)

Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, to decorate

1. Adjust oven rack to upper- and lower-middle positions; heat oven to 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter and line bottom of each pan with parchment paper round. Combine chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl; pour boiling water over and whisk until smooth. Sift together flours, baking soda, and salt onto large sheet parchment or waxed paper; set aside.

2. Place butter in bowl of standing mixer and beat at medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add brown sugar and beat on high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Stop mixer and scrape down bowl with rubber spatula. Increase speed to medium-high and add eggs one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each addition. Reduce speed to medium; add sour cream and vanilla and beat until combined, about 10 seconds. Stop mixer and scrape down bowl. With mixer on low, add about one third of flour mixture, followed by about one half of chocolate mixture. Repeat, ending with flour mixture; beat until just combined, about 15 seconds. Do not overbeat. Remove bowl from mixer; scrape bottom and sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix gently to thoroughly combine.

3. Divide batter evenly among cake pans, smooth batter to edges of pan with rubber spatula. If baking three 8-inch cakes, place two pans on lower-middle rack and one on upper-middle rack. Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 23 minutes for 8-inch cakes. Cool on wire rack 15 to 20 minutes. Run knife around pan perimeter to loosen. Invert cakes onto large plate; peel off parchment, and reinvert onto lightly greased rack. Cool completely before icing.

Peanut Butter Frosting:

1 cup butter

1 cup peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 C. milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream all ingredients together in a mixing bowl until smooth.

Coconut Layer Cake

I love this recipe! This cake was so good and the frosting is pretty tasty as well. The cake is dense yet moist. It tastes a lot like a wedding cake to me. You can definitely taste the coconut in this recipe but it's subtle. You can find cream of coconut usually in the drink/mix aisle in your local grocery store. (it's used in pina coladas) The cream of coconut separates in the can so be sure to stir well before using. Enjoy!

Coconut Layer Cake

Makes one 9-inch, 2 layer cake

Serves: 8-10

Cake:

1 whole large egg, room temperature

5 large egg whites, room temperature

3/4 cup cream of coconut

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

2 1/4 cups cake flour (9 ounces), sifted

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into 12 pieces, softened

2 cups packed sweetened shredded coconut (about 8 ounces), toasted

Coconut Frosting:

2 Tbsp. heavy cream

1 tsp. coconut extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp salt

16 Tbsp. unsalted butter (2 sticks) unsalted

1/4 cup cream of coconut

3 cups confectioners' sugar

For the Cake:

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil two 9-inch round cake pans with vegetable spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper.

2. Whisk egg whites, cream of coconut, water, whole egg, and extracts together in a large bowl until combined and set aside.

3. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Mix on lowest speed to combine, about 30 seconds. With mixer still running on lowest speed, add butter 1 piece at a time, then beat until mixture resembles coarse meal, with butter bits no larger than small peas, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes.

4. Add 1 cup of the egg mixture, increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 45 seconds. With mixer still running, add remaining egg mixture in a steady stream and continue to beat until batter is combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl and beaters as needed (Batter will be very thick.)

5. Divide batter between cake pans and smooth tops with a rubber spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out with a few crumbs attatched, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Keep oven on so you can toast your coconut.

6. Cool in pans on wire racks about 10 minutes, then loosen cakes from sides of pans with paring knife, invert cakes onto racks, remove parchment paper and then re-invert; and let cool completely before frosting, about an hour.

7. Spread shredded coconut on rimmed baking sheet; toast in a 325 degree F. oven until shreds are a mix of golden brown and white, about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times. Cool to room temperature.

For the Frosting:

8. Stir the cream, extracts and salt together in a small bowl until the salt dissolves. Beat the butter and cream of coconut together in a large bowl with a mixer at medium high speed until smooth. Reduce speed to medium low, slowly adding confectioners' sugar, and beat until smooth, 2 to 5 minutes. Beat in the cream mixture. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, 4 to 8 minutes.

9. Frost cake. Press toasted coconut into sides of cake and sprinkle it over the top.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

This recipe for red velvet cake is sooo good. It's light and moist. I made mine into cupcakes and got about 32 and baked about 18 minutes. I also substituted cake flour for the all purpose flour. If you use cake flour adjust accordingly...1 cup all purpose flour= 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cake flour.

Enjoy!

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Cake:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
12 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

Frosting:
16 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
16 ounces cream cheese , cut into 8 pieces, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt

For the cake:

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and eggs in large measuring cup. Mix cocoa with food coloring in small bowl until a smooth paste forms.

With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary. Add one-third of flour mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add half of buttermilk mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down bowl as necessary and repeat with half of remaining flour mixture, remaining buttermilk mixture, and finally remaining flour mixture. Scrape down bowl, add cocoa mixture, and beat on medium speed until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds. Using rubber spatula, give batter final stir.
Scrape into prepared pans and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes then turn out onto rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.

For the frosting:

With electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in vanilla and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
When cakes are cooled, spread about 2 cups frosting on one cake layer. Top with second cake layer and spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days.

It's a cupcake thing...

Aaah cupcakes...... Who doesn't like them? I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that don't. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Matter of fact I like anything that isn't good for you and has lots of chocolate in it. So I searched and searched for a really good chocolate cupcake recipe all claiming to be "the best". This one had great reviews and well it was so darn easy to make! (With all the whisking it works on that turkey flap on the back of your arms as well) This is the first I tried of the many recipes I have and I must say I can't imagine any of the others being any better. It's moist, chocolatey has a nice crumb and kind of tastes like a brownie. The frosting is tasty too (and Toto too?) and very easy to make. It's great for piping.

Oh, by the way...If your on a diet???...You might want to skip this one for a cheat day.

So without further adieu I present to you......

Chocolatey Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes 24
(recipe can easily be halved)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped
1 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (I used regular unsweetened and it worked fine)
1-1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
No Cook Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (below)

1. Combine butter, bittersweet chocolate, and cocoa in medium heatproof bowl. Microwave, whisking often until melted and smooth, 1 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool until just warm to the touch.
2. Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Line your muffin pans with cupcake liners.
4. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
5. Whisk eggs and vanilla together in another large bowl. Slowly whisk in sugar until combined. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined.
6. Sift about one-third of flour mixture over chocolate batter and whisk until combined; whisk in all of sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until completely incorporated. Hang in there! The batter will be thick.
5. Fill muffin pan cups about 2/3 full. (I use a 2 oz. scoop) . Do not fill more than that as these rise on up and you will have mushrooms! I actually filled mine a little less. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes.
6. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool completely on racks before frosting. Frost with buttercream then sprinkle with your favorite candies. Enjoy!

No Cook Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla (or add your favorite flavoring)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Stir cream, vanilla and salt together in a small bowl. Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium high until smooth. About 1 minute. Lower speed to medium low and slowly add powdered sugar and beat until smooth, 2 to 5 minutes. Beat in cream mixture then increase speed again to medium high and beat until mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes or so.
Makes 3 cups

Bundt Butter Cake

This is such and easy and deliciously moist cake with a nice buttery taste. You can serve with a dollop of whip cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side if your heart so desires.


PREP TIME 30 Min
COOK TIME 1 Hr
READY IN 2 Hrs

Bundt Butter Cake

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup butter
3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, 2 cups sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend in the 1 cup of butter then add buttermilk, 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 4 eggs. Beat for 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

While your cake is baking you can make your butter sauce: In a saucepan combine the remaining 3/4 cups sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and the water. Cook over medium heat, until fully melted and combined, but do not boil.

As soon as you pull your cake out of the oven prick holes in the still warm cake. (I use either a chop stick or sometimes a large fork) Slowly pour sauce over cake making sure to get sides and center of cake. Let cake cool completely before removing from pan.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I found this in "Tast Of Home" magazine. It's very good and the frosting is very peanut buttery!

Peanut Chocolate Cake
Time: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
3 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetend chocolate, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup water

FROSTING:
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup peanut butter*
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped peanuts

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar; beat in eggs, chocolate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Gradually beat in water. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round cake pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, cream the butter, peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth; set aside. Split each cake into two layers. Place a bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with about 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat layers twice. Top with the remaining cake. Frost top and sides of cake. Gently press peanuts into sides of cake.
Yield: 12 servings.

German Chocolate Cake

I found this recipe on a pastry chefs blog. It is the best German Chocolate Cake you will ever taste. Yeah it takes some time but let me tell you it is worth every minute you put into it! Enjoy!

German Chocolate Cake
One big, tall 9-inch cake; about 16 servings

For the cake:
2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons water
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ¼ cup + ¼ cup sugar
4 large eggs, separated
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup sugar
3 large egg yolks
3 ounces butter, cut into small pieces
½ teaspoon salt1 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
1 1/3 cups unsweetened coconut, toasted

For the syrup:
1 cup water
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons dark rum

For the chocolate icing:
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 ½ ounces unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream

1. Butter two 9-inch cake pans, then line the bottoms with rounds of parchment or wax paper. Preheat the oven to 350°.

2. Melt both chocolates together with the 6 tablespoons of water. Use either a double-boiler or a microwave. Stir until smooth, then set aside until room temperature.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, or by hand, beat the butter and 1 ¼ cup of the sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the melted chocolate, then the egg yolks, one at a time.

4. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

5. Mix in half of the dry ingredients into the creamed butter mixture, then the buttermilk and the vanilla extract, then the rest of the dry ingredients.

6. In a separate metal or glass bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold soft, droopy peaks. Beat in the ¼ cup of sugar until stiff.

7. Fold about one-third of the egg whites into the cake batter to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites just until there's no trace of egg white visible.

8. Divide the batter into the 2 prepared cake pans, smooth the tops, and bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool cake layers completely.

While the cakes are baking and cooling, make the filling, syrup, and icing.

To make the filling:
1. Mix the cream, sugar, and egg yolks in a medium saucepan. Put the 3 ounces butter, salt, toasted coconut, and pecan pieces in a large bowl.

2. Heat the cream mixture and cook, stirring constantly (scraping the bottom as you stir) until the mixture begins to thicken and coats the spoon (an instant-read thermometer will read 170°.)

3. Pour the hot custard immediately into the pecan-coconut mixture and stir until the butter is melted. Cool completely.

To make the syrup:
1. In a small saucepan, heat the sugar and water until the sugar has melted. Remove from heat and stir in the dark rum.

To make the icing:
1. Place the 8 ounces of chopped chocolate in a bowl with the corn syrup and 1 ½ ounces of butter.

2. Heat the cream until it just begins to boil. Remove from heat and pour over the chocolate. Let stand one minute, then stir until smooth. Let sit until room temperature.

To assemble the cake:
Remove the cake layers from the pans and cut both cake layers in half horizontally, using a serrated bread knife.Set the first cake layer on a cake plate. Brush well with syrup. Spread ¾ cup of the coconut filling over the cake layer, making sure to reach to the edges. Set another cake layer on top.

Repeat, using the syrup to brush each cake layer, then spreading ¾ cup of the coconut filling over each layer, including the top.
Ice the sides with the chocolate icing, then pipe a decorative border of chocolate icing around the top, encircling the coconut topping.
(It may seem like a lot of chocolate icing, but use it all. Trust me. You won't be sorry.)

4 Times The Taste Carrot Cake

This, I think anyway, is The BEST Carrot cake recipe. Its dense, moist and has lots of carrots, raisins, nuts and pineapple. Its makes a nice sized four layer cake so be sure to have family and friends over for dessert! This also freezes well.


6 cups grated carrots
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup raisins
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts
Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting (below)

In a medium bowl, combine grated carrots and brown sugar. Set aside for 60 minutes, then stir in raisins.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Gradually beat in the white sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir in the pineapple.
Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, stir into the wet mixture until absorbed. Finally stir in the carrot mixture and the walnuts. Pour evenly into the prepared cake pans.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. When completely cooled, half each layer, frost with cream cheese frosting.

Perfect Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cold (very important)
3/4 cup butter (1-1/2 sticks), softened
3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract


In a medium bowl, cream together the cold cream cheeses and butter until creamy.
Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.