Christmas Coconut Cake

Name: Christmas Coconut Cake
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 3 h 45 min
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature; 2 cups Sugar:sugar; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 4 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon Salt:kosher salt; 1/4 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup unsweetened Coconut:coconut milk (available canned in the Asian section of most grocery stores, or see Tip); 1/4 cup coconut cream (Coco Lopez); 1 teaspoon Vanilla bean:vanilla extract; 8 large egg whites at room temperature; 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons coconut cream (Coco Lopez); 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut (optional, see Tip); 2 large egg whites; 1 1/2 cups Sugar:sugar; 1/3 cup cold water; 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1/4 teaspoon Salt:kosher salt; 1/2 cup mini marshmallows; 1 teaspoon Vanilla bean:vanilla extract; 3 to 4 cups unsweetend flaked coconut for decorating

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8 to 10 servings

(14) Total: 1 hr 45 mins, plus cooling time Active: 1 hr

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Ingredients (23)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk (available canned in the Asian section of most grocery stores, or see Tip)
1/4 cup coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 large egg whites at room temperature

For the whipped cream filling:

1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
1/2 cup grated fresh coconut (optional, see Tip)

For the frosting:

2 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cold water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 cups unsweetend flaked coconut for decorating

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Tip

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

There are several reasons Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25. The date is nine months after March 25, a day recognized by Christians as Annunciation. It was the day Mary was told she would was having a baby. The nine months that follow are an approximation of Jesus’ birth. Dec. 25 also coincides with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations like Saturnalia' and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Since they were historically celebrated around that time of year there was precedent for holiday festivities during this time of year.

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Next: What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

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What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is a shortened from the words “Christ’s mass.” It’s derived from the Middle English word "Cristemasse" which has Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Christmas is an annual holiday that honors the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians around the world and is regarded as an important religious and cultural holiday.

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Next: How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

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How Can We Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is traditionally celebrated in many ways and celebrations vary across cultures. In the days leading up to Christmas, people usually put up special decorations including colorful lights and evergreen trees. Gifts are often placed under the tree and exchanged on Christmas day among loved ones. Large meals are also typically served as part of the celebration as well.

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Next: Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

This Christmas cake—three white cake layers covered with a light snowfall of flaked coconut—is the most festive dessert we know. If we’re feeling unusually energetic, we make it with fresh coconut (see Tip). Otherwise, we substitute coconut cream, which is a lot easier to manage. It’s challenging to press coconut into the sides of a cake. When pressing the coconut in, the icing invariably sticks to your fingers and mars the frosting’s finish. Throwing small handfuls of coconut toward the side of the cake makes it adhere quite well—a messy but effective technique for creating a gorgeous-looking cake.

For more cake inspiration, check out our recipes for Chocolate Cake with Whipped Fudge Filling and Chocolate Buttercream, Red Velvet Cake, and German Chocolate Cake.

by Rebecca Rather

What to buy

Non-Stick 9-inch Round Cake Pans

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Instructions

To bake the cake layers:

1Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and another in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch cake pans, then line each with a parchment paper round. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour; knock out the excess.
2Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt to blend. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, coconut milk, and coconut cream until smooth. Add the flour mixture in 3 increments, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 increments, starting and ending with the flour mixture. After each addition, mix at low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the vanilla.
3Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter until evenly blended. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Set two layers on the top rack and the third on the lower rack. Stagger the cake layers on the oven racks so that no layer is directly over another. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean. Monitor the layers carefully for doneness; each one may be done at a different time. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then unmold onto wire racks to cool completely.

To make the whipped cream filling:

1Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in the coconut cream and the fresh coconut, if using.

To make the frosting:

1Whisk the egg whites, sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt in a large stainless-steel bowl until thoroughly combined. Place the bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of barely simmering water. Using a hand beater or handheld electric mixer, continue beating the egg white mixture for 4 minutes. Add the mini marshmallows in 2 increments while continuing to beat. Wait until the first batch of marshmallows has melted before adding the second. Continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes more, until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and continue beating until the frosting is thick enough to spread.

To assemble the cake:

1Stack one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with half of the whipped cream filling. Repeat with a second layer. Stack the final cake layer on top of the first two and cover the cake’s top and sides with the frosting. Sprinkle the coconut on the top and sides of the cake.
2Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and store for 1 day at room temperature or up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.