Almond Coconut Chocolate Cake Food

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED COCONUT-ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake-----------.
• Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
• Butter and flour 9" diameter cake pan with 2" high sides.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar, almond paste and butter in large bowl to blend.
• Add yolks, extract and salt and beat 1 minute.
• On low speed, beat in flour alternately with milk in 3 additions each.
• Mix in coconut.
• Using electric mixer fitted with clean dry beaters, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks.
• Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry.
• Fold whites into batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes.
• Run small sharp knife around sides to loosen cake.
• Turn out cake onto rack; cool completely.
• For Filling-----------.
• Bring cream of coconut and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over low heat.
• Add white chocolate; stir until melted.
• Pour into bowl and cool.
• Add cream cheese and beat until smooth.
• Mix in coconut.
• Chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• For Glaze-----------.
• Bring 3/4 cup whipping cream and corm syrup to a simmer in heavy medium saucepan.
• Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.
• Cool until just pourable, about 15 minutes.
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half.
• Place 1 cake layer cut side up on plate.
• Spread filling over.
• Top with second cake layer cut side down.
• Pour half of glaze over top of cake, spreading with spatula to cover sides and smooth top (reserve remaining glaze for sauce).
• Press almonds around sides and in 1" border around top edge of cake.
• Refridgerate cake until glaze sets, about 1 hour.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cake with cake dome; chill. Chill remaining glaze. Let cake stand 2 hours at room temperature before continuing.) Mix reserved glaze and remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream in saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until sauce is heated through.
• Slice cake; serve with sauce.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT ALMOND LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Cut each cake layer in half horizontally to make a total of 4 layers.
• In a medium bowl, stir together chocolate frosting and almond extract.
• To assemble cake: Place 1 cake layer onto a cake stand or plate. Spread a quarter of the frosting evenly onto the bottom layer. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the coconut and 1/4 of the peanuts. Repeat with the remaining 3 layers of cake. Slice and serve.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED COCONUT-ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar, almond paste and butter in large bowl to blend. Add yolks, extract and salt and beat 1 minute. On low speed, beat in flour alternately with milk in 3 additions each. Mix in coconut. Using electric mixer fitted with clean dry beaters, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes. Run small sharp knife around sides to loosen cake. Turn out cake onto rack; cool completely.
• For Filling:
• Bring cream of coconut and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Add white chocolate; stir until melted. Pour into bowl and cool. Add cream cheese and beat until smooth. Mix in coconut. Chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• For Glaze:
• Bring 3/4 cup cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Cool until just pourable, about 15 minutes.
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer cut side up on plate. Spread filling over. Top with second cake layer cut side down. Pour half of glaze over top of cake, spreading with spatula to cover sides and smooth top (reserve remaining glaze for sauce). Press almonds around sides and in 1-inch border around top edge of cake. Refrigerate cake until glaze sets, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cake with cake dome; chill. Chill remaining glaze. Let cake stand 2 hours at room temperature before continuing.)
• Mix reserved glaze and remaining 1/4 cup cream in saucepan. Stir over low heat until sauce is heated through. Slice cake; serve with sauce.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• Place a medium saucepot on medium heat and bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a simmer. Place a medium bowl on top of the saucepot and add the semisweet chocolate and coconut oil. Using a heatproof spatula, stir the chocolate until fully melted and combined with the coconut oil, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat and set aside. Leave the saucepot with the water on the stove.
• Place the almonds in a food processor and grind until a powdery consistency is reached. Transfer the almonds to a large bowl and add the quinoa, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and baking soda. Stir to combine the dry ingredients, then add the melted chocolate mixture, coconut milk, vanilla and eggs and mix until fully incorporated. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• For the ganache: Reheat the water in the saucepot over medium heat to bring to a simmer. Place another medium bowl over the water and add the semisweet chocolate and coconut milk. Using a heatproof spatula, stir the chocolate until fully melted and combined with the coconut milk.
• Drizzle the ganache over the cake, top with raspberries and serve.

DARK GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH TOASTED ALMOND-COCONUT GOO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread the coconut and almonds on separate baking sheets and toast, stirring occasionally, just until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Line the bottom and sides of a 14 by 17-inch baking sheet (with sides) with parchment or waxed paper. Sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Transfer to a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer) and blend briefly.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract. Add to the dry ingredients and mix at low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add the hot water, mixing at low speed just until combined. The batter will be quite thin. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan.
• Caramel: Pour the sugar into the center of a deep saucepan. Carefully pour the water around the sugar, trying not to splash any sugar onto the sides of the pan. Do not stir; gently draw your finger through the center of the sugar to moisten it. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce the heat to a fast simmer and cook without stirring until amber-caramel in color, 10 to 20 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat. Using a wooden spoon, slowly and carefully stir in the cream (it will bubble up and may splatter). Stir in the toasted coconut and almonds. Set aside.
• When ready to serve, cut the room-temperature cake in the pan into 6 even strips, each 3 inches wide. Using diagonal strokes of the knife, cut each strip into 4 triangles. If the sauce has stiffened, rewarm it over low heat (or in a microwave) until softened. Place a triangle on each plate, drizzle with sauce, and rest another triangle on top at a different angle. Drizzle with more sauce and serve.

THE BEST COCONUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment, dust with flour and tap out the excess. Set aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the buttermilk and cream of coconut in a small bowl. Beat the butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, until combined.
• Beat the egg whites and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with clean beaters on medium-high speed until stiff glossy peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the batter in three batches until just combined (do not overmix). Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cakes are lightly browned and the centers spring back when lightly pressed, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 20 minutes in the pans, then run a small knife around the edges of each cake and carefully invert onto the racks; remove the parchment and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in about half of the confectioners' sugar until combined. Add the remaining confectioners' sugar, salt and vanilla and coconut extracts and beat until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and continue beating, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a cake stand or platter and top with a heaping 2/3 cup frosting. Add another cake layer, more frosting and the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the coconut all over the top and sides of the cake, gently pressing to adhere.

ALMOND COCONUT 3-LAYER CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour three (8-inch) cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry; set aside.
• In another bowl, cream butter, Crisco and sugar until fluffy (about 4-5 minutes).
• Add in yolks (one at a time) beating well after each addition.
• In a bowl, sift flour and baking soda together.
• Add to the egg yolk mixture alternating with buttermilk.
• Add in coconut and nuts; beat well.
• Fold in beaten egg whites with a spatula.
• Divide the batter evenly between the three cake pans.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Place the pans on a wire rack to cool.
• Run a dinner knife around the edges of each layer, and invert each onto a rack, then invert them again onto another rack so layers are right side up.
• Allow to cool completely before frosting.
• For frosting: Cream together the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in the powdered sugar (this takes about 5 minutes).
• To achieve the spreading consistency you desire, you may need to add 2-3 tablespoons of half and half cream and 1-1/2 cups of ADDITIONAL powdered sugar.
• Stir in 3/4 cup coconut and 3/4 cups pecans.
• Frost and fill cake.
• Sprinkle the top with reserved coconut.

ALMOND JOY CAKE WITH CREAMY COCONUT BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Butter and dust with flour 2 9x13 pans.
• Combine the first 6 ingredients for the Coconut cake Layer in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
• Pour into 1 of the prepared pan and bake for 30-45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• Invert onto rack and brush 1/4 cup coconut rum over cooled cake.
• Let sit for 1 hour.
• Combine the first 6 ingredients for the Chocolate Almond cake Layer in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30-45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• Invert onto rack and brush 1/4 cup almond liqueur over cooled cake.
• Let sit for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile cream butter, salt, and extracts, beating until light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually, beating after each addition. Add milk, beating until smooth. Beat in additional milk until desired spreading consistency is reached.
• Frost cooled cake and garnish with toasted coconut!

BA'S BEST CHOCOLATE MACAROON CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:
• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Lightly brush a 10"-diameter cake pan with oil. Line the bottom with a round of parchment; brush parchment with oil. Dust sides of pan with cocoa powder; tap out excess. Toast almonds on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant and slightly darkened, 8-10 minutes. Let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Meanwhile, heat chocolate and 1 cup oil in a medium heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water (don't let bowl touch the water), stirring often, until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
• Pulse almonds, salt, and 1/4 cup cocoa in food processor until nuts are finely ground. Add shredded coconut and pulse a couple of times to combine.
• Beat eggs on medium speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until no longer streaky, about 20 seconds. Add both sugars and vanilla, increase speed to high, and beat until mixture is pale, thick, and starts to hold the marks of the whisk, about 2 minutes (it should fall off the whisk and immediately sink back into itself). Switch to the paddle attachment and with mixer on low speed, gradually add chocolate mixture. Beat to incorporate, then mix in almond mixture. Fold batter several times with a rubber spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top.
• Bake cake until firm to the touch and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean but greasy, 35-45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool 15-20 minutes in pan (cake might fall slightly in the center; that's okay). Run a paring knife or small offset spatula around edges of cake; invert onto rack. Carefully peel away parchment; let cool completely.
• Ganache and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine chocolate, 1 Tbsp. agave nectar, and salt in a medium bowl. Bring coconut milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over low; pour over chocolate mixture. Let sit until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss coconut flakes, almonds, sugar, and remaining 1 tsp. agave nectar on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and toast until golden, about 4 minutes. Let almond-coconut mixture cool, then break into smaller clusters.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat chocolate mixture until it has lost its sheen and is thick enough to hold very soft peaks, 6-8 minutes (ganache won't be quite as thick as frosting but close).
• Working quickly before ganache starts to set, scrape on top of cake and spread to edges with a small offset spatula or knife. Top with almond-coconut clusters.
• Do Ahead
• Cake can be baked and cooled 1 day ahead. Store tightly covered at room temperature until ready to serve.