Shelly's Recipe

TROPICAL CARROT CAKE WITH COCONUT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Category: Cakes

1 cup macadamia nuts (chopped or crushed)
3 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
4 large eggs
2 tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil, such as canola or safflower
1 1/2 cups shredded peeled carrots
1 1/2 cups diced fresh pineapple or drained crush canned pineapple (this is one 20 oz can)
1/2 cup sweetened cream of coconut (found near the mixed drinks in the grocery)

Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
4 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup + 4 tsp heaving whipping cream
1/4 cup + 4 tsp sweetened cream of coconut
1/2 tsp + 1/8 tsp salt

To Make the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350. Place one oven rack one-third from the bottom of the oven and the second two-thirds from the bottom. Line three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper rounds, grease with butter, and dust with flour. Arrange the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast them for 7 to 9 minutes, until golden and aromatic. Set aside to cool.

Stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, and nuts in a large bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, oil, carrots, pineapple, and cream of coconut. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans. Stagger the cake layers on the oven racks so that no layer is directly over another. Set 2 layers on one rack and the third on the other. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cakes are done when they are golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on racks for 5 minutes then invert them onto the racks and cool completely, about 15 to 20 minutes.

To Make the Frosting: Add the whipping cream, cream of coconut, and salt; beat until combined.

Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate and spread a thick blanket of frosting on top. Add the second layer, spread thickly with frosting, and top with the third layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with an even layer of frosting. If you’re feeling energetic and there is frosting left over, use a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip to pipe a decoration around the top rim of the cake.

The cake can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 4 days. Let it cool in the refrigerator about 1 hour before covering, to ensure the frosting has hardened and will not stick to the plastic wrap.