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Serves
about a dozen slices
Author Notes
I was born in Lebabon, PA., in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. I have wonderful memories of shopping with my mother at the Farmers' Markets in Lancaster and Lebanon. As a kid, I was more interested in the elaborate baked goods' stands than in the beautiful produce. This recipe epitomizes the kind of rich desserts made in that part of the country. This recipe has been in my family's kitchen(s) for many years. I have added coffee, good butter and prefer toasting the coconut and pecans. (We didn't have microwaves then, either!) It's a great cake for a special occasion. —Lizthechef
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Ingredients
- chocolate cake
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4 ounces
baking choolate
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1/2 cup
brewed coffee
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2 1/4 cups
sifted all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon
baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon
salt
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1 cup
unsalted butter, room temperature
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2 cups
sugar
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4
egg yolks
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1 teaspoon
vanilla
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1 cup
buttermilk
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4
egg whites, beaten stiffly
- Coconut-pecan frosting
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1 cup
evaporated milk
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1 cup
sugar
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1 dash
salt
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3
egg yolks, gently beaten
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1/2 cup
unsalted butter, room temperature
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1 teaspoon
vanilla
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1 1/2 cups
coconut flakes, lightly toasted
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1 cup
chopped pecans, toasted
Directions
- chocolate cake
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Melt the chocolate in the coffee, using a microwave; cool.
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Sift together flour, soda and salt.
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Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time.
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Add vanilla and melted chocoate-coffee mixture. Add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, stirring after each addition.
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Fold in the beaten egg whites.
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Pour into three 9 inch cake pans that have been lined with greased and floured parchment paper.
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Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes, until cake springs back when gently pressed. Allow to cool in pans for 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks.
- Coconut-pecan frosting
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Combine the milk, sugar, salt, egg yolks, butter and vanilla in medium-sized saucepan.
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Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat.
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Add the coconut and pecans. Allow frosting to cool before icing the cooled cake. I frost between the layers and the top of the cake only.
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