Kim's Kitchen

Great Grandma Emma's 3 Layer Coconut Cake

• 1 1/2 C. Sugar
• 2/3 C. Butter, Softened
• 1 C. Milk
• 3 Beaten Egg Whites
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 3 C. Flour
• 2 T. Water
• 2 Beaten Egg Whites
• 1/2 C. Sugar
• Coconut

I don't normally put a lot of "story" in my recipes, but this one I am going to give you a little story on. As you can see from the pictures, this is a really old recipe. It was written by my Pennsylvania Dutch Great Grandma, Emma Hamm Holt in an old composition book (as close as we can guess, probably 100 years ago). I never knew my Great Grandma. Had she still been alive when I was born, she would have just celebrated her 102nd birthday (6 days before I was born, in fact). It's weird, but I've always felt especially close to her and the few things I have of hers, I treasure immensely. It was no easy task to decipher this recipe, but I'm sure glad I made the effort. I love being able to connect with her through her recipes and I'm beyond thrilled to be able to share a bit of her with you. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 350

In a large bowl cream together 1 1/2 C. Sugar & Butter. Stir in Milk. Gently fold in 3 Beaten Egg Whites. Add Baking Powder & Flour. Stir until well mixed.

Divide dough evenly into 3 8"-9" Round Cake Pans that have been sprayed with non-stick spray. (If you want to stay more true to the recipe, feel free to grease and flour pans instead.) Gently tap pans on counter to remove any air bubbles.

Bake on center rack of oven for 22-24 minutes. As soon as cakes come out of the oven, remove from pans and place on a cooling rack.

While cakes are cooling, let's make the frosting.

In a saucepan over Medium heat, stir together Water, 2 Beaten Egg Whites (I usually beat these in the saucepan I'm going to use) & 1/2 C. Sugar.

As soon as you have the frosting ingredients stirred together well, reduce heat to low. You're going to cook for 7 minutes beating (with an electric mixer) the entire time. You can start out using your hand, but you'll want to switch to the electric mixer by at least half way through your time. Remove from heat as soon as your time is up! (Finished frosting will be somewhere between the consistency of Marshmallow Cream & Whipped Cream)

To assemble: Put a small dollop of Frosting on Cake Stand to hold cake in place. Place 1 cake layer on plate. Frost and cover with coconut. Place 2nd layer on top of 1st layer. Frost & add more coconut. Place 3rd layer on top. Frost top and sides of cake. Add coconut to top and sides of cake pressing firmly into sides.

Enjoy!

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