COCONUT CAKE WITH GANACHE

Steps:

• 1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES. GREASE AND FLOUR THREE 8 OR 9 INCH ROUND CAKE PANS.
• 2. MAKE CAKE:IN A LARGE BOWL MIX EGGS, OIL, SOUR CREAM AND 3/4 CUP OF CREAM OF COCONUT. ADD CAKE MIX AND BEAT ON LOW WITH A HAND MIXER 30 SECONDS UNTIL INGREDIENTS ARE MOISTENED. INCREASE SPEED TO MEDIUM AND BEAT FOR 2 MINUTES. DIVIDE EVENLY AND POUR INTO THE 3 CAKE PANS.
• 3. BAKE IN PREHEATED OVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES, UNTIL EVENLY BROWNED AND THE CAKE HAS STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE EDGE AND THE CAKE SPRINGS BACK WHEN LIGHTLY TOUCHED IN THE CENTER. REMOVE AND COOL ON WIRE RACKS FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THEN INVERT ONTO CAKE RACKS AND COOL COMPLETELY.
• 4. MAKE GANACHE:WHILE CAKE IS BAKING, HEAT 2 CUPS OF CREAM UNTIL STEAMING. POUR OVER 3 CUPS OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND STIR UNTIL SMOOTH. LET COOL UNTIL DESIRED THICKNESS.
• 5. PLACE 1/4 CUP COCONUT INTO A PREHEATED 250 DEGREE OVEN TO TOAST COCONUT. KEEP A CLOSE EYE...IT BROWNS QUICKLY ONCE IT STARTS! TOAST TO DESIRED COLOR.
• 6. MAKE FILLING: IF DESIRED, PLACE A BOWL AND BEATERS IN THE FREEZER TO CHILL WHILE CAKE IS BAKING. WHILE CAKE IS COOLING, BEAT 1 CUP OF CREAM UNTIL SOFT PEAKS FORM. ADD 2 TABLESPOONS OF CREAM OF COCONUT IN WHIPPED CREAM AND CONTINUE BEATING UNTIL STIFF PEAKS FORM.
• 7. PLACE ONE LAYER ON CAKE PLATE AND SPREAD HALF WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP OF CAKE. SPRINKLE WITH 1/4 CUP COCONUT. PLACE SECOND CAKE LAYER ON TOP OF FILLING. SPREAD WITH REMAINING WHIPPED CREAM AND ANOTHER 1/4 CUP COCONUT. PLACE THIRD CAKE ON TOP.
• 8. IF GANACHE IS STILL COOLING, PLACE CAKE IN REFRIGERATOR UNTIL READY TO GLAZE. POUR GANACHE OVER TOP, SPREADING TO THE EDGE AND LETTING POUR OVER EDGE. TRY TO COVER THE SIDES WITH GANACHE. YOU CAN EITHER COVER THE SIDES OR JUST HAVE THE GANACHE DRIZZLE DOWN.
• 9. I TRIED TO COVER THE SIDES BUT BECAUSE OF THE UNEVENESS, THE GANACHE DID NOT COVER BETWEEN THE LAYERS. I COULDN'T FILL IN PART OF THE GAPS, SO I PATTED THE TOASTED COCONUT ON THE SIDES. YOU COULD ALSO SPRINKLE THE TOASTED COCONUT ON TOP IF DESIRED.