COCONUT LAYER CAKE WITH LEMON FILLING AND MARSHMALLOW-LIKE FROST

Steps:

• To Make The Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• If you have only one mixing bowl, start by stiffly beating the egg whites and set aside, (keeping in mind that they will not hold forever).
• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add egg tolks and beat until thick and lemon colored.
• With a fork, mix together dry ingredients.
• Add dry ingredients alternately with the milk.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.
• Divide batter between 3 buttered 8" cake pans (or 2 pans and make another batch of the recipe while the first is baking).
• Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
• Cool completely and remove from pans.
• Freeze if time permits.
• Before filling and frosting, cut off rough edges of cake with sharp scissors.
• To Make The Lemon Filling:.
• When grating rind take special care to not get the bitter white part.
• Put all ingredients in a double boiler.
• Stir over simmering water until thickened (approximately 15-20 minutes).
• Chill.
• To Make The Marshmallow-Like Frosting:.
• Stir the water, sugar, cream of tartar and salt together in a small heavy-bottomed pan.
• Hook a candy thermometer to the edge of the pan and boil without stirring until the mixture reaches 240°F.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites until stiff.
• Pour the 240° syrup over the egg whites in a thin stream, beating constantly until thick and glossy.
• To Assemble: Remove cake layers from freezer.
• Spread the chilled filling between the layers, trying to not let much of it get out the sides.
• Frost the cake with the marshmallow-like frosting and sprinkle coconut on thickly, gently pressing it into the sides.
• If the cake slips around, gently slide it back straight.
• Decorate top with a flower or group of leaves. I use three strawberry leaves and a flower set in the center.
• Can be refrigerated.