CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY & COCONUT FILLING

Steps:

• Chocolate Layer Cake In a large bowl beat margarine at medium speed until creamy.
• Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg whites and whole egg one at a time and mix well.
• In a separate container combine buttermilk and water.
• In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder, stir to mix.
• With mixer at medium speed add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk/water to the margarine mixture.
• Add vanilla extract and mix in well.
• Lightly coat 2 8-inch cake pans with vegetable spray and pour batter evenly into both pans.
• Bake at 350F for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool in wire rack 10 minutes.
• Remove from pans and continue to cool.
• Raspberry Coconut Filling Empty jar of raspberry preserves in a medium meshed strainer.
• Using the back of a spoon press out the"jelly" and retain the seeds.
• Mix the"jelly" with the coconut, coconut extract, and orange rind.
• Add about 1-2 T of the seeds back into the jelly mixture.
• (this is optional if you don't care for seeds).
• When cake is completely cooled spread a layer of the filling just to about 1/2" from the cakes edge.
• Set aside remaining filling.
• Sprinkle a layer of coconut flakes on top of the filling.
• Add top layer of cake.
• Frosting (Use a large double boiler as this recipe makes 4 cups) Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water and set to boil.
• Combine the first 4 ingredients in the TOP of the double boiler.
• Beat with an electric hand mixer at medium speed just to blend ingredients.
• Place top over boiling water and beat constantly at high speed for about 9 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
• Remove from heat.
• Add vanilla and coconut extracts and mix for 1 additional minute.
• It should be at a spreading consistency now, if not continue to beat.
• Spread over top of cake and lightly sprinkle with coconut flakes (lightly toasted is nice also).
• Mix enough of the coconut flakes with the remaining filling so that you can press to"stick" it to the side of cake.