Buy the Mix, Make the Coconut Cake

DEAR SOS: The Cedar Creek Inn in Laguna Beach has a delicious dessert, Coconut Supreme Cake. I always order a piece for there and a piece to go. Can you find the recipe?

BOB KNAPP

Los Alamitos

DEAR BOB: Now you’ll be able to eat Coconut Supreme Cake early and often, here or there. It’s made using a cake mix.

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Napkin and platter from Crate & Barrel stores.

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Cedar Creek Inn Coconut Supreme Cake

Active Work Time: 20 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 1 1/2 hours

CAKE

2 cups shredded coconut

Butter, for preparing pans

Flour, for preparing pans

1 (1-pound 2 1/4-ounce) box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

2 (3.4-ounce) boxes instant vanilla pudding mix

1 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup oil

1 cup chopped walnuts

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and lightly toast, stirring often, 10 minutes. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping the cake.

Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) round cake pans.

Place the cake mix, eggs, pudding mix, water and oil in a mixing bowl. Mix at medium speed until the batter is thick and smooth, 4 minutes. Fold in the walnuts and 1 1/2 cups of the coconut. Divide the batter evenly among the pans.

Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pans, then turn the cakes onto a wire rack.

FROSTING

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons milk

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Combine the cream cheese, vanilla and milk in the bowl of an electric mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar while mixing. Continue to mix until smooth.

ASSEMBLY

Frosting

Cake

1/2 cup reserved toasted coconut

Spread 1/3 of the frosting on top of each of 2 cakes then stack them. Set the last cake layer on top and cover with the remaining frosting (the sides are not frosted). Sprinkle the top with the toasted coconut.

12 servings. Each serving: 699 calories; 637 mg sodium; 91 mg cholesterol; 35 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 93 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams protein; 1.86 grams fiber.