Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup sugar (for frosting)
- 3 egg yolks (for frosting)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
Equipment Needed
- Two 9-inch round cake pans
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Saucepan (for frosting)
- Cooling rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pans to ensure your beautiful layers come out without a hitch. In my kitchen, I usually combine all the dry ingredients first: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. I love using my electric mixer to combine these ingredients; the sound of the mixing gets me excited for the baking ahead! Once the dry ingredients are blended, add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and luscious. The batter should have a wonderful glossy texture that’s almost hard to resist tasting! (See the next page below to continue steps…)