posted by Sue Freeman 06-09-99 4:08 PM
Nanna's Famous Coconut Pineapple Cake
1 (15 1/2 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
1 1/2 cups softened butter
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
1/2 cup lemon lime soda (7 up works best. It appears to have the specific level of carbonation that makes the layers rise better.)
1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pineapple Filling:
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup reserved crushed pineapple
1 cup water
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (3 oz pkg) cream cheese, softened
1 (16 oz. Pkg) powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 to 4 Tablespoons reserved pineapple juice
Garnish:
1 (6 oz) pkg coconut
Grease and flour 3 (9 inch) cake pans.
Drain pineapple and reserve juice.
Beat butter until creamy and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and beat well. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
Combine juice and soda and gradually add liquid and flour to batter mixture starting and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until well blended.
Stir in flavorings and divide among the three cake pans equally. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes until toothpick inserted in comes out clean.
Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
In the meantime make the filling.
Stir together sugar and cornstarch in saucepan and add pineapple and water and mix well. Cook over med. heat until thick. It will take about 15 minutes. It must be thick. Stir occasionally. Cool.
Frosting:
Beat butter and cream cheese at med. speed with mixer until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla and enough juice to a good spreading consistency.
Assemble:
Spread 3/4 cup filling on the top of a cake layer and top with another cake layer. Top that layer with another 1/3 cup filling and top with third layer and repeat with last of filling on top.
Frost the sides of the cake and pipe border of frosting on top of cake to conceal the edges. Pat coconut on sides and sprinkle along border. Garnish with a sprig of mint.