LIGHT GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray, and dust with 1 Tbs flour.
• Combine cocoa and chocolate in a small bowl; add boiling water, stirring until chocolate melts; set aside.
• Combine sugars, butter, and oil in a large bowl, and beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes).
• Add yogurt, extracts, and egg whites; beat well.
• Lightly spoon sifted flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.
• Combine sifted flour through salt.
• Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat in cocoa mixture.
• Pour cake batter into prepared pans and sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes, and remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
• Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/3 cup Coconut-Pecan Frosting, and top with another cake layer.
• Spread with 1/3 cup frosting (below), and top with remaining cake layer.
• Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.
• FROSTING:.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add chopped pecans, and sauté until the pecans are browned (about 2½ minutes).
• Remove mixture from heat, and stir in sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
• Add milk, syrup, and egg yolks, and stir well.
• Cook 2 minutes over medium-high heat or until thick, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, and stir in flaked coconut and extracts.
• Pour mixture into a bowl; cover and chill until slightly stiff (about 15 minutes).