NANNY'S FAMOUS COCONUT PINEAPPLE CAKE

NANNY'S FAMOUS COCONUT PINEAPPLE CAKE image

Yield 1 3 layer cake

Number Of Ingredients 24

Cake:
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
1/2 cup lemon-lime soft drink
3 cups cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*Pineapple Filling
*Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (6-ounce) package frozen flaked coconut, thawed
Garnish: fresh mint sprig
Pineapple Filling:
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup reserved drained crushed pineapple
1 cup water
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

Cake: Grease bottom and sides of 3 (9-inch) round cakepans; line bottoms with wax paper. Grease and flour wax paper. Drain pineapple, reserving 3/4 cup juice. Remove 1/4 cup reserved juice for Cream Cheese Frosting, and reserve crushed pineapple for Pineapple Filling. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Combine 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice and soft drink. Add flour to butter mixture alternately with juice mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in extracts. Pour into prepared cakepans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately; cool on wire racks. Spread 3/4 cup Pineapple Filling between cake layers and remaining filling on top of cake. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on sides of cake; pipe border around top, if desired. Sprinkle with coconut. Garnish, if desired. Pineapple Filling: Stir together sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir in pineapple and 1 cup water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until very thick. Cool. Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, juice, and vanilla, mixing well.