How to make this healthy coconut cake
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Step 1: Preheat oven and prepare cake pans
Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Place a second rack underneath. Place a roasting pan with water on the lower rack. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 9-inch deep cake pans with cooking spray. Line with rounds of parchment (see tip*.)
Step 2: Whisk together dry ingredients
Whisk together the cake flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
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Step 3: Beat the egg whites until stiff
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until medium-soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Transfer the egg whites to a medium-sized bowl.
Step 4: Beat the butter
Switch to the paddle attachment. Place butter and 1¼ cup sugar in bowl and beat over medium-high heat until creamy, about 1½ minutes. Add yolks one at a time while stirring. Scrape down the sides and keep beating until they look very light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 cup of Greek yogurt. Scratch the sides again. Beat in the vanilla and coconut extract.
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Step 5: Add flour mixture to butter
Turn off the engine and add the flour mixture. Fold in by hand with a rubber spatula. Don’t overwork.
Step 6: Fold in the beaten egg whites
Beat in the egg whites until there are no more white streaks.
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Step 7: Spread batter in pans
Pour the batter into the prepared molds and divide. Place the cake tins in the oven on the middle shelf.
Step 8: Bake the Cake – Test for doneness
Bake until puffed up and beginning to turn lightly golden around the edges. The top should spring back to a light touch after 22 to 28 minutes. Test the center of the cakes with a toothpick. It should come out clean. Let the cakes cool in their molds on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes. Run a knife along the edges. before inverting onto the chiller rack to cool completely.
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Step 9: Make the frosting
In a mixing bowl, beat Neufchatel on medium speed until soft and smooth. Add butter, two tablespoons at a time, beating constantly. Add ½ cup coconut sugar, increase speed to medium-high and beat, scraping sides once, until sugar is dissolved in butter mixture and very fluffy, 3 minutes. Taste a small amount to make sure the sugar is no longer gritty. Scrape down the sides and beat in 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. If the frosting is very fluffy, refrigerate and stir once or twice until slightly stiff, 20 to 40 minutes.
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Step 10: Assemble the Healthy Coconut Cake
Remove rounds of parchment from cake. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut each layer in half (this should make 4 layers total). Place small sheets of parchment on a platter, touching each other in the middle to protect the platter from frost. Place the first cake base, cut side up, on the center of the seams. Spread ¼ cup raspberry jam directly onto first layer. Top with two more layers of cake and jam. Cover with the fourth layer of cake. Spread the icing over the top and sides of the cake.
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Step 11: Top with coconut and raspberries and chill
Dab coconut all over the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 40 minutes to 1 hour to set the frosting if needed. Decorate the cake with fresh raspberries before serving.
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