Chocolate Coconut Rum Cake Recipe

-FOR THE FROSTING-
1/2 Stick unsalted butter;
-softened (1/4 cup)
1 tb Light or golden rum
1/4 ts Salt
2/3 c Confectioners’ sugar

In a baking dish toast 2/3 cup of the coconut in the middle of a
preheated 350°F. oven until it just begins to color, transfer it
to a small bowl, and let it cool.

In a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water melt the
chocolate and the butter with the rum, stirring, until the mixture is
smooth and remove the bowl from the heat. In a bowl whisk together
the yolks, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, the flour, and the salt until
the mixture is smooth and whisk in the chocolate mixture and the
remaining (untoasted) 1/3 cup coconut. In another bowl with an
electric mixer beat the whites until they hold soft peaks and beat in
the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until the whites just hold stiff
peaks. Stir half the whites into the chocolate mixture and fold in
the remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a
buttered 7- or 8-inch springform pan, bake the cake in the middle of
a preheated 350°F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until it is set
and the top is puffed and cracked, and let it cool in the pan on a
rack. (The cake will fall as it cools.)

Remove the side of the pan from the cake and spread the frosting on
the side of the cake. Holding the cake in one hand over the bowl of
toasted coconut, with the other hand press the coconut onto the
frosting, letting the excess fall back into the bowl.

The cake may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and
chilled.

Make the frosting while the cake is cooling:

In a bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter, add the rum, the
salt, and the confectioners’ sugar, and beat the frosting until it is
light and fluffy.

Makes one 7- or 8-inch round cake.