Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of water
- 4 squares 1 ounce each of German sweet chocolate
- Softened butter 1 cup
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- Cake flour 2 and 1/2 cups
- Baking soda 1 teaspoon
- Salt 1/2 teaspoon
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup of white sugar
- Evaporated milk 1 cup
- Butter 1/2 cup
- 3 beaten egg yolks
- Flaked coconut 1 and 1/3 cups
- Chopped pecans 1 cup
- Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
- Shortening 1/2 teaspoon
- 1 square 1 ounce of semisweet chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour three 9-inch round pans.
- Sift together 2 1/2 cups of cake flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of water and 4 ounces of German sweet chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, cream 1 cup of softened butter and 2 cups of white sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the 4 egg yolks one at a time, then add the melted chocolate mixture and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Beat in the flour mixture alternately with 1 cup of buttermilk, making sure to mix only until incorporated.
- In a separate large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, then quickly fold in the remaining egg whites until no streaks remain.
- Pour the batter evenly into the three 9-inch pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack.
For the filling:
- In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of white sugar, 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1/2 cup of butter, and 3 beaten egg yolks.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/3 cups of flaked coconut, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Let cool until thick enough to spread.
- Spread the filling between the layers and on top of the cake.
- In a small saucepan, melt 1/2 teaspoon of shortening and 1 square of semisweet chocolate. Stir until smooth, then drizzle down the sides of the cake.