Jennifer Mietus {adapted from Cake Doctor}
Cake
Shortening for greasing the pans
Flour for dusting the pans
1 pkg 18.25 oz plain white cake mix
1 3 oz strawberry gelatin
1 cup mashed fresh strawberries with juice (1 ½ cups whole berries)
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup whole milk
4 large eggs
1 cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut, thawed (Truth be told...in all my gourmet shopping at Walmart, I have never been able to find this...I have used the sweetened, dehydrated and its still yummy.)
½ cup chopped pecans
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
I cube butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
¾ cup fresh ripe strawberries, rinsed, capped, and mashed to make ½ cup,
then drained well
½ cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut, thawed
½ cup chopped pecans
1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350. Lightly grease three 9-inch round cake pans with shortening, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pans aside.
2. Place the cake mix, strawberry gelatin, mashed strawberries and juice, oil, milk, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the side
of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The strawberries should be well blended in the batter. Fold in the coconut and
pecans. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and place them in the oven; if your oven is not large enough, place two pans on the center rack and place the third pain in the center of the highest rack.
3. Bake the cakes until they are light brown and just start to pull
away from the sides of the pan, 25-30 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the layer on the highest oven rack. Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the
edge of each layer and invert each onto a rack, then invert again onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up. Allow them to cool completely, 30 minutes more.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the sugar and drained strawberries.
Blend the frosting on low until the sugar has been incorporated. Then raise the speed to medium and mix the frosting another minutes or until the frosting lightens and is well combined. Fold in the coconut and pecans.
5. To assemble, place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with frosting. Add another cake layer, right side up, and frost the top. Repeat this process with the third layer and frost
the top. Use the remaining frosting to frost the sides, working with clean smooth strokes. Serve at once or chill the cake for later serving.**
**Place cake uncovered in refrigerator until the frosting sets, 20 minutes, then cover the cake with waxed paper and store in refrigerator for up to one week.
