Ultimate Coconut Cake

Ingredients for the cake:

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsps McCormick® Coconut Extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk

Ingredients for Coconut Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 tsp McCormick® Coconut Extract
• 1 box (16 oz) confectioners’ sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. For the Cake, spray 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with no stick cooking spray. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Beat butter, granulated sugar and extract in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time.
5. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk on low speed until just blended. Beat on medium-high speed 2 minutes.
6. Pour batter into prepared pans. 
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack.
8. For the Frosting, beat butter and extract in large bowl until light and fluffy.
9. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating well after each addition.
10. Beat in desired amount of milk until light and fluffy.
11. Fill and frost cooled cake with Frosting.
12. Sprinkle top of frosted cake with toasted coconut.