For the cake:

1 oz softened butter, for pans

10¼ oz soft flour, plus more for pans

½ pt whole milk, at room temperature

6 large egg whites, at room temperature

1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped

½ tsp pure vanilla essence

12¼ oz caster sugar

1 tbsp plus 1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp fine sea salt

6¼ oz unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces, slightly cold

Method

1) Preheat oven to 340°F.

2) Spread the coconut evenly onto a baking sheet and toast until lightly golden brown, stirring once, 8 to 10 mins. Turn off the oven and let the coconut sit in the oven until very dry and crunchy, about 15 mins longer.

3) For the simple syrup: Bring water and sugar to a boil. Stir in the coconut, remove from the heat and let sit for at least 30 mins and up to 4 hrs. Strain the liquid into a clean saucepan, bring to a boil and let cook until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 mins. Let cool.

4) For the custard: Combine the milks and vanilla pod and seeds in a medium nonreactive saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Whisk together the yolks, sugar and cornflour in a large bowl. Slowly whisk the warm milk into the egg mixture then return the mixture to the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until thickened. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and whisk in the rum and vanilla essence. Let cool to room temperature then cover with clingfilm and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hrs.

5) For the filling: Combine the custard and cream in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form.

6) For the buttercream: Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 4 mins. Add the coconut custard and salt and beat until combined and smooth.

7) For the cake: Preheat oven to 355°F . Butter and flour 2 round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.

8) Whisk together the milk, egg whites, vanilla pod seeds and vanilla essence in a medium bowl.

9) In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With mixer running at low speed, add the butter, one piece at a time and continue beating until mixture resembles moist crumbs. Add all but 4¼ fl oz of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1½ mins.

10) With mixer on low speed, add remaining 4¼ fl oz of the milk mixture, increase speed to medium and beat 30 secs more. Scrape sides of bowl and mix for 20 secs longer. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pan and smooth the tops using a rubber spatula.

11) Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out with a few crumbs attached, 22 to 24 mins. Cool in the pan on baking rack for 10 mins. Run a small knife around the side of the pan and invert cakes onto the baking rack, removing parchment paper, and let cool completely, about 45 mins.

12) To assemble the cake: Using a long serrated knife, slice each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Reserve 1 of the flat bottom layers for the top of the cake. Place another layer on a cardboard round cut side up and brush with some of the coconut simple syrup. Spoon ⅓ of the coconut filling onto the cake and using a small offset metal spatula, spread it into an even layer, leaving a ½ in border around the edge of the cake. Repeat with 2 more layers. Brush the cut side of the reserved cake layer with the remaining syrup. Place the layer cut side down on top of the cake.

13) Frost the sides and top of the cake with the buttercream. Pat the coconut onto the sides of the cake and sprinkle the remaining coconut on the top of the cake.

Have A Bright & Blessed Week My Friends,

Phil