Florida Keys Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 0.3 cup cornstarch 
• 32 ounce cream cheese softened
• 0.3 cup cream of coconut 
• 3 large eggs 
• 0.5 cup key lime juice 
• 8 ounce cup heavy whipping cream sour
• 1 cup sugar 
• 2 cups coconut or sweetened divided flaked
• 16 ounce ready-to-spread vanilla frosting 
• 0.3 cup vegetable oil 
• 18.3 ounce duncan hines classic decadent cake mix white

Equipment

• frying pan
• baking sheet
• oven
• knife
• mixing bowl
• wire rack
• hand mixer
• aluminum foil
• springform pan

Directions

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 4 minutes. Stir in 1 cup coconut. Divide batter evenly between 2 lightly greased 10-inch round cakepans.
2. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
3. Split cake layers in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Crumble 1 cake layer into fine crumbs. Toss cake crumbs with remaining 1 cup coconut; spread on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until coconut is toasted. Set aside.
5. Combine sugar and cornstarch. Beat cream cheese at high speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar mixture, mixing well.
6. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in sour cream and lime juice, blending well.
7. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, in the bottom of a lightly greased 10-inch springform pan. Spoon 1/3 cheesecake batter over cake layer; repeat procedure with remaining cake layers and cheesecake batter. (See tip.)
8. Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.
9. Run a knife around the edge of pan, releasing sides.
10. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Pat reserved crumb mixture generously around sides and top of cake. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. Store in refrigerator.
11. Tip: It may be necessary to use a foil collar around the springform pan to hold the cake and cheesecake mixture once it's layered in the springform pan.
12. Cut a piece of aluminum foil long enough to fit around the 10-inch springform pan, allowing 1-inch overlap; starting from 1 long side, fold foil into thirds. Lightly grease 1 side of foil. Wrap foil around outside of pan, greased side against pan, allowing it to extend to 1 1/2 inches above rim to form a collar; secure with string or masking tape.
13. Bake as directed.