Makeover White Christmas Cake

By carvalhohm

“I made this amazing cake for our annual Christmas dinner several years ago, and it quickly became a family favorite.” Anna Knauer - Robesonia, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

• FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/8 teaspoon rum extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cake flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup Diamond of California Chopped Pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut
• 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Details

Servings 16
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 55mins
Adapted from tasteofhome.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate until melted. Cool for 20 minutes. Line two 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and coat the paper with cooking spray; set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the applesauce, extract and reserved chocolate mixture (batter will appear curdled). Combine the flours, baking powder and baking soda; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in pecans and coconut.

Transfer to prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and chocolate until blended. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving.

1 slice equals 396 calories, 15 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 56 mg cholesterol, 222 mg sodium, 60 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.