Coconut Cake

                                                                                     Directions:

                                               First, bake a white cake mix as directed on box:

...But the key to this cake is the 5 minute icing. It also known as 7 minute icing when you prepare the old school way, but using the microwave is easier for me and it tastes just as good!

5 Minute Icing Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

dash of salt

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt and microwave for 5 minutes in a 2-cup glass measure.

While this mixture is doing its magic in the micro, prepare the egg whites until SOFT PEAKS FORM. These peaks take time, so be patient! This was probably the one obstacle I had to learn with this recipe. You can see from the pic below how the egg whites should look. My mom usually recommends beating the egg whites for the entire 5 minutes that your other mixture is microwaving. This is pretty painless if you have a standmixer, but you can still achieve this with a regular electric mixer. After you have arrived at this consistency, gradually pour in hot syrup. Blend in the vanilla AT THE VERY END.

                                                   Now get to work putting it all together!