Rum flavored cake base layered with rum and coconut milk flavored whipped cream and pineapple sauce and finally coated with a layer of toasted coconuts.
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C . Prepare the cake pans by lining it with parchment paper and grease the bottom and the sides with softened butter. Dust some all purpose flour too.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, sift together all purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
Keep the buttermilk at room temperature. For instant buttermilk, refer notes below.
In another large mixing bowl, dd butter and beat it until smooth.
Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium speed until fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, and reduce the speed and beat until it is fully incorporated.
Add the rum or the rum extract and beat just until mixed.
Add about one third of the flour mixture and incorporate it well with the butter mixture.
Now, add 1/2 of the buttermilk and incorporate it well. Continue adding the rest of the flour and buttermilk in the same manner. Mix until just combined. (3 additions of flour and 2 of buttermilk)
Divide the batter and pour into the greased cake pans and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Spread the batter evenly.
Let the cake cool down for 10 minutes in the pan. Transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
To prepare the pineapple filling
Place all the ingredients into a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until thickened (around 2-3 minutes). Stir in between.
Let it cool completely before using in the cake.
To prepare the whipped cream
Place the bowl and the beaters in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Pour the whipping cream or heavy cream into the chilled bowl and beat until soft peaks on medium speed.
Add the icing sugar and the rum or rum extract and beat on high speed until stiff peaks.
Add the thick coconut milk or the coconut cream and fold.
Assembling the cake
Place one layer of the cake on a cake stand and apply a layer of the whipped cream. Pipe a fence around the outside of the cake using a large round tip. Place half of the pineapple filling inside the fence and spread evenly.
Place another layer of the cake and repeat the process until the top layer. Crumb coat the cake and place in the refrigerator until set.
Apply a thick layer of frosting to cover the outside of the cake and smoothen it with a spatula.
Press the toasted coconut into the sides and also the top (if required).
Top with some sliced and baked pineapples. (optional)
Cut into triangular pieces and serve chilled.
Notes
You can divide the cake into two or three layers (as you wish).
According to the quantity of batter, bake the cake from anywhere around 20 to 30 minutes.
I divided the cake into three layers resulting in thin cake. So I baked it for 20 minutes. If you are not sure, bake for 20 minutes and then check and bake for additional 5 minutes or as required.
To prepare instant buttermilk, add some white vinegar to milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Add the flour and the buttermilk in batches (3 addition of flour and 2 of buttermilk) and mix until just combined.
Do not over mix the cake batter.
While making the pineapple filling, stir in between to make sure it does not stick to the bottom.
Also, make sure that the pineapple is crushed. If the pieces are too big then it would be very difficult to cut the cake into pieces.
Make sure that the bowl and the beaters are chilled before beating.
If the whipping cream or heavy cream does not form stiff peaks, then place the bowl in another bowl of ice cold water and beat it. Or chill for sometime and then beat the cream.
Stiff peaks means that the cream should hold the shape and also should not fall off the bowl or spoon when inverted.
Mix thick coconut milk or coconut cream. Do not beat it, just fold it with the whipped cream.
If you do not want to use rum or rum extract, swap it for vanilla extract.
Crumb coat the cake, that is, apply a thin layer of the whipped cream and chill it before frosting it fully.
You can pipe swirls around the top of the cake too and even top it with some fresh cherries.
I have topped the cake with some baked pineapples. To bake them, slice the pineapples thinly and wipe off excess moisture. Bake in an oven for 30 to 40 minutes.