Birthday Cake

I made a new cake for Josh's birthday yesterday. It took longer than it should have because of my poor planning when I started, but it was worth it!



Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake

INGREDIENTS

* 1/2 cup shortening
* 1 3/4 cups white sugar
* 1 egg yolk
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 4 eggs
* 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup cold water
* 1/2 cup sour cream
*
* COCONUT MACAROON FILLING:
* 1 egg white
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1 cup flaked coconut
* 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*
* VANILLA GLAZE:
* 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
* 1 tablespoon butter, softened
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 tablespoons milk, or as needed


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, blend together the shortening, 1 3/4 cups white sugar, egg yolk and vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time using an electric mixer. Combine 2 cups flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the egg mixture alternately with the sour cream and water. Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan.
3. In a separate bowl with clean beaters, whip the egg white until soft peaks form. Gradually sprinkle in 1/4 cup white sugar while continuing to whip to firm peaks. Fold in the coconut, 1 tablespoon of flour and 1 teaspoon of vanilla by hand using a spatula or wooden spoon. Drop this mixture by teaspoonfuls over the chocolate batter in the pan. Be careful not to let the filling touch the sides of the pan.
4. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a wire rack to allow the cake to cool completely. Remove cake from pan, and drizzle with vanilla glaze.
5. To make vanilla glaze, mix together the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and milk in a small bowl, gradually adding milk until the mixture is thick but pourable. Drizzle over cooled cake. (optional: you can use 2T cocoa powder to make this glaze chocolate instead)


***edited to add: I just found out allrecipes.com is using my picture as the picture people see when they click on this recipe! Since there was a picture in place, this is quite an honor!!! I guess I must really be doing something right in my photography :)