Apricot-Nut Spice Cake with Coconut Butter Frosting This aromatic spice cake, filled with dried fruit and walnuts and showered with coconut frosting, is a popular recipe for birthdays and holidays. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 4, 2019 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 30 mins Stand Time: 30 mins Bake Time: 35 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 12 Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients ¼ cup butter 2 eggs 2 cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ cup shortening 1 ½ cup granulated sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 ¼ cup buttermilk or sour milk* 1 cup chopped walnuts ¾ cup snipped dried apricots ½ cup flaked coconut Coconut Butter Frosting (see recipe below) 1 ½ cup purchased coconut chips (optional) Sliced star fruit (carambola), kumquats, fresh bay leaves, and/or candied walnuts or pecans (optional) Coconut Butter Frosting ⅔ cup butter, softened 2 cup powdered sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut milk 5 cup powdered sugar Unsweetened coconut milk Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour two 8x1-1/2-inch round cake pans or two 8x8x2-inch square baking pans; set pans aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger; set aside. In a large bowl, combine butter and shortening; beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Fold in chopped walnuts, apricots, and the 1/2 cup flaked coconut. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Cool thoroughly on wire racks. To assemble, place a cake layer on a pedestal cake plate. Spread 1 cup of Coconut Butter Frosting on top. Top with the remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. If desired, gently press coconut strips on top of the cake. If desired, garnish with sliced star fruit, kumquats, fresh bay leaves, and/or candied walnuts or pecans. Makes 12 servings. Coconut Butter Frosting In a very large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 1 minute or until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the 2 cups powdered sugar and the salt, beating well. Slowly beat in the 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk. Gradually beat in the 5 cups powdered sugar. Beat in enough additional unsweetened coconut milk to reach spreading consistency. * To make 1-1/4 cups sour milk, place 4 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1-1/4 cups total liquid; stir. Let stand for 5 minutes before using. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 733 Calories 29g Fat 118g Carbs 6g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Calories 733 % Daily Value * Total Fat 29g 37% Saturated Fat 13g 65% Cholesterol 74mg 25% Sodium 282mg 12% Total Carbohydrate 118g 43% Protein 6g Vitamin C 0.6mg 3% Calcium 70.7mg 5% Iron 1.8mg 10% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.