Hello- I am planning to make the coconut cake (pg 23 of RHC) for my husband’s birthday this weekend. I cannot find real coconut extract in any store in my local area. What I found was imitation coconut extract, which I did not buy, and “coconut (type) flavoring”- w/ all natural flavors- which I did buy. I restrained myself from opening up the little bottle and smelling it to see if it even resembled coconut! My first question is, should I use the “coconut flavoring” at all, or just skip that ingredient? And if I do use it, should I measure it the same as if it were extract? It is used in both the cake and the silk meringue buttercream. I also could not find frozen coconut. Mu second question is…can I substitute packaged sweetened flaked coconut? Thanks in advance for the help.

Not looking at my book, but I seem to remember that the coconut extract is the only coconut flavor in the cake.  If it is actually coconut flavoring I would probably use it.  (perhaps some else actually has experience).  Re: the packaged sweetened coconut - I think it will make the buttercream sweeter.  I am not sure how to adjust for this in the Silk Meringue Buttercream.

If you found the frontier coconut “flavor” that is actually what Rose uses.  I asked her on the main blog a while back, so I would go with the natural flavor even though it isn’t labeled extract. Do you have any Indian markets in your area?  They often carry frozen coconut. If you don’t mind the extra sweetness, as crenee says, you could use the sweetened flaked.

Thank you CRenee and Matthew. CR- I don’t mind the extra sweetness in the buttercream as I find Rose’s recipes on the less sweet side anyway, so I’ll probably go w/ the flaked coconut. M- the brand of flavoring is Green Mountain. It was all I could find. There are no Indian grocers in my area, so flaked coconut it is.

I was surprised to find frozen coconut at my Shopper’s Food Warehouse… ‘course that is in Maryland.

I don’t know if you have Vitamin Cottage or Whole Foods where you are but they should carry th Frontier brand coconut extract. I use that one when I make the Coconut cake from RHC.

I don’t have any of the above mentioned grocers in my area, but thanks for trying. My daughter has a Whole Foods where she lives. Next time I’ll plan in advance and have her send me some. I’m sure the cake will be delicious anyway, even with the adjustments I have to make. It’s from RHC. How could it not be.