Birthday Buddy Cake (Almond Joy Cake)

It was my birthday last week. What makes it really fun is that I share it with my niece and we always get together to celebrate. My sister's birthday is the following week so we usually wind up sharing a cake. We like to experiment and came up with this creation last year. We were remembering it fondly this weekend. My niece said the cake was dope :)

Here's the recipe:

Cake
White cake mix
1/4 cup coconut
1 tsp coconut extract
2 eggs
1/4 cup mayonaise
1/4 cup oil
1/3 cup water

Add all the cake ingredients. Mix on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool. 

Chocolate Ganache 
8 oz best quality dark chocolate
8 oz heavy whipping cream

Chop chocolate into small pieces. Heat cream for 2 minutes in microwave - do not let it boil.
Put chocolate into cream and let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cool slightly until spreadable. I did not wait long enough and the ganache was messy and drippy. There must be a happy medium between chunky and drippy.

Coconut Buttercream frosting

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

Cream butter until fluffy. Add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Once the sugar has been incorporated add the milk and the vanilla and coconut extracts.

Frost the cake with chocolate ganache. Cool completely. Frost over the ganache with the buttercream. Decorate with toasted almonds and coconut. Sing Happy Birthday and blow out candles. Or not