Luck of the Irish Coconut Cream Torte

National Coconut Torte Day occurs each year on March 13th. First we must determine what is a cake and what is a torte. All tortes are cakes but not all cakes are tortes. The sponge for cakes typically contain flour, sugar, eggs, butter and flavorings. Tortes tend to be flourless and use other ingredients such as ground nuts or breadcrumbs.

Tortes use heavier ingredients rather than flour so they tend to be denser and heavier with a tighter crumb. A cake is a bit fluffier with a loose crumb. Tortes are also typically as tall as a cake with an equal number of layers. Each layer is flatter and smaller in a torte with a much tighter crumb than a fluffy, light crumbed cake. A cake can be one layer but tortes are normally two or three layers. Frostings are different as well between a cake and a torte. These are just a few of the differences that are apparent between a cake and a torte.

National Coconut Torte Day | Luck O’ The Irish Coconut Cream Torte
Author: The Foodie Patootie
Serves: 8-10

1 box super moist white cake mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1 container fluffy white frosting
Green food coloring, normal green and neon green
1 (3.4 ounce) packet instant pudding in coconut cream flavor
Sweetened shredded coconut flakes
Toffee pieces

Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease or spray two 9-inch round cake pans.
Cook cake mix according to package directions, with water, canola oil and eggs.
Once cakes have cooled, cut each in half horizontally using a serrated knife, to form 4 round cakes.
In a medium bowl, prepare instant pudding according to package directions. Add desired drops of neon green food coloring and set aside. In a separate medium bowl, empty frosting and add desired drops of normal green food coloring.
To assemble, cover the top of one cake layer with pudding and the second cake layer. On top of the second cake layer, spread a layer of green frosting, followed by a third cake layer. Spread more pudding on top of the third layer, followed by the fourth and final cake layer. Ice the cake like normal. Top with shredded coconut flakes and a sprinkling of toffee pieces.