Somoa Cake

Oh my, is this cake delicious.   It takes a lot of time, but well worth the effort.   Next time you are looking for a dessert to impress, give this a try.   If you don't want to take the time to make your own caramel sauce, buy some 'dulce de leche.  You will see a several repeats of ingredients, because you are making two different flavors of cake.  Now if you want to make it even easier, buy two different flavors, but only use half of each.

SOMOA CAKE
(serves 16)

Ingredients:
*1/2 cup butter, softened
*1 cup brown sugar
*2 large eggs
*1/2 cup whole milk
*1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*3/4 cup all-purpose flour
*3/4 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon baking soda
*1/4 teaspoon salt

*1/4 cup vegetable oil
*1 cup granulated sugar

*1 large egg

*1/2 cup whole milk

*1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

*1 cup all purpose flour
*3/4 cup cocoa powder
*3/4 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon baking soda
*1/2 cup boiling water

*1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk
*1/2 cup powdered sugar
*2 Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
*1 cup butter, softened
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/2 cup cocoanut
*1 1/2 cups cocoanut

*3/4 cup milk chocolate chips, melted

Instructions:
~Grease & flour a 9x13 inch baking dish.
~Submerge the entire unopened can of sweetened condensed milk into a crockpot filled with water (about 3 inches above the can)
~Turn crock pot on low and cook on low for 10-11 hours or on high for 7-8 hours.
~Remove from crockpot and allow to cool completely.
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~In a large bowl beat, 1/2 cup butter & brown sugar on high until fluffy.
~Add in 2 eggs, one at a time.
~Mix in 1/2 cup milk & 1 teaspoon vanilla.
~Add 3/4 cup flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda & 1/4 teaspoon salt.
~Mix until well combined.
~In another large bowl, beat 1/4 cup vegetable oil & granulated sugar, on high until fluffy.
~Add in 1 egg.
~Mix in 1/2 cup milk & 1 teaspoon vanilla.
~Add 1 cup flour, cocoa powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder & 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
~Mix until well combined.
~Add boiling water, mix well.
~Pour brown sugar batter in prepared pan.
~Pour chocolate batter over brown sugar batter.
~Take a table knife and run it through the cake batters 3 or 4 times (this will marbleize it).
~Bake about 50-60 minutes, or until skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake.
~Cool cake completely.
~Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
~Spread cocoanut over a large cookie sheet.
~Bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes (careful not to let it burn).
~Remove from oven and let cool.
~In a large mixing bowl, caramel (cooled sweetened condensed milk), 1 cup butter, powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons vanilla & 1/2 teaspoon salt for 3-4 minutes.
~Mix in 1 cup toasted cocoanut.
~Chill for 1 hour.
~Frost cake with frosting, and sprinkle remaining toasted cocoanut over frosting.
~Melt chocolate chips in a microwave.
~Place melted chocolate chips into a pastry bag with a small tip (#2 or 3).  You could also use a plastic bag, with a small slit in the corner.
~Drizzle chocolate over cocoanut.