CHOCOLATE-GLAZED COCONUT-ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake-----------.
• Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
• Butter and flour 9" diameter cake pan with 2" high sides.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar, almond paste and butter in large bowl to blend.
• Add yolks, extract and salt and beat 1 minute.
• On low speed, beat in flour alternately with milk in 3 additions each.
• Mix in coconut.
• Using electric mixer fitted with clean dry beaters, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks.
• Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry.
• Fold whites into batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes.
• Run small sharp knife around sides to loosen cake.
• Turn out cake onto rack; cool completely.
• For Filling-----------.
• Bring cream of coconut and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over low heat.
• Add white chocolate; stir until melted.
• Pour into bowl and cool.
• Add cream cheese and beat until smooth.
• Mix in coconut.
• Chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• For Glaze-----------.
• Bring 3/4 cup whipping cream and corm syrup to a simmer in heavy medium saucepan.
• Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.
• Cool until just pourable, about 15 minutes.
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half.
• Place 1 cake layer cut side up on plate.
• Spread filling over.
• Top with second cake layer cut side down.
• Pour half of glaze over top of cake, spreading with spatula to cover sides and smooth top (reserve remaining glaze for sauce).
• Press almonds around sides and in 1" border around top edge of cake.
• Refridgerate cake until glaze sets, about 1 hour.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cake with cake dome; chill. Chill remaining glaze. Let cake stand 2 hours at room temperature before continuing.) Mix reserved glaze and remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream in saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until sauce is heated through.
• Slice cake; serve with sauce.