1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup white sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup white sugar for garnish
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup pecans
1/2 cup white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 - 10 inch pans. Sift together the flour, cocoa, and 1 cup of sugar. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, all-purpose flour, and cocoa. Beat in the next 2 and a half cups sugar and egg whites. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool 10 minutes in the pan before removing from the oven for the last 5 minutes. Cool completely before frosting with the remaining 1 1/2 cup sugar.