Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup grated lime peel (from about 12 limes)
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
  • 5 cups sifted cake flour (sifted, then measured)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
  • Bamboo skewers
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 7-ounce package sweetened flaked coconut (about 3 cups)

Method

  • Whisk eggs, yolks, sugar, lime juice, lime peel, ginger, and salt in large metal bowl to blend.
  • Place bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch simmering water); whisk constantly until curd thickens, about 8 minutes.
  • Remove bowl from over simmering water; whisk butter into curd.
  • Strain through fine strainer set over bowl; discard solids in strainer.
  • Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of curd; chill overnight.
  • (Curd can be made up to 2 days ahead.
  • Keep refrigerated.)
  • Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat oven to 350F.
  • Butter four 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides.
  • Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper rounds.
  • Butter parchment; dust with flour.
  • Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into large bowl.
  • Using electric mixer, beat butter in another large bowl until smooth.
  • Gradually add sugar and beat until very well blended, about 5 minutes.
  • Beat in eggs 1 at a time, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition.
  • Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions.
  • Divide batter equally among prepared cake pans.
  • Place 2 cake pans on top rack of oven and 2 pans on bottom rack; bake until golden and tester inserted into cake centers comes out clean, reversing pans after 15 minutes, about 30 minutes total.
  • Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes.
  • Turn cakes out onto racks; peel off parchment paper.
  • Turn cakes right side up on racks; cool cakes completely.
  • Place 1 cake layer on platter.
  • Spread 1/3 of ginger-lime curd (about 1/2 cup) over, leaving 1/2-inch plain border around edge of cake.
  • Repeat procedure on 2 more cake layers.
  • Let each cake layer stand 10 minutes.
  • Stack cake layers, curd side up.
  • Top with fourth cake layer.
  • Let cake stand at room temperature while preparing frosting.
  • Insert 3 or 4 bamboo skewers from top to bottom into cake to hold stacked cake layers in place while frosting.
  • Whisk sugar, egg whites, 1/3 cup water, light corn syrup, and cream of tartar in large metal bowl to blend.
  • Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch simmering water).
  • Using handheld electric mixer, beat on medium speed until mixture resembles soft marshmallow fluff, about 4 minutes.
  • Increase mixer speed to high and beat until mixture is very thick, about 3 minutes longer.
  • Remove bowl from over simmering water.
  • Add vanilla extract and continue beating until marshmallow frosting is completely cool, about 5 minutes longer.
  • Spread marshmallow frosting thinly over top and sides of cake.
  • Remove bamboo skewers.
  • Press flaked coconut into marshmallow frosting on top and sides of cake.
  • (Cake can be prepared 1 day ahead.
  • Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.
  • Let stand at room temperature 2 hours before serving.)