Old-Fashioned Coconut Cake

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and butter (if used).
2. Beat in sugar gradually. Add vanilla, coconut and almond extract.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
4. To shortening/sugar mixture, add flour mixture alternately with milk, ending with flour.
5. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks are formed.
6. Fold egg whites into batter.
7. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
8. Divide batter evenly in pans.
9. Bake in a 350-degree oven 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of pan comes out clean. Do not over-bake.
10. Cool in pans 10 minutes.
11. Remove cake from pans and cool completely on wire racks. Frost. (Recipe follows).