Samoa Layer Cake

INGREDIENTS

Cake:

2 3/4 cups

cake flour

2 1/2 tsp

baking powder

2 sticks

salted butter, slightly softened

1 3/4 cups

granulated sugar

large eggs at room temperature (I often place them in a bowl of warm tap water if I forget to get them out)

1 tbsp

vanilla

1 1/2 cups

whole milk

Filling:

3 cups

toasted coconut, divided

bags caramel bits (or 2 bags wrapped caramels, 11 oz each)

1/2 cup

heavy cream

Frosting:

1 stick

salted butter, slightly softened

1 tsp

vanilla

1 1/2 cups

powdered sugar

1/4 cup

dark cocoa powder (I used Hershey Special Dark)

3 tbsp

warm water