| | CAKE LAYERS |
| 4 | oz | Unsweetened chocolate; chopped |
| 1/2 | c | Water |
| 3 | c | Cake flour; (not self-rising) |
| 1 | ts | Baking soda |
| 1 | ts | Salt |
| 2 | | Sticks unsalted butter; softened |
| 1 | c | Light brown sugar; firmly packed |
| 1 | c | Granulated sugar |
| 3 | lg | Eggs |
| 1 1/2 | ts | Vanilla |
| 1 | c | Buttermilk |
| | FILLING |
| 1 | c | Heavy cream |
| 1 | c | Granulated sugar |
| 1/2 | c | Unsalted butter |
| 3 | lg | Egg yolks; beaten lightly |
| 1 | ts | Vanilla |
| 1 | c | Pecans chopped fine and; toasted lightly |
| 1 1/3 | c | Sweetened flaked coconut; toasted lightly |
| | FROSTING |
| 5 | tb | Unsalted butter; softened |
| 3 | tb | Heavy cream |
| 1 | ts | Vanilla |
| 2 | oz | Unsweetened chocolate; melted & cooled |
| 2 | c | Confectioners' sugar |
