Perfect Party Cake

Ingredients

• For the Cake
• 2 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk or 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• For the Buttercream
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• For Assembly
• 2/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves, warmed gently until spreadable
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut