Instructions: Lemon filling - whisk sugar, eggs, and egg yolks in a small heavy saucepan until well blended. Stir in lemon peel and juice and butter. Cook, stirring often, over low to med-low heat about 10 mins. As the mixture thickens, stir constantly, 8 to 10 mins. longer until it thickly coats the back of a metal spoon (dont boil or mixture may curdle). Pour through a strainer set over a bowl; cover surface of filling and refrigerate at least 4 hrs. Filling will thicken more as it cools.

Adjust oven racks to divide oven in thirds. Heat oven to 350 . Lightly grease three 8" layer cake pans. Line bottoms with waxed paper and lightly grease paper. Dust pans with flour; shake out any excess.

Cake - in a food processor or blender, process lemon peel and sugar several mins. until peel is finely ground. Transfer to a lg. bowl, add butter, baking powder, salt, and vanilla and beat with electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture alternately with lemon juice, mixing well after each addition. Pour into prepared pans.

Stagger pans on oven racks and bake, switching position of pans once to ensure even layers, about 40 mins., until tops of cakes spring back when gently pressed and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cook in pans or wire rack 20 mins. Invert cakes on rack, remove waxed paper and let cakes cool completely.

Frosting - in a food processor or blender, process lemon peel and sugar several mins. until peel is finely ground. Beat cream cheese, lemon juice, and sugar mixture in a med. bowl with electric mixer until smooth (all this may be done in the food processor). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hr. or until firm but spreadable.

Assembly - place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Spread half the lemon filling (3/4 cup) on top. Top with another cake layer and remaining filling. Top with remaining cake layer. Coat sides and top of cake with the frosting. Gently press toasted coconut into frosting on all sides of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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