Banana Walnut Coconut Cake

I made this cake for my father-in-laws birthday celebration last night.  It turned out sooo good, I had to share.  Excuse the bad photos..I had about 3 seconds to take them.  My FIL announces after we finish dinner..."I have to leave in 20 minutes to get home in time for the game to start!"  Yeah.

Here is the recipe:

Banana Walnut Coconut Cake

For the cake:
1 1/3 c. sugar
1 stick butter, softened
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. shredded coconut

For the syrup:
1c. sugar
1 c. water
(or substitute 2 T. of water with rum)

For the frosting:
1 stick butter, softened
4 c. confectioner's sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. shredded coconut
1 tsp. vanilla
~1/4c. water

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray two 9" cake pans with cooking spray.
2.  In a stand mixer, or bowl with hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar.  Mix in eggs, bananas, milk, and vanilla.
3.  Add in the flour and baking soda.  Mix just until moistened.
4.  Fold in the walnuts and coconut.
5.  Pour batter into prepared pans.  They will bake for about 40 minutes, turn pans halfway through.  They are done when the cake bounces back after being pressed in the center.
6.  To make syrup, add water and sugar to a saucepan.  Heat until boiling.  Remove from heat and cool completely.
7.  To make frosting, cream together butter, vanilla, and confectioner's sugar.  Slowly add in the water.  When it has reached a thick but spreadable consistency, stop.  Fold in the walnuts and coconut.
8.  To assemble.  Place one cake layer on a stand.  Brush generously with syrup using a pastry brush.  Spread 1/2 of the frosting on top.  Place other cake layer on and repeat.

Source:  Modified from AllRecipes