Coconut Cake
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This Coconut Cake is one of the best cakes you’ll ever make! It’s light and fluffy, it’s brimming with sweet coconut flavor and it’s finished with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting. This has been a reader favorite recipe for years and it’s one of my family’s favorites!
The Best Coconut Cake Recipe!
I shared this coconut cake four years ago, but I figured it was due time that I re-share it in case some of you may have missed out. It’s a recipe book dessert staple!
Coconut Cake Video
This is what I’m planning on making for Christmas dessert and I can’t wait! Some people look forward to gifts, I look forward to cake.
This cake is elegant and sophisticated, yet very traditional and simplistic, and it’s perfect for the holidays since it’s not only incredibly delicious but it’s so white and snowy-looking with the coconut flakes.
I love that it’s like the cake you remember your grandma serving at family parties growing up. Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned recipe like this? The classics are often the best, with one taste taking you back in time.
Finally, A Soft and Moist Coconut Dessert
This will probably be one of the softest cakes you’ll ever make and you’ll also love that it is incredibly moist (because we all hate a dry cake texture, right?). And it is layered with sweet, natural coconut flavor with every bite, which is complimented perfectly by the light tang of the cream cheese in the frosting.
Good luck saying your only going to have a thin slice. Not gonna happen with this cake. Try it and you’ll see what I mean!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa too! I hope you have the best holiday week!
Ingredients for Homemade Coconut Cake
- Cake flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Granulated sugar and powdered sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Vegetable oil
- Canned coconut milk (don’t use light)
- Whole large eggs and egg whites
- Coconut extract and vanilla extract
- Cream of tartar
- Cream Cheese
- Shredded sweetened coconut
How to Make Coconut Cake
- Preheat oven and prepare cake pans with cooking spray or coconut oil.
- Sift cake flour into a large bowl then whisk with baking powder and salt.
- In an electric stand mixer, cream the sugar, butter, and canola oil.
- Mix in egg yolks and extracts.
- Blend in flour mixture in 3 additions alternating with additions of coconut milk.
- Separately whip egg whites with cream of tartar to stiff peaks.
- Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into cake batter at a time.
- Pour batter into 8-inch or 9-inch cake pans and spread evenly.
- Bake until set, let cool completely, then frost and finish with shredded coconut. I like to display this cake on a lovely stand or serving plate.
Can I Freeze Coconut Cake?
You can freeze the cake layers without the frosting. To do so, wrap in foil then store in an airtight container. Let thaw a bit and then frost—partially frozen cake will prevent crumbs from getting into the frosting.
Can I Use a White Cake Mix for Coconut Cake?
This recipe is for a delicious coconut cake from scratch, and I think it’s way better than cake mix. But if you have white cake mix on hand, you can try using that mix but choosing coconut milk and coconut extract in the batter.
More Coconut Recipes You’ll Love!
- Salted Caramel Coconut Thumbprint Cookies
- German Chocolate Cake
- Coconut French Toast
- Baked Coconut Donuts
- Coconut Cream Pie
- Coconut Macaroons
Follow Cooking Classy
Coconut Cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups (360g) cake flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar*
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1 1/3 cups unsweetened canned coconut milk, well shaken, at room temperature*
- 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1 tsp coconut extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
- 12 oz cream cheese, nearly at room temperature
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tsp coconut extract
- 5 cups (590g) powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
Instructions
- For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 9-inch round cake pans and line bottom of each with a round of parchment paper, butter parchment paper and set pans aside.
- Sift cake flour into a large mixing bowl, then add baking powder and salt and whisk mixture. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together granulated sugar, butter and canola oil on medium speed until well combined. Scrape down bowl.
- Add in egg yolks one at a time and mix until combined after each addition, then mix in coconut and vanilla extracts. Scrape down bowl.
- Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, blend just until combined. Add half of the coconut milk, mix just until combined. Mix in another 1/3 of the flour mixture followed by remaining coconut milk. Finish by mixing in last 1/3 of the flour mixture.
- In a separate mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip 6 egg whites with cream of tartar on medium-high speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form.
- Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold 1/3 of the egg whites into cake batter at a time and fold just combined after each addition (don't over-mix and deflate egg whites).
- Divide batter among prepared cake pans. Spread batter into an even layer and bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 19 - 22 minutes.
- Allow to cool in cake pan 5 - 10 minutes then run a knife along edges of cakes and invert each onto a wire rack to cool. Cool completely the cut tops to even as needed.
- Frost top of one layer, add another layer and frost then top with last layer and frost top and sides. Place cake stand over a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle cake evenly with shredded coconut (pressing gently on sides to adhere.
- I just did it over a rimmed baking sheet for easier clean up - not a must). Store in an airtight container in refrigerator (let rest at room temp until no longer cold before serving).
- For the Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter with cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Mix in coconut extract. Add powdered sugar and whip on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.
- Chill as needed if frosting seems runny (slightly runny is fine, once you get it frosted the coconut will help it stay in place).
Notes
- If you like the cake a little less sweet you can use 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar. Then you can even use 2/3 the frosting amount which I've done but you'll only have a thin layer of frosting.