Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published December 23, 2018. Updated July 19, 2019

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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 my families favorites!

Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (1)

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.

I love that it’s like the cake you remember your grandma serving at family parties growing up. Who doesn’t love agood old fashioned recipe like this? The classics are often the best.

Finally, A Soft and Moist Coconut Cake

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 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!

Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (2)

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 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.
  • Sift cake flour into a bowl then whisk with baking powder and salt.
  • In an electric stand mixer cream sugar, butter and canola oil.
  • Mix in egg yolks and extracts.
  • Blend in flour mixture in 3 additions alternating with additions of coconut milk.
  • Seperately whip egg whites with cream of tartar to stif peaks.
  • Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into cake batter at a time.
  • Pour batter into cake pans and spread even.
  • Bake until set, let cool completely then frost and finish with shredded coconut.

Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (3)

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 then frost!

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

Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (4)

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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. It's been a reader favorite recipe for years and it's one of my my families favorites!

Watch the video

Servings: 16 Servings

Prep40 minutes minutes

Cook20 minutes minutes

Cooling2 hours hours

Ready in: 3 hours hours

Ingredients

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

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.

Nutrition Facts

Coconut Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 681Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Fat 36g55%

Saturated Fat 24g150%

Cholesterol 89mg30%

Sodium 190mg8%

Potassium 237mg7%

Carbohydrates 85g28%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 66g73%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 845IU17%

Vitamin C 0.7mg1%

Calcium 69mg7%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: birthday cake, coconut cake

Author: Jaclyn

Best Ever Coconut Cake Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What is the Tom Cruise coconut cake? ›

Karen Doan first created the cake when she opened Doan's Bakery in 1984. The family-owned and -operated bakery describes the Cruise Cake as a coconut bundt cake with chunks of white chocolate, covered in a layer of cream cheese frosting and a mountain of shredded coconut.

What is a secret ingredient for cakes? ›

When it comes to creating moist and delicious cakes, sometimes the secret ingredient is something unexpected. In this case, it's applesauce. Not only does applesauce add moisture to your cake, but it also serves as a healthier alternative to high-fat ingredients.

How to make coconut cake in Dreamlight Valley? ›

To cook the Coconut Cake recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
  1. 1 Coconut.
  2. 1 Wheat.
  3. 1 Egg.
  4. 1 Sugarcane. Once you've gathered the required ingredients, head to a cooking station and place the above items into the pot - you'll need one piece of coal to start the cooking process.

Why is my coconut cake dense? ›

Your cake is too dense A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

What adds richness to cakes? ›

The milk adds fat, which results in a better flavor and density in your cake. If you want to make your cake extra rich, swap out the milk for buttermilk. Because buttermilk is extra thick, use a few more tablespoons than the recipe calls for.

Which 2 ingredients help the cake to rise? ›

These are the key ingredients that make a cake rise. There are two types of leavening agents, chemical (baking soda and baking powder) and biological (yeast).

What is the secret to baking a moist cake? ›

10 WAYS TO MAKE CAKE MOIST
  1. USE THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND BAKING TIME. Consider lowering your oven temperature slightly when baking a cake. ...
  2. USE VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK INSTEAD OF MILK. ...
  4. ADD INSTANT PUDDING MIX. ...
  5. ADD MAYONNAISE. ...
  6. USE SIMPLE SYRUP OR GLAZE. ...
  7. USE CAKE FLOUR. ...
  8. DON'T OVERMIX.

How to make sweet udon ddv? ›

To make Sweet Udon, gathering four ingredients is vital in Disney Dreamlight Valley. The required materials are; Dreamlight Fruit, Rice, Any Seafood, and Any Sweet. The first two are obvious while the last two ingredients are a bit vague, which is why players need to pick a specific one.

How do you make coconut in Dreamlight Valley? ›

To find Worms in Dreamlight Valley, dig around in the large mounds of dirt found in the Peaceful Meadow! Once these steps have been completed and "Burying The Eel" is finished, Coconut Trees will start appearing on Dazzle Beach. Players will now be able to get Coconuts in Dreamlight Valley as much as they want.

What is the best coconut for baking? ›

Dried Coconut: Desiccated, Shaved, Flaked and Shredded

This is the best option for baking into slices, cakes and biscuits.

Are cakes better with oil or butter? ›

Despite some widespread beliefs, oil cakes are not inferior to butter cakes. Here's why. The texture of cakes made with oil is—in general—superior to the texture of cakes made with butter. Oil cakes tend to bake up loftier with a more even crumb and stay moist and tender far longer than cakes made with butter.

Why is my coconut cake dry? ›

If you have too much flour in a recipe and not enough fat, like butter or oil, your cake is going to be dry and hard. For best results, I would encourage you to use a scale when baking, but if you don't have a scale, then just make sure you're using measuring cups correctly.

How much is a coconut cake at Doan's? ›

He succeeded actually snagging two and while we can't all get on Tom Cruise's cake list, you can buy it from Doan's Bakery for $50 or for $125 from Goldbelly, a delivery service for popular American foods. Apparently this "Cruise coconut cake" helps keep the small bakery in business.

How much does Tom Cruise coconut cake cost? ›

Tom Cruise gifts $125 holiday coconut cake to Glen Powell: Photo.

Why are they called Johnny cakes? ›

The settlers took it all over the islands of the Caribbean, and after several linguistic and cultural modifications, it became also just as well-known under the name of Johnny cake. Historians also believe that “janiken”, a Native American word meaning “corn bread” could also be at the root of this cake.

What is the meaning of coconut oil cake? ›

Coconut-oil cake, a residue resulting from the extraction of coconut oil from copra, is used mostly for livestock feed. Oilseeds from which oil cake used as feed is produced include soybeans, peanuts, flaxseed (linseed), rapeseed, cottonseed, coconuts (copra), oil palm, and sunflower seeds.

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