Here’s a complete, classic Coconut Cake recipe—soft, moist, and full of coconut flavor 🥥🎂
Coconut Cake
Serves: 8–10
Time: ~1 hour (plus cooling)
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp coconut extract (optional, but boosts coconut flavor)
- 1 cup coconut milk (or regular milk)
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
For the Frosting (Cream Cheese or Buttercream):
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened or ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
- Optional: ½ cup shredded coconut for topping
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter & sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla and coconut extracts.
- Combine ingredients: Alternately add the dry mixture and coconut milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Fold in shredded coconut.
- Bake: Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 10 minutes in pans, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make frosting: Beat cream cheese or butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and milk/cream until spreadable.
- Assemble cake: Place one cake layer on a plate. Spread frosting on top. Add second layer and frost the top and sides. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the frosting.
Tips & Variations
- Extra moist: Brush layers with a little coconut milk or simple syrup before frosting.
- Toasted coconut topping: Toast shredded coconut in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes for a nutty flavor.
- Layer variation: Use 3 thinner layers for a taller, more impressive cake.
If you want, I can also give a quick one-bowl coconut cake recipe that’s super fast and just as delicious. Do you want me to do that?
