Coconut Cake

What would Spring be without a coconut cake?! With Easter quickly approaching, I wanted to share this indulgent coconut cake that I made for my Mother-in-Law's birthday. Much like myself, my MIL loves the sweets - call us kindred spirits! So, I held no punches when it came to this coconut cake. It is rich, it is coconut-y, it is heavenly. A thin slice, goes a long way with this beauty!

This recipe makes one 6 inch, 4 layer cake. I topped mine with sweetened coconut flakes and fresh raspberries, but wouldn't it be so beautiful topped with some pastel candy eggs for Easter!

 

COCONUT CAKE:

1 ½ cups cake flour - Cake flour is just a finer, more delicate flour. All-purpose can be substituted.
½ tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure coconut extract
2 large eggs
¾ cups coconut milk - Be sure to stir well before measuring.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 6-inch cake pans and set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and continue mixing until light and fluffy (around 2-3 minutes). With the mixer on low, add in the eggs and extract one at a time. With the mixer still on low, add in about half of the dry ingredients. Once incorporated, slowly add in the coconut milk. Add in the remaining dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Evenly divide the batter into the the prepared pans. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before removing the cakes from their pans. Once removed, if not using right away, wrap in plastic wrap and let chill in fridge for 1 hour or overnight.

 

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup coconut milk
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure coconut extract
Pink gel food coloring

Beat butter and coconut milk with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in coconut extract until combined. Beat in gel food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired color is reached.

 

ASSEMBLY:

Once cakes have completely cooled or chilled, use a knife to split each layer in two creating four layers. Set first cake layer in the center of your cake plate. Spread about ½ - 1 cup of buttercream onto that layer. Continue with the remaining layers. Once top layer is placed start icing the entire cake. Spread coconut flakes on the top of the cake, top with raspberries. Chill in the fridge and then remove and let come to room temperature 30 minutes to one hour before serving.

 


Print Recipe
Coconut Cake
A wedding style coconut cake topped with a decadent coconut buttercream. Perfect for Spring or Easter!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
1 6 inch, 4 layer cake
Ingredients
Coconut Cake
  • 1 ½ cups cake flour *
  • ½ tablespoon Baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 2 large Eggs
  • ¾ cup coconut milk stir before measuring
Coconut Buttercream
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 5 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • pink food coloring
  • sweetened coconut flakes to top
  • fresh raspberries to top
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
1 6 inch, 4 layer cake
Ingredients
Coconut Cake
  • 1 ½ cups cake flour *
  • ½ tablespoon Baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 2 large Eggs
  • ¾ cup coconut milk stir before measuring
Coconut Buttercream
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 5 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • pink food coloring
  • sweetened coconut flakes to top
  • fresh raspberries to top
Instructions
Coconut Cake
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 6-inch cake pans and set aside.
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and continue mixing until light and fluffy (around 2-3 minutes).
  4. With the mixer on low, add in the eggs and extract one at a time.
  5. With the mixer still on low, add in about half of the dry ingredients. Once incorporated, slowly add in the coconut milk.
  6. Add in the remaining dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
  7. Evenly divide the batter into the the prepared pans. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
  8. Cool completely on a wire rack before removing the cakes from their pans. Once removed, if not using right away, wrap in plastic wrap and let chill in fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
Coconut Buttercream
  1. Beat butter and coconut milk with an electric mixture on medium speed until smooth - about 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in the sugar a little at a time. Beat in coconut extract until combined. Beat in gel food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired color is reached.
Assembly
  1. Once cakes have completely cooled or chilled, use a knife to split each layer in two creating four layers.
  2. Set first cake layer in the center of your cake plate. Spread about ½ - 1 cup of buttercream onto that layer. Continue with the remaining layers.
  3. Once top layer is placed start icing the entire cake. Spread coconut flakes on the top of the cake, top with raspberries.
  4. Chill in the fridge and then remove and let come to room temperature 30 minutes to one hour before serving.
Recipe Notes

*Cake flour is just a finer, more delicate flour. All-purpose can be used as well.

Share this Recipe

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 Comments

  1. 3.20.18
    Tammy said:

    Do you sell these cakes or others

    • 3.20.18
      Lauren said:

      Hi Tammy! I do not.. I should probably consider it though after many have asked that same question! 🙂

Welcome!

I'm Lauren, creator here at by Lauren Cermak! My husband Michael and I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. I'm into classic style, British baking shows, TBR piles, and pretty finds. My motto is dress like Kate, work like Reese, and entertain like Martha. If you get that, consider us quick friends!

Follow on Pinterest

  • Kitchens of Instagram on Instagram: “EVERYTHING about this kitchen is 🔥🔥🔥 from the large pendant lighting to the dark wood island! Love it! 🖤 Via: @audreycrispinteriors…”
  • We have these pendants all over our studio because we love them so much! Their metal shade and the warm glow they exude is perfect for any setting.
  • A round up post of the best kitchens by Studio McGee! Blogger, and interior designer who knows how to renovate inspiring kitchens!
  • We were immediately attracted to the Limoges Pendant for its bold simplicity. Its strong conical shade is held by a large circular clasp that bring balance and subtle interplay with shaping into its design.
  • We’re delighted to share with you a new series in the Armac Martin journal. We'll be showcasing 'Kitchens We Love’ and in the first, we're featuring the beautiful McGee family kitchen by interior designers Studio McGee.
  • 11 Best Kitchens by Studio McGee - Nikki's Plate Blog

Recent Posts

Lifestyle

Season

meal