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Birthdays are a big deal in my house. They always have been. From the time I was a little girl, I started planning my birthday before Christmas (my birthday is in January).
Now, I’ve somewhat transferred that to planning my son’s birthday and my husband, bless his heart, falls somewhere in there, too.
And this year, I wasn’t big on planning for my husband’s day. I’m not sure why I wasn’t. I just didn’t do much at all. As a matter of fact, you could say I didn’t do enough at all.
And you’d be right.
You could even say I was a pitiful wife for not doing more for him.
And you’d be right again.
So I decided to pull out all the stops and surprise him with a gorgeous birthday cake. He has three favorite cakes — strawberry, caramel, and coconut.
I decided on coconut for this year. It just sounded like a good surprise cake.
Here’s how I made it.
I started with my favorite Butter Cake recipe and then dolled it up with an over the top delicious Southern Coconut Frosting.
Can you say to die for?
Oh my word!!!
Southern Coconut Cake
Ingredients
Butter Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Southern Coconut Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 tablespoon coconut extract or coconut rum
- 1 (14-ounce) bag unsweetened coconut flake
Instructions
Butter Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare 3 9-inch cake pans with shortening and flour.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with a whisk in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Cream butter until fluffy and then add sugar. Cream together for about 8 more minutes.
- Add eggs, 1 at a time, and cream together after each.
- Add flour mixture and buttermilk, alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Combine each addition of flour and then turn mixer on high to add air into the batter.
- Add vanilla and beat well. Turn mixer on high once vanilla has been incorporated for about 10 seconds to lighten batter.
- Divide among pans and bake for 25-30 minutes until set. You can follow my tips for how to tell when your cake is done.
- Turn out of pans onto cooling racks and allow to cool completely.
Southern Coconut Frosting
- Whip butter until it reaches light and fluffy stage.
- Slowly add sugar, beating well after each addition.
- When all sugar has been incorporated, the butter and sugar will look like crumbles.
- With mixer set on low speed, add in milk.
- Then, beat on high speed for few minutes.
- Add vanilla and coconut flavorings and beat on high speed until the frosting reaches a spreading consistency.
- If it is too dry, add milk a few drops at a time.
- If it is too wet, add powdered sugar a few sprinkles at a time until it reaches the correct consistency.
- Frost cake and then sprinkle with coconut flakes.
Nutritional Information
I’m hoping he didn’t notice all of the other stuff I didn’t do for his birthday.
And… I sure hope he remembers mine!
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Yummy! First time trying and everyone loved it. The recipe makes more frosting than necessary. Also, I wasn’t sure if the recipe was instructing me to mix some flakes with the frosting or not. So, I only added flakes to the frosting when covering the sides, and then I covered the whole cake with organic flakes, including the sides.
Making another tomorrow.
I’m happy you loved the cake, Lisa. I don’t add coconut to the frosting; I just sprinkle on the top and press into sides of cake.
I made this cake and took it to the office Friday for cake day. It was devoured, I was receiving compliments all day. My only variation was I toasted a handful of the coconut and put it on top for a little contrast.
The icing recipe will be my new go to, its so creamy and delicious. The icing is easy to work with and just make the whole bake a pleasure.
I love this cake!
Sorry I can’t include a picture, It saved in my favorite photos on my phone though.
That’s great. So glad everyone loved the cake. I love how easy and delicious this frosting recipe is, too.