The Ultimate Coconut Cake Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
The ultimate coconut cake recipe for coconut lovers! Made with coconut cream, coconut milk, coconut whipped cream and topped with coconut flake! This coconut cake recipe has it all!
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Actually, don’t worry about making a cake. It’ll be okay not to have a birthday cake this year.” How in the world would it be possible for me not to have a birthday cake for my husband’s birthday? We’d had a busy, hectic last couple of weeks and our entire family was just, well, ready for a relaxing weekend. But, to sacrifice a birthday cake? Not gonna happen. In my way of thinking, you only are blessed with so many birthdays in your lifetime and each one should be celebrated to the max. I don’t mean huge blow out parties with tons of people, unless that’s your thing. For us though, simple, classic birthdays spent together with a favorite meal, our immediate family are about as perfect as they come. But, they have to be topped off with a cake. Always cake.
Ultimate Coconut Cake Recipe
One of my husband’s favorite cakes has always been the Southern Coconut Cake that I shared eons ago. It’s a classic, delicious cake. However, I thought this simple coconut cake would be perfect to make since we were planning on traveling to the lake later in the day for his birthday celebration. I’ve learned the hard way, traveling with a two or three layer cake for 45 minutes in the heat of the summer does not make for a stress-free day! Ha! Now when traveling, I either make a sheet cake, layer cake, or even cupcakes and leave them unfrosted for traveling. I wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and then store them in the refrigerator. I also go ahead and make my frosting and store it in an airtight container as well. I generally will use deli containers or even zip top bags if I am making cakes or store it in frosting bags that I’ve not snipped the ends of or included a tip. Then, when I reach the destination, I can quickly assemble the cake or cupcakes. I just allow the frosting to reach room temperature (if a buttercream frosting) for easier spreading. It certainly works for me!
As I gathered together ingredients for his cake, the coconut cream caught my eye. I consider it divine intervention! Just like with my coconut cream pie, that stuff took what I’d planned to make and turned it into one more glorious confection! Topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes, this cake is the stuff of my husband’s birthday dreams!
Here’s my oh so easy Coconut Cake Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Ultimate Coconut Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 white cake recipe
- 1/2 cup (142 g) coconut cream
- 1/2 cup (120.5 g) coconut milk
- 1 recipe (1 g) whipped cream
- 1 tablespoon (12.6 g) coconut extract, or coconut rum
- 2 cups (170 g) sweetened flake coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare 9x13x2 or larger sheet pan by brushing with homemade cake release (cake goop) or spraying with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare white cake recipe batter as instructed and pour into prepared pan. Place prepared pan onto a rimmed sheet pan for baking. Place in the preheated oven and bake until the center of the cake springs back to the touch and a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center, about 40 – 50 minutes. You can follow my tips for how to tell when your cake is done.
- Remove from the oven. While still warm from the oven, use the skewer and poke holes all over the cake. Mix together the coconut cream and coconut milk in a small bowl. Pour the coconut cream mixture over the top of the cake, being sure to spread evenly across the entire cake so the cream seeps into the holes made from the skewers. Allow to cool completely.
- Prepare whipped cream recipe, adding coconut flavoring or coconut rum to the whipped cream mixture. Spread evenly on top of cake and sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
My family loves coconut cream, especially in cakes.
I have been looking for the perfect coconut cake. Can’t wait to try this!!
I am one of those coconut lovers—big time. One couldn’t get more coconutty than this recipe. Excellent.
Oh my heavens, this cake is perfection! Looks so fluffy and flavorful!
Cake is a must at all of our birthday’s too — even if it’s something small and simple. I love this cake, the frosting alone, looks sooo soft and pillow like 🙂
This is my kind of cake! So delicious!
Thank you so much for the recipe! Can’t wait till I try it. I make a coconut cake that our town in Texas loves it so much that put it in the electric co. cookbook. I make it with sour cream.
Robyn, if using your “white cake recipe” why is this coconut cake yellow? Have I missed something in your recipe?
I really want to make this for my son’s 60th birthday this week.
Thanks.
mary
Hi Mary,
You’ve not missed anything. 🙂 I use farm fresh eggs from our hens and the yolks are always a whole lot more yellow than those from the grocery store. I’ve found that the fresher they are from our hens, the more yellow they are, too. Anyway, the eggs I used in my white cake (since I include yolks for flavor in my white cake) were collected the morning I made the cake. If you use eggs from the grocery store or even older farm eggs, you shouldn’t have as much color in your white cake as mine does! Hope that helps!
its definately yellow cake mix. I love yellow way better than white any old day. I love Almond flavoring so I add a little to all my cakes. Makes them even more yummy
Hi Robin……I’m not familiar with COCONUT CREAM,could you explain…thanks
Hi Audrey,
Coconut cream is made of coconut milk, but is more concentrated with less liquid. You can generally find it either in a can or squeeze bottle at most grocery stores. I used coconut cream, which is unsweetened, but you can also use cream of coconut, which is sweetened and is what is used to make pina coladas and can be found in the beverage section at a lot of grocery stores. Whew! Did that confuse you even more? I hope not!!! 🙂
I couldn’t find coconut cream at my grocery store, so I’m planning on improvising (not sure with what yet). But I am making this today!
Yum! I want this now! Too bad we don’t have an oven at work and the fact that it’s only 7:20 am. Thanks for sharing this I’m related to a bunch of coconut fiends who will love it!!!