Coconut Cream Cake is layer upon layer of coconut flavor in every bite! Coconut infused cake, coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with toasted coconut. Truly a coconut lover’s dream!
Coconut Cream Cake
Coconut Cream Cake is probably one of the best cakes I have ever had. The coconut cream cake itself is so rich and moist and the frosting is just to die for. This is one of our sister Elise’s amazing baking recipes. Elise is definitely the expert when it comes to cakes.
This is a recipe you will want to keep on hand for special occasions, it is perfect for showers, birthdays, weddings, and having company over. We have even made it for Easter and dressed it up like a bunny. It’s a fun treat to serve at Hawaiian themed parties, too!
Tips for Making Coconut Cream Cake
- This is one of our more advanced recipes on our site but well worth the work! We have made this countless times and it will turn out great as long as you carefully follow the instructions and don’t skip steps.
- This cake requires freezing OVERNIGHT so be sure to make it a DAY AHEAD of when you plan to serve it! This is a very moist cake and the freezing of the cake makes it so it will not crumble when it is frosted then next day. This step is very important if you want to keep your cake looking pretty.
- I have had a few comments with people saying they had issues with sticking, so make sure to grease and flour! I always grease my pan, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper (so it doesn’t slip) cut a round piece of parchment paper for the bottom and a long strip for the side of the pan. Then grease again over the parchment paper and lightly flour.
- Some people have had issues with the cake overflowing in 2 pans, I’m not sure if this is an elevation issue or an over-beating issue with the batter, but if the batter seems to be filling your pans more than 3/4 full, consider using a 3rd pan or reserving some of the batter for some cupcakes.
- One reader mentioned that she just made it in a traditional 9×13 inch pan without doing the layers and it turned out great. Another reader just did cupcakes and said that they turned out really good too! With either of these options you will need to adjust your baking times accordingly and really watch it close by doing toothpick tests. The cupcakes should cook much faster so start checking those sooner.
More Recipes for Coconut Lovers
- Tasty Coconut Cupcakes – Light and fluffy cupcakes with the most amazing coconut frosting!
- Coconut Cream Pie from Scratch – No pudding mixes in this delicious coconut cream pie filling.
- Coconut Pecan Cookie Bars – A graham cracker crust topped with coconut, milk chocolate chips, pecans.
- Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars – A soft oatmeal cookie crust topped with chocolate fudge and a gooey coconut topping.
- Coconut Almond Bread – This is a moist coconut bread with a hint of almond.
How to Make Coconut Cream Cake
Coconut Cream Cake is layer upon layer of coconut flavor in every bite! Coconut infused cake, coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with toasted coconut. Truly a coconut lover's dream!
Serves: 16
Ingredients
COCONUT CREAM CAKE
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 3/4 cups white sugar
- 1/2 cup cream of coconut Coco Lopez is the one I used, it can be found by the drink mixers at your grocery store- reserve another 1/2 cup to drizzle on the cake after baking
- 4 eggs large
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
COCONUT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 pounds powdered sugar more if needed
- milk as needed
Toasted Coconut* (see below)
Instructions
For the Cake
- Separate eggs, set whites aside.
- Beat wet ingredients together including egg yolks until fluffy.
- Sift dry ingredients together and stir well.
- Add dry ingredients to wet using mixer on low speed alternating with buttermilk/extract mixture.
- In a clean bowl, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Fold egg whites into batter.
- Line two 9-inch pans with baking spray and flour (or what works BEST is lining the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper- cut a circle for the bottom of the pan and a strip for the sides and still spray above and below the paper)
- Bake at 275 degrees for about 90 minutes (this cake comes out much nicer when cooked at a lower temperature).
- After about 60 minutes, do the "toothpick test", repeating every 5-10 min or so until the toothpick comes out clean.
- After the cake is out of the oven and transferred to parchment paper or a cooling rack, poke each cake with a few holes (making sure not to poke all the way through) and drizzle another 1/2 cup of coconut cream over the top. This keeps the cake extra moist.
- After the cake completely cools, gently cover it with some plastic wrap and transfer to the freezer to freeze overnight.
- The next day, frost immediately after removing from the freezer (see frosting recipe below). This keeps the cake from crumbling while it is being frosted.
- Put a layer of frosting in-between the two cakes and then continue to frost the remainder of the cake.
- After frosting, sprinkle the cake with toasted coconut (instructions for toasting are below).
- Allow the cake to thaw for about an hour before serving.
For the Frosting
- Beat butter, cream cheese, and coconut extract together, adding powdered sugar little by little until reaching desired consistency.
- If it seems to get too stiff, add about 1 tsp of milk at a time until you get the consistency you want (add milk to thin it out, add powdered sugar to thicken it up).
Toasted Coconut
- Place contents of about 1/2 bag of sweetened, shredded coconut on a cookie sheet.
- Spread it out so it makes just a single layer.
- Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 8-10 minutes
- Some pieces will still be white and soft, some browned slightly with a little crunch.
Notes
*The preparation time does not include freezing the cake overnight before frosting. Make this cake the day before you plan to serve it.
Recipe Video
Nutrition
Calories: 644kcal | Carbohydrates: 101g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 342mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 85g | Vitamin A: 805IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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Eunice Bagley says
Could I make this into cupcakes?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t tried it as cupcakes, so let me know if it turns out if you try it!
Stephanie says
I’m so happy I found this recipe! It turned out so delicious. I make it into cupcakes and that worked out really well.
April says
This is my all time favorite cake!!
Beth says
This cake looks incredible and so delicious! My hubby is going to love this!
Sam says
This cake was delicious! My family loved it!
Izzy says
The creamy, coconuty taste of the frosting and the soft cake within make for a treat that I seem to not be able to get enough of. Thank you for showing me this recipe!
funke says
can I substitute the cream of coconut with condense milk
Favorite Family Recipes says
You can use sweetened condensed milk with a few drops of coconut extract as a substitute!
Hannah-Marie Garcia says
Any experience with freezing it more than 24 hours? I’m traveling this weekend, and would love to make it, but know I would have to make it on a Friday, and then freeze it until Sunday afternoon, so almost 48 hours.
Favorite Family Recipes says
That should be fine! Just make sure you wrap it really well before freezing. Most cakes can last 2 weeks in the freezer.
Monica says
Can I substitute coconut flavored rum for the drizzle over the cooked cake?
Echo Blickenstaff says
I have never tried it, so I can’t say if it will work or not. If you have used coconut flavored rum in your baking before, go ahead and try it. It will probably be just fine if you use the same amount of liquid. But, I don’t know if it will give the same amount of coconut flavor.
Lacey says
How does this turn out if you don’t have time to freeze the cake and want to frost it the same day?
Favorite Family Recipes says
If the cake is warm, the frosting will not go on to the cake correctly. I would freeze it for as long as you have time for even if it’s just half an hour.
Sherry says
Hi ladies!
I’ve never commented before even though I have made several of your recipes, all with success. But I had to let you know that this is hands down my absolute FAVORITE coconut cake, or any cake for that matter! I make this cake for my birthday every year!! Thank you so much for such a great recipe!
Echo Blickenstaff says
What a compliment! Thank you so much Sherry!
Bobbi says
Can I make the frosting the day I make the cake to save time?
Favorite Family Recipes says
Yes. That is totally fine. Just refrigerate the frosting after making it and then bring it to room temp before frosting so it spreads easier. Hope this helps!
SusanAnn Sheidy says
BTW, didn’t read the note about 3 pans. I thought it looked like a little too much. Good thing I had two cans of Easy Off in my Pantry now it’s in the oven!
SusanAnn Sheidy says
I made this cake for just me because I love coconut and coconut creme. My hubby hates cake and does not eat it. As I was enjoying and having the best cake in my entire life he wanted to know what I was eating. I told him and I also told him he could not have any because I knew he wouldn’t like it so I didn’t want even a piece wasted on him. Between the two of us I knew he would love it, this was my way of forcing him to taste it. As he came closer to look at it he told me he would try a piece so I gave him a few crumbs knowing he just had to have more. He didn’t want anymore because after all he doesn’t like cake. Later on into the day I heard him in the frig. digging around. I knew what he what he was doing. I tripped lightly behind him and asked “What’s in your mouth?” His response, ” Nothing, okay it’s the one and only cake you will ever see me eat? This is fantastic, can I have more?” My response, “NO!” Of course I let Tony have another slice and another and another. This cake is the best cake I ever made and ever ate. In fact I wouldn’t even call it a cake, I think of it more as candy that’s how wonderful it is. I can’t wait to make it for company or a party. Keep up the good work!
Erica says
Susan— this is seriously my favorite comment EVER! I was cracking up reading it! I am thrilled that you and your husband like it so much! This is my GO TO cake when I am trying to impress. It is also the cake my husband always requests on his birthday. You are making me want to make it right now haha. Seriously, thanks again for the comment and the laughs. 😀
Robin says
After I make and frost this. Do I keep in the refridgerator or do i keep on counter so the family can serve them selves when they want a piece of cake I live in Georgia so I don;t want it to mold so I need to know how to keep the finished cake
Erica says
You will want to keep it in the refrigerator– it will definitely keep longer
gabrielle says
Can you tell the aproximate number of servings please?
Erica says
I would say about 16 servings depending on the size of slices you do (if you want to do smaller servings you could probably get 18 slices). Hope this helps!
KCas says
This is the BEST coconut cake recipe ever! I have made this cake at least 6 times since finding this recipe last year. Thank you for this!
Question: I want to make these into cupcakes for the first time tonight. Do you have to adjust the baking temperature? What about the cooking time? I would love help if modifications needed if you have done these for cupcakes? Also, did you freeze the cupcakes overnight like you do for the cake recipe, and then frost the next day?
Erica says
I haven’t made cupcakes before with this recipe but you would definitely want to adjust the baking time.. maybe check after 15-18 minutes and every 5 minutes after that? Also, it wouldn’t hurt to freeze them! I probably would if it were me. Let me know how they turn out!