🥥🌴 Classic Coconut Cake
🍽️ Servings: 8–10
⏱️ Time: ~1.5–2 hours (including baking and frosting)
✅ Ingredients:
For the cake:
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2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
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2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
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1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
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4 large eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional but recommended!)
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1 cup (240ml) coconut milk (canned or carton)
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½ cup (120ml) buttermilk or regular milk
For the frosting (Cream Cheese Coconut Frosting):
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8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
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½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
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4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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½ teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
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1 to 2 tablespoons coconut milk (to thin if needed)
To decorate:
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1 to 1 ½ cups shredded sweetened coconut (toasted or plain)
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Preheat oven & prep pans:
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Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans (or use parchment paper).
2. Mix dry ingredients:
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Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Cream butter and sugar:
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In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3–5 minutes).
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Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
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Stir in vanilla and coconut extracts.
4. Combine wet and dry:
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Add dry ingredients alternately with coconut milk and buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry.
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Mix until just combined — don’t overmix!
5. Bake:
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Divide batter evenly between pans.
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Bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
6. Make frosting:
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Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
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Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until fluffy.
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Mix in vanilla and coconut extracts.
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Add coconut milk if frosting is too thick.
7. Assemble:
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Place one cake layer on a plate, spread a layer of frosting.
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Repeat with next layers.
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Frost the top and sides of the cake.
8. Decorate:
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Press shredded coconut onto the sides and top of the cake.
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Toast coconut lightly in a dry pan for extra flavor, if desired.
🔄 Tips & Variations:
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Substitute part of the flour with almond flour for a nuttier flavor.
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Use whipped cream frosting for a lighter cake.
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Add pineapple between layers for a tropical twist!
Want a coconut bundt cake recipe or a dairy-free coconut cake version?
