This toasted coconut cake recipe is full of delicious coconut flavor thanks to the toasted coconut and a dash of extract. Use buttermilk for a tang that pairs perfectly with cream cheese frosting!
Butter and coconut oil combine to make a super moist cake, and whipped egg whites keep it light and fluffy. A more traditional mixing method results in a coconut cake recipe that will become a family favorite!
Table of contents
Coconut Cake Ingredients
Toasted Coconut: Toasting the coconut intensifies the natural nutty coconut flavor. Sweetened coconut shreds are slightly more tender than unsweetened coconut, but either will work great.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil is great to bake with because it melts at body temperature, but is firm at room temperature. Similar to butter, it gives the cake some nice structure but literally melts in your mouth when you eat this cake. You can also use vegetable oil instead of coconut if you prefer.
Whipped egg whites: This cake has butter, oil, and chunks of coconut, so it could become very heavy. Whipping air into the egg whites adds air bubbles to the cake to keep it fluffy.
Coconut extract: A little goes a long way with coconut extract. Too much can overpower this cake, but just the right amount intensifies the natural coconut flavor provided by the coconut oil and toasted coconut shreds.
Cream cheese: Cream cheese frosting is the perfect pairing for this cake, but Swiss meringue buttercream, whipped cream, or ermine frosting would also be yummy.
How to Make a Coconut Cake
Before starting your cake, make sure that all of your wet ingredients (including the butter) are at room temperature or a little warm. Cold ingredients will prevent your cake batter from emulsifying, and your cake may not turn out right. Be sure to also weigh all of your ingredients with a food scale. 
Making the Coconut Cake
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350ºF/176ºC. Prepare three 3 6-inch round cake pans with cake goop, parchment paper, or another preferred pan release. Making sure to coat the bottom and sides of the pan.
- Spread your coconut flakes evenly onto a cookie sheet pan.
- Broil the coconut flakes on high for 2-3 minutes or until they just begin to turn brown around the edges. Stir the coconut and broil for 1-2 minutes more until lightly golden. Watch it closely because it can burn quickly. Remove it from the oven and let it cool.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set the dry ingredients aside.
- Heat the coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave until it is very soft and beginning to melt, but not hot.
- Add the coconut extract and vanilla extract to the room-temperature buttermilk.
- Add the butter and coconut oil to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat at medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, about 30 seconds.
- Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the egg yolks one at a time to the mixture, combining after each.
- With the mixer on low speed, add about a third of the flour mixture to the batter, followed immediately by about a third of the milk, mix until the ingredients are almost incorporated into the batter.
- Repeat the process 2 more times. When the batter appears blended, stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Carefully fold in the toasted coconut until it’s all combined.
- Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl with the whip attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until it's foamy.
- Add in the cream of tartar and whip until semi stiff peaks form.
- Fold in the whipped egg whites carefully into the cake batter, and try not to beat out too much of the volume in the egg whites.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between 3 6-inch cake pans or 2 8-inch pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
- Invert the cakes onto a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting. I like to flash freeze them for 30 minutes if I’m using them right away, or wrap them in plastic and freeze them overnight. Pro-Tip: Wrapping your cakes while warm and then freezing them will lock in the moisture.
Making Cream Cheese Frosting
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are both slightly warm and at the same temperature. If one is colder than the other, they will not mix together properly and create lumps.
- Place softened butter in the bowl of your stand mixer with a whisk attachment and cream on low until smooth. Pro: Tip: Use an electric hand mixer to get extra smooth cream cheese frosting.
- Place softened cream cheese in the bowl with the butter in small chunks and blend on low until smooth.
- Add in sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time until combined.
- Add your vanilla extract and salt, and mix until combined.
- Cover the frosting with plastic wrap and refrigerate until your cake is chilled and ready to frost. Refrigerate any remaining frosting, or keep in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Assembling the Coconut Cake
- Trim the top of the cake layers so they are flat.
- Place the first cake layer down on a cake board, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting evenly across the top and repeat this process with the remaining 2 layers.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting around the entire cake as a crumb coat and then refrigerate it for 15 minutes. Pro-Tip: Cream cheese frosting is stickier than buttercream, and can pull more crumbs off your cake. Working with a cold cake will be easier.
- Once the crumb coat has set, apply another thicker layer of the frosting to the entire cake for its final coat. Pro tip: I chose to cover the exterior of this cake with coconut, but cream cheese frosting makes really pretty rustic swirls if you want a different look.
- Place the cake on the board or plate you plan to serve on.
- Gently press shredded coconut or large shaved coconut flakes onto the sides of the cake all the way around the exterior, keeping the top free of shreds.
- Use a star piping tip and pastry bag filled with cream cheese frosting to pipe swirls around the top edge of the cake.
- To save this cake for later, apply plastic wrap around the cake and place it in the refrigerator. Cream cheese frosting can sit out at room temperature for about 4 hours maximum.
FAQ
This recipe works great for cupcakes and is very light! This recipe makes approximately 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes until set in the middle. It can be easy to burn these cupcakes because of the sugar content so watch them closely. If they are over-baked they can taste dry.
Luckily coconut oil is becoming more common in your local grocery store, however, if you do not have any, vegetable oil will work just as well in this cake.
In this cake, you can substitute sour cream for buttermilk, or regular milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice. You could also use coconut milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice as well.
The best thing about coconut cake is that it pairs with so many different flavors. The traditional filling for coconut cake is something light and creamy like this coconut cream cheese frosting.If you’re feeling adventurous you can fill your coconut cake with some coconut custard , lemon curd, or even raspberry filling.
My kids don’t care for the texture of coconut shreds, but still love the flavor. I pulse the coconut in a food processor a few times to chop up the shreds smaller. Once they are added to the cake the texture is almost unnoticeable.
On the baking aisle there will be a few choices for coconut. I am using sweetened coconut shreds because they are the most common to find at the grocery store. You can use unsweetened as well, or even macaroon coconut, which is a much finer shred. I chose to use the large coconut strips for the exterior decor because I think they are pretty, but any will do.
Related Recipes
Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut
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Cups of Batter Needed
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Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer with whisk and paddle attachment
- Three 6" cake pans or two 8" cake pans
Ingredients
Coconut Cake Ingredients
- 11 ounces All purpose flour (2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces unsalted butter (½ cup) room temperature
- 14 ounces granulated sugar (2 cups)
- 4 ounces coconut oil (½ cup) or vegetable oil
- 4 large egg yolks room temperature
- 4 large egg whites room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons coconut extract
- 8 ounces buttermilk (1 cup) room temperature
- 6 ounces sweetened flaked coconut (2 cups) toasted until lightly browned
- 1 ounce sweetened flaked coconut (½ cup) for garnish
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese (2 cups) cut into cubes and softened
- 8 ounces unsalted butter (1 cup) softened
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 36 ounces powdered sugar (8 cups) sifted
Instructions
Making the Coconut Cake
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350ºF/176ºC. Prepare three 3 6-inch round cake pans with cake goop, parchment paper, or another preferred pan release. Making sure to coat the bottom and sides of the pan.
- Spread your coconut flakes evenly onto a cookie sheet pan.
- Broil the coconut flakes on high for 2-3 minutes or until they just begin to turn brown around the edges. Stir the coconut and broil for 1-2 minutes more until lightly golden. Watch it closely because it can burn quickly. Remove it from the oven and let it cool.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set the dry ingredients aside.
- Heat the coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave until it is very soft and beginning to melt, but not hot.
- Add the coconut extract and vanilla extract to the room-temperature buttermilk.
- Add the butter and coconut oil to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat at medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, about 30 seconds.
- Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the egg yolks one at a time to the mixture, combining after each.
- With the mixer on low speed, add about a third of the flour mixture to the batter, followed immediately by about a third of the milk, mix until the ingredients are almost incorporated into the batter.
- Repeat the process 2 more times. When the batter appears blended, stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Carefully fold in the toasted coconut until it’s all combined.
- Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl with the whip attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until it's foamy.
- Add in the cream of tartar and whip until semi stiff peaks form.
- Fold in the whipped egg whites carefully into the cake batter, and try not to beat out too much of the volume in the egg whites.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between 3 6-inch cake pans or 2 8-inch pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
- Invert the cakes onto a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting. I like to flash freeze them for 30 minutes if I’m using them right away, or wrap them in plastic and freeze them overnight. Pro-Tip: Wrapping your cakes while warm and then freezing them will lock in the moisture.
Making Cream Cheese Frosting
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are both slightly warm and at the same temperature. If one is colder than the other, they will not mix together properly and create lumps.
- Place softened butter in the bowl of your stand mixer with a whisk attachment and cream on low until smooth. Pro: Tip: Use an electric hand mixer to get extra smooth cream cheese frosting.
- Place softened cream cheese in the bowl with the butter in small chunks and blend on low until smooth.
- Add sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time until combined.
- Add your vanilla extract and salt, and mix until combined.
- Cover the frosting with plastic wrap and refrigerate until your cake is chilled and ready to frost. Refrigerate any remaining frosting, or keep in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Assembling the Coconut Cake
- Trim the top of the cake layers so they are flat.
- Place the first cake layer down on a cake board, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting evenly across the top and repeat this process with the remaining 2 layers.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting around the entire cake as a crumb coat and then refrigerate it for 15 minutes. Pro-Tip: Cream cheese frosting is stickier than buttercream, and can pull more crumbs off your cake. Working with a cold cake will be easier.
- Once the crumb coat has set, apply another thicker layer of the frosting to the entire cake for its final coat. Pro tip: I chose to cover the exterior of this cake with coconut, but cream cheese frosting makes really pretty rustic swirls if you want a different look.
- Place the cake on the board or plate you plan to serve on.
- Gently press shredded coconut or large shaved coconut flakes onto the sides of the cake all the way around the exterior, keeping the top free of shreds.
- Use a star piping tip and pastry bag filled with cream cheese frosting to pipe swirls around the top edge of the cake.
- To save this cake for later, apply plastic wrap around the cake and place it in the refrigerator. Cream cheese frosting can sit out at room temperature for about 4 hours maximum.
Lyz says
O.M.G this recipe is AMAZING!!!!! Thank you Liz for sharing all of your wonderful recipes with us! This one tho is my absolute favorite!!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
You're welcome Lyz! I'm so happy you loved it
Michelle Leslie says
Can you use toasted coconut in the filling of a cake or will it get too soggy?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You definitely can, check out my german chocolate cake filling https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake/
Tina says
When I go to click the recipe, it goes to the Speckled Easter Cake and the icing is buttercream not cream cheese. Is this the same recipe as the Southern Coconut Cake recipe? Can you please share the cream cheese icing recipe? Thank you.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Hey Tina, we recently updated our website and it looks like there was a glitch. It should be fixed now 🙂
Latasha Payne says
I would love to make this cake but all I have at the moment is almond ext,would that be fine instead of coconut?
The Sugar Geek Show says
The coconut extract is to give the coconut cake a coconut flavor. You can use almond but then your coconut cake will taste like almond 🙂
Katie Wright says
Can you share a link for a coconut extract you recommend? So many taste artificial or bake out. Thank you!!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I got mine from new seasons. 🙂
Bonnie says
I just recently realized what was causing such bad stomach pain is that I am Gluten Intolerant. Would you happen to know if I order some Gluten Free Flour such as from King Arthurs Flour, do you know if it makes a difference in cakes and cookies? Thank you, I appreciate your assistance!
The Sugar Geek Show says
Try using a gluten free flour mix like cup for cup. You can replace the flour from most recipes with it and keep everything else the same to make the recipe gluten free
Janine says
Can I skip the cream of tartar? We are quarantined and can't go to the store.
I have everything else for the recipe.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can, the cream of tartar is just to help the egg whites whip up
Veronica says
If I double the recipe could I use an 8x11.5x2 pan and if so, how much longer do I bake for?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You don't need to double it for that size pan. Just use a single recipe
kelly says
What if I only have salted butter? Will that be ok?
The Sugar Geek Show says
If you use salted butter your cake could end up tasting very salty
SOPHIA says
It looks and smells delicious as I made it a day before my MIL's vday. I have a question though, I had looked and over the recipe once I was finished and realized I didn't put any creme of tartar in there. Where does it say in the recipe to include? Will it taste much different without it? Thank you!
The Sugar Geek Show says
The cream of tartar goes in with the egg whites. If you leave it out, it will be ok. It's just to strengthen the egg whites
Gloria says
Wow!! I love coconut cakes. This really looks yummy, I will try the recipe. Please what can I substitute cream of tartar with cos I don't have at home and there is total lockdown?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You can leave it out 🙂
Yasmine says
I grew up in Germantown, and cannot wait to make this cake!! I currently live in Dubai, and can’t find coconut extract anywhere! Are there any good substitutes??
The Sugar Geek Show says
Coconut emulsion is great too if you can find it
Shenaz says
Hi Liz,
Love this recipe and can’t wait to try it. Can I just ask, how long does this cake keep once made.
Kindest regards
The Sugar Geek Show says
Fresh cake tastes best but you can keep it wrapped in the fridge for a couple of days. Let it warm to room temperature before serving
Shannon says
I made this cake for my daughter's 14th birthday yesterday and it's the BEST coconut cake I think I've ever had! Super moist and flavorful
Followed the recipe to a "T" and it looks exactly like the photo.
Will definitely be making again. Thanks for sharing!
Debbie says
I would like to make a smaller cake using 6” cakes pans. Any advise as to how to adjust the recipe to accommodate the smaller pans?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Reduce the servings on recipe card to change the size of the recipe
Michelle says
The layers have baked up beautifully, but there is a discrepancy between the video instructions and the print instructions. In the video, the instructions show to mix the oil in with the creamed butter. In the written instructions, the oil is added to the buttermilk and other wet ingredients.
Haven’t tried it yet, but it does appear to have worked anyway.
Elizabeth Marek says
Recipes are always evolving and changing 🙂 You can follow either way but the written recipe reflects the way that I make this recipe now
Fara says
Hi Liz,
I love your cakes and so happy that I found you and your amazing recipes! I made a coconut custard and did add to this cake I baked. Custard wasn’t runny and sponge came out so good! But when I was assembling my cake, it start sliding and I had to use toothpicks to keep it together. I did put a ring of cream, and “inside” that ring i put the custard. It taste delicious, but can you please tell me what did I do wrong?
Elizabeth Marek says
You probably just used too much custard or your ring of "cream" was also soft. Did you use whipped cream? Try using a more stable frosting like easy buttercream.
Pallavi says
Liz,
I love your recipes. Your recipes are blessing for new bakers like me. Every recipe always comes out perfect. I wanted to try this coconut cake recipe with passion fruit curd filling and vanilla Italian meringue buttercream. My question is, a) what do you think about that combination? b) Is this cake sturdy for layers? I was thinking to do two layered topsy turvy cake. You suggestion would be helpful.
Thank you again
Elizabeth Marek says
This cake is pretty light and fluffy, almost like a sponge cake and not great for carving 🙂
Pallavi says
Liz,
Thank you. Can I use it in basic 2 layered cake as top layer with some fondant figurines at the top? Will it stay?
Pallavi
Elizabeth Marek says
This cake is pretty fluffy so it might not be able to support fondant
Janice says
Best cake I have ever had!! It was a lot of steps and took awhile but so worth it!
Amaris says
Hi Liz! Do you think I could adapt your “Easy Buttercream” into a coconut flavor. Making a coconut “Samoa” flavored cake. I love how it’s an easy go-to Swiss meringue frosting, but I’m wondering if it could be converted into a coconut flavor and if it would taste good? Love your recipes <33
Elizabeth Marek says
Absolutely, just add some coconut extract or emulsion
Julie S. says
Our granddaughter made this for our daughter's birthday. She is new to baking and she was SO proud of this cake. It has to be one of the most delicious cakes I have EVER had! It was a definite "WOW!
Ashley says
Hi Liz !
I want to make this cake for my dads birthday next weekend. But since i'm still working full time i wanted to try and get it finished early. I jusy wanted to know if i get this cake done early.. let's say by wednesday night , are the coconut flakes on the cake ok in the fridge for 2/ 3 days ? or would you suggest to just keep it out. I will be filling it with a vanilla swiss meringue.
Elizabeth Marek says
As long as it's not cut it will be ok for two days in the fridge. It might start to dry out after 3 days.
Magida says
I am making a two tier fondant covered cake. 6 inch and 9 inch, can I use this recipe for the 6 inch tier? (3 layers)
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can, just make sure it is well-chilled before frosting and covering in fondant
Yurani says
I made this cake using the printed instructions. It was delicious, everyone loved it. It was gone quickly. Thank you!