Description
A dreamy, tender coconut layer cake with silky cream cheese coconut frosting, snowy flakes on top, and a melt-in-your-mouth crumb that tastes like a celebration in every slice.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 1/2 cups
- Baking Powder: 2 1/2 teaspoons
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup (2 sticks), softened
- Granulated Sugar: 2 cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons
- Coconut Extract: 1 teaspoon
- Whole Milk: 1 cup
- Shredded Sweetened Coconut: 1 cup, folded into batter
- Cream Cheese: 8 ounces, softened
- Powdered Sugar: 3 cups
- Heavy Cream: 1/4 cup
- Shredded Sweetened Coconut: 1 cup, for frosting and garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and flour two 23 cm round cake pans, then line bottoms with parchment.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until well combined.
- Cream butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and coconut extract.
- Alternate additions of dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture, mixing just until combined. Fold in 1 cup shredded coconut.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then invert onto racks and cool completely.
- Make frosting by beating cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream and beat until fluffy. Fold in 1 cup shredded coconut.
- Place first cake layer on a stand, spread frosting, top with second layer, and frost the top and sides. Press extra coconut around sides and on top if desired.
- Chill 20 to 30 minutes for cleaner slices. Serve cold or at cool room temperature.
Notes
- Toast a portion of the coconut for garnish to add nutty depth and color.
- Use room-temperature ingredients for a smoother batter and even rise.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the crumb tender.
- Note: Refrigerate the finished cake due to the cream cheese frosting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg