Coconut Cake Recipe

Take a break from the classic cake flavors with Coconut Cake that will always remind you of a spectacular summer!

Coconut Cake is a moist, sweet, and nutty dessert that uses coconuts to add flavor to the dish. It has a tender and light texture that feels like it melts in your mouth. Every layer is always bursting with so much flavor and quality.

Your guests will surely appreciate a unique experience with an interesting cake recipe. It satisfies your sweet tooth while making you feel the summer vibe. The Coconut Cake is a real cake game changer – perfect for any celebration.

How exciting would it be to make a new dessert from coconuts? Your guests will certainly be talking about how amazing it tastes. Don’t worry; I’ll share all of my Coconut Cake secrets with you!

How to Make Coconut Cake

Making Coconut Cake is just as easy as cooking any other cake flavor. The only difference is that you need to infuse the batter with coconut products. From there, you can bake away to get the perfect Coconut Cake.

Once done, you’ll see how tasty, fluffy, and light it is at every bite!

Ingredients

What ingredients do you need for Coconut Cake?

Coconut 

Prepare to go nuts over coconuts!

There is no better way to make Coconut Cake than to use fresh coconuts. Use fresh and good-quality coconuts to make the cake as tasteful as possible. You will need the coconut water to make the crumbs moist and tender.

Meanwhile, the coconut meat gives the best nutty and sweet flavor to the cake. Aside from the coconut fruit, you also need coconut oil to improve the texture of the cake from the inside out. It will also add a nutty flavor to the dish.

You will use some of the coconut bits for garnish and crunch. If you love coconuts, then I suggest trying Nigerian Coconut Buns, Coconut Puff Puff, and Coconut Egg Rolls. Everyone will surely come to your party when you serve cake with coconuts!

Plain flour

Just like other cake recipes, you will need plain flour to make Coconut Cake.

The plain flour helps form the shape and size of the dessert as it cooks in the oven. When the plain flour leavens, it expands the batter to make the cake puffy, light, and airy inside.

You can also use self-rising flour for flour with a leavening agent already. Plain flour is also great for Crispy Hot Dogs, Nigerian Coconut Buns, and Plantain Bread for the best crumbs! 

Leavening agents 

Get the perfect texture inside out with leavening agents.

In this recipe, I suggest using baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to get the best quality of crumbs. They’re surely going to give the Coconut Cake a high and beautiful rise. 

With the help of leavening agents, you can be sure that the cake crumbs will be light, airy, and fluffy. These are also effective for cooking Banana Bread, Chocolate Cake, and Carrot Cake!

Eggs

Be sure to add in some eggs for the batter.

With the help of eggs, your cake will surely have a better structure, flavor, and shape. They also improve the quality of the crumbs for a light and puffy texture. Using eggs will also make the cake richer in quality.

In fact, eggs have leavening properties to go with the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. I also use eggs to cook Sponge Cake and Plantain Bread to get the best texture!

Evaporated milk

It won’t be a cake recipe without some milk.

You can’t forget about adding a glorious milky and creamy flavor with evaporated milk. It activates the dry mixture to cook the cake properly. This also reacts with the eggs and sugar for a caramelized texture and flavor.

It even makes the batter smooth and thick for the best cake. Aside from evaporated milk, you can also use plant-based milk, especially if you want an alternative that’s better for your health.

Milled linseeds

There is no better way to improve the coconut flavor of the cake than with milled linseeds. These go well with coconuts and nutmeg because these seeds have a nutty quality.

Milled linseeds also have an earthy taste to make the Coconut Cake tastier. Did you know that these seeds can also make the cake healthier?

Seasoning 

No matter what happens, don’t skip the seasoning for the cake. The seasoning is actually just as simple as cane sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. All of these can certainly balance the nutty and sweet flavors of the dish.

After trying many cake recipes, I know these ingredients are the best for Coconut Cake. Not only is it delicious, but it is also healthy and satisfying!

Directions

Get ready to bake an amazing Coconut Cake for your family and friends!

Coconut mixture

1. Crack the coconut open with a hammer or against a surface. 
2. Pour the coconut water into a bowl and set aside. 
3. Then, chop the coconut into pieces with a knife. 
4. Mix the coconut meat, coconut water, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, eggs, and coconut oil in a blender.

Cake batter

1. In a bowl, mix the plain flour, cane sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, bicarbonate of soda, and milled linseed.
2. Add the wet coconut mixture.
3. Then, mix them with a whisk.
4. Add more of the chopped fresh coconuts. 

Bake the cake!

1. Pour the batter into a lined cake tin. 
2. Sprinkle with small coconut chips. 
3. Bake it in a preheated oven at 160C for 50 to 55 minutes. 
4. Then, remove the lid after 30 minutes of baking.
5. Insert a cake tester to check for doneness. 
6. Finally, remove it from the pan, slice, and serve! 

Isn’t it one of the easiest cake recipes you have ever tried? The coconut flavor paired with the moist and soft texture of the cake makes it truly one of the best! 

Tips

Coconuts

Buying coconuts

• You should hear and feel a sloshing sound as you shake the coconut. 
• The coconut eyes should also not have rotten or soft spots. 
• The fruit should not have holes or cracks. 
• The coconut should also be heavy for its size.

Storing coconuts

• Unopened coconuts can be kept at room temperature for up to several weeks.
• Cracked ones are best stored in resealable bags to refrigerate or freeze for shelf life. 

Preparing coconuts

1. Locate and poke the soft eye of the coconut with a screw or knife.
2. Then, drain the coconut water to set aside. 
3. Crack the coconut open with a hammer. 
4. Finally, slice the coconut meat for your recipes!

No-Blender Coconut Mixture

Use a food processor or grater to prepare the coconuts for the wet batter. On the other hand, add desiccated coconuts for extra texture and aroma. Mix the ingredients well with a whisk to get the proper batter. 

Store the coconut mixture in a container. Then, refrigerate it for up to two days! 

Coconut Cake Variations

Always discover the different variations of the Coconut Cake for a new version every time you cook it!

Instead of the classic Coconut Cake loaf, you can layer the cake with creamy coconut frosting in the middle. I also suggest cooking it into a bundt cake for a more elegant option to serve for your family and friends.

The cake will also work well as a sheet cake, especially if you have a large crowd to feed. Just cover it with frosting and slice it according to how many guests you have.

Aside from using a cake tin, you can also use cupcake tins for other serving options. For more flavor, add in some lime juice or pineapple juice for a good balance of flavor.

Aside from this recipe’s ingredients, you can replace them to suit your diet best. For instance, use almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour for gluten-free alternatives. Meanwhile, you can replace evaporated milk with almond milk or coconut milk for vegan options.

If you don’t have an oven, then you can try other ways of cooking the cake:

Air Fryer Coconut Cake

1. Prepare the batter as mentioned in this recipe.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 160°C for a few minutes. 
3. Then, pour the batter into a round cake tin. 
4. Cover it with foil. 
5. Bake the coconut cake for 30 minutes with the foil and 20 minutes without the foil.
6. Check the cake for doneness before taking it from the air fryer. 

No-Bake Coconut Cake

1. Preheat the pot with ceramic baking beans in a pot and an iron stand inside.
2. Grease the cake tin with butter or oil.
3. Then, pour in the coconut cake batter. 
4. Steam the dish for 50 minutes or until done. 

More Coconut Recipes

• Coconut Chips – snack your worries away with chips from fresh coconuts.
• Coconut Fried Rice – even rice tastes better with a touch of coconut flavor.
• Coconut Puff Puff – it’s an amazing dessert from the delicacies of Africa.
• Desiccated Coconuts – make your coconuts last longer by drying and grinding them.
• Coconut Chin Chin – try these bite-sized treats infused with coconuts.

Recommended Tools

• Oven: Bake the Coconut Cake in the oven.
• Blender: Make the wet batter mixture in a blender.
• Bowls: Prepare everything in bowls.
• Whisk: Stir the mixtures with a whisk.
• Knife: Chop the coconut using a knife.
• Cake tin: Give the dish the right form with a loaf tin.
• Cake tester: Check the cake for doneness using a tester.

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How to Serve Coconut Cake

Because of the unique flavor of Coconut Cake, there are so many ways to serve it!

Fruity cakes like Coconut Cake are best served for breakfast, desserts, or snacks. It’s also a family-friendly cake for any celebration, from birthdays to Thanksgiving dinners, especially for dining with your loved ones.

Make it creamier and tastier by making coconut filling or ganache. You can also easily make the coconut filling and coating with coconut cream, sugar, and desiccated coconut. 

Even plain, the coconut cake will taste incredible. It will also taste better with fresh fruits, whipped cream, and even ice cream. Here are other recipes that you can make alongside the Coconut Cake:

• Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake – it’s going to be a sweet snack with cake and a milkshake.
• Iced Coffee – serve your cake in the morning with some coffee.
• Fruit Salad – serve an assortment of fruits with your dessert.
• Vanilla Ice Cream – upgrade your cake with some ice cream on top.

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Store unfrosted Coconut Cake in a cake container. Keep it at room temperature for up to five days. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is coconut cake made of?

Coconut Cake is made of essential cake ingredients like plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, spices, eggs, milk, and oil. The coconut is also infused with the batter and used as a garnish. 

Is coconut milk good for baking cakes?

Yes, it is. I suggest using coconut milk to bake cake, especially when you want a plant-based milk option. You can use it whenever you want the cake to have a nutty and sweet flavor.

What is the shelf life of coconut cake?

Coconut Cake has a long shelf life. At room temperature, it can stay fresh for about five days. You can also wrap it in foil or cling film to keep in the fridge for more than a week or in the freezer for several weeks.

How long can cake be stored without fridge?

The coconut cake can last for about five days at room temperature. Just remember to keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture. It also helps to wrap it in foil or cling film to retain tender crumbs.