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Home » Dessert

Coconut Cake Recipe with Buttercream Frosting

Published: Jun 1, 2018 · Modified: Mar 16, 2022 by Muna · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Recipe

If you want to talk about hidden gems, then let’s talk about this coconut cake recipe. I’ve been hiding this pleasant surprise for a long time. I made this cake a few days back and couldn’t resist but to share it with you. It tastes just like a wedding cake or maybe even better!

A full shot of Coconut Cake with frosting.

Baking cake is not difficult as long as you are following the recipe carefully. Coconut cake recipe is no different, and I will tell you why.

This coconut cake has tender crumbs, and a mild coconut flavor, plus the taste of butter has a strong presence despite the little amount used which is a quarter cup. To enjoy the perfect texture and flavor of this coconut cake, the ingredients should be measured correctly.

A slice of Coconut Cake on a plate showing the moist and tender crumbs.

Making Coconut Cake

The making of this coconut cake is easy, and the ingredients needed for coconut cake recipe are not difficult to find, in fact, you might have everything you need in your kitchen already.

The creaming part is significant, and it brings out the flavor of butter plus contribute in a lighter cake. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the oil and beat until well combined.

Easy to make Coconut Cake recipe, buttercream frosting recipe included.

Coconut Cake Recipe Made Easy

I have used regular whole milk, but instead, you can use coconut milk if you wish. I didn’t use coconut milk because I wanted to taste all the flavors incorporated into this coconut cake recipe.

Sour cream is my magic potion for creating a moist cake so please do not skip it or replace it with buttermilk.

Be careful when buying shredded coconut (coconut flakes), some are sweetened. If you have no option but to use sweetened shredded coconut, then reduce the sugar by two and a half tablespoons from the cake batter.

Close up image of Coconut Cake. Frosted Layered cake.

Buttercream Frosting

To complement this cake, you need a silky smooth and fluffy frosting. You need four ingredients to make the buttercream frosting. Butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and few tablespoons of water are added to adjust the consistency of the frosting.

Whipping the frosting will hardly take 9 minutes, but you have to follow each step to avoid having grainy or watery frosting. I use water in the frosting instead of milk to extend the shelf life of the cake.

Coconut cake frosted and with lit candles.

If You Love Cake

Don’t forget to check out my Devilish Chocolate Cake, or my famous Golden Yellow Cake. In case you don’t want to go fancy, then this Coffee Loaf Cake is perfect for you. If you love some zing in your cake look no further, my Orange Sour Cream Loaf Cake Recipe will mesmerize you!

Coconut Cake with some slices missing. A side shot.

Let’s make a moist and delicious coconut cake (To create this layered cake I used four 6” cake pans)

Coconut Cake recipe made from scratch with silky smooth buttercream frosting. My all-time favorite coconut cake recipe. Tender, delicious, moist coconut delight. Make it and let me know how you liked it. www.munatycooking.com | @munatycooking #coconutcake

Coconut Cake Recipe with Buttercream Frosting

This coconut cake is moist and stays moist if stored in airtight container. The best coconut cake I ever had and the frosting is silky in texture and delicious.
4 from 3 votes
Print Rate
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American
Keyword: coconut cake
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 330kcal
Author: Muna Kenny

Ingredients

For the cake batter

  • ¼ cup room temperature butter
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch salt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup flaked coconut

For the frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted softened butter
  • 4 cup sifted confectioner sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoon cold water
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

For the cake batter:

  • Preheat the oven to 325F/ 162C. Butter and flour four 6” baking pans and keeps aside.
  • In a bowl, add the butter and beat for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until lighter in color and fluffy.
  • Add the oil and sour cream, beat for two minutes. Add the vanilla, then add an egg at a time beating in between until well combined.
  • Sift the flour with cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt three times. Add half to the wet ingredients and beat until combined around 8 seconds.
  • Add the milk and beat for 3 seconds, now add the rest of dry ingredients and beat on low for 4 seconds.
  • Add the coconut flakes and mix gently with a spatula.
  • Pour an equal amount of cake batter into the previously prepared baking pans. Bake on the middle shelf for 17 minutes.
  • The cake is done baking when a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

For the buttercream frosting:

  • In a mixing bowl add in butter and beat until fluffy for 3 minutes.
  • Add in confectioners’ sugar and beat to combine for 3 minutes.
  • Finally, add in vanilla and stir until combined. 1 minute.
  • Add in water to adjust the constancy and make it thick enough to spread. Beat for 3 minutes on high speed.

Notes

If you are baking this cake in 8” baking pan, it will take 23 minutes to bake.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Follow me on Instagram @munatycooking or tag #munatycooking!
Coconut Cake recipe made from scratch with silky smooth buttercream frosting. My all-time favorite coconut cake recipe. Tender, delicious, moist coconut delight. Make it and let me know how you liked it. www.munatycooking.com | @munatycooking #coconutcake

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    June 02, 2018 at 1:13 am

    I do LOVE cakes, but they don't love me 🙁 This coconut layer cake looks so inviting with all the coconut flakes.

    Reply
  2. Hannah

    June 02, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    What could I use for the egg replacement in this recipe? Thanks. 🙂

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      June 03, 2018 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Hannah, The eggs make this cake rise better since a little baking powder used. I have not used any egg replacement for this recipe yet, so I can't help much. sorry!

      Reply
  3. Jeff the Chef

    June 23, 2018 at 5:16 am

    Coconut buttercream! What a great combination. And you did a beautiful job decorating it!

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      June 24, 2018 at 8:54 am

      Hey Jeff! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 this was a great tasting cake even if you skip the frosting.

      Reply
  4. Pam

    October 11, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    Oh, I love this! Coconut cake is my favorite cake and I will have to make this one. It's the perfect size, with all the layers, and plenty of frosting, coconut and butter. Woo hoo! It looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      October 11, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Thank you Pam 🙂

      Reply
  5. im incognito

    June 24, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    3 stars
    i dont like how little coconut flavors there are so im gonna have to go with a different recipe otherwise it looks very good though.

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      July 01, 2020 at 9:08 am

      You can add coconut extract to the cake if you wish.

      Reply
  6. Catherine

    September 17, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Could I replace the flour with coconut flour?

    Reply
    • munatycooking

      September 21, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      Hi, I never used coconut flour in baking before, I'm sorry I can't answer your question!

      Reply

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Hello there, and welcome! I’m Muna, the writer, food photographer, and videographer at Munaty Cooking. I’m also the mother of a handsome young man. I’m from and reside in Sharjah. Oh, and there are more fun facts about me!

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