I have been craving coconut cake for weeks. Normally I make one for Easter, but I simply ran out of time this year. Ever since I’ve been trying to find the perfect occasion to make one. Yesterday I decided that I don’t need a special occasion to bake a cake, and whipped up this Two Layer Coconut Cake just because.
My son happened to stop by just as I was finishing the cake, so you might notice that there are a couple of pieces missing from this picture. He seems to have good luck like that. I think he must have some sort of sixth sense or radar that goes off whenever I am baking something.
I hope you enjoy this every day two layer coconut cake as much as we have.
You will need one white cake recipe (below), buttercream frosting (recipe below) and 4 cups of shredded coconut for this cake.
Batter:
5 eggs
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup whole milk
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Prepare Batter: Let eggs, butter, and milk stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Butter two 8×1-1/2-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with waxed paper. Butter waxed paper and lightly flour; set aside.
In large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 2 cups sugar and 1 Tbsp. vanilla; beat 3 to 4 minutes on medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low after each addition until just combined. Divide batter between the two pans.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove the cake layers from pans; peel off waxed paper and discard. Cool on wire racks.
Buttercream Frosting:
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
In a standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
Assemble Cake: On a cake platter, frost the top of first layer and sprinkle with coconut. Place the second layer of cake on top of the first, and frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle coconut generously over top and sides of cake, pressing in gently with your fingers as necessary.
Two Layer Coconut Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- Batter:
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Buttercream Frosting:
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
Instructions
Prepare Batter: Let eggs, butter, and milk stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Butter two 8x1-1/2-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with waxed paper. Butter waxed paper and lightly flour; set aside.
In large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 2 cups sugar and 1 Tbsp. vanilla; beat 3 to 4 minutes on medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low after each addition until just combined. Divide batter between the two pans.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove the cake layers from pans; peel off waxed paper and discard. Cool on wire racks.
Buttercream Frosting:
In a standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
Assemble Cake: On a cake platter, frost the top of first layer and sprinkle with coconut. Place the second layer of cake on top of the first, and frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle coconut generously over top and sides of cake, pressing in gently with your fingers as necessary.
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Mellisa says
April 17, 2013 at 4:33 PMI love coconut! It’s one of my favorite dessert flavors.
Marcie W. says
April 17, 2013 at 5:21 PMCoconut cake is one of my all time favorites. This could get me in a lot of delicious trouble!
Stephanie says
April 17, 2013 at 5:38 PMOh yum. This reminds me of the recipe that my Granny used to make! Im pinning this to make later!
Sarah L says
April 17, 2013 at 7:07 PMDon’t you know about kid’s radar for sweet things? Of course he knew. Looks good.
Maryann says
April 17, 2013 at 8:55 PMI love a good coconut cake.
Tammy S says
April 17, 2013 at 9:36 PMThis looks amazing. I haven’t had a homemade coconut cakes in ages. thanks for the recipe!
Sheilacakes says
April 17, 2013 at 10:18 PMYum! I love cake and coconut too.
Leilani says
April 17, 2013 at 11:52 PMI’ve never had a coconut cake before, but it looks and sounds yummy!
Sandy VanHoey says
April 18, 2013 at 5:29 AMFor anyone loving coconut, this does look wonderful. That just happens to be the only food I could never handle and to this day, although I’ve tried it, just do not like it. Looks picture perfect though
Shell Feis says
April 18, 2013 at 5:55 AMI love coconut cake! One of my friends made one for my bridal shower in February & I’ve been dreaming of it since!
laura says
April 18, 2013 at 4:16 PMYummy!! I do like coconut for baked goodies..looks great!
Lena says
April 18, 2013 at 5:30 PMLove the deliciousness and really shouldn’t have any
Erica says
April 18, 2013 at 9:23 PMI wish I didn’t have a coconut allergy because this seriously looks amazing!
Joni Mason says
April 18, 2013 at 11:16 PMOh this looks SO good! I’m Definitely pinning this, thanks for sharing!
Elena says
April 18, 2013 at 11:33 PMLooks delicious! Thank you for the recipe
Kimberly M. says
April 18, 2013 at 11:44 PMThis is one of my favorite cakes. I love white cake and I love coconut. I pinned it to my pinterest dessert board. Thank you.
Lolo says
April 19, 2013 at 3:52 AMYum! This looks so good!
Amy Orvin says
April 19, 2013 at 11:40 AMThis cake looks so yummy and inviting! Thank you for the recipe. I hope I can bake one to look this good.
courtney says
April 19, 2013 at 1:21 PMOooh I love this! Love love coconut in sweet cakes 🙂
Ttrockwood says
April 19, 2013 at 4:29 PMThis sounds so amazing!! Perfect timing since i need to bring dessert to a party this weekend!
Debbie Welchert says
April 19, 2013 at 4:54 PMI’ve made coconut cream pies before and have never tried coconut cakes before. This one looks like a good one to try. It just looks so good in the picture above. I’ll have to surprise my husband some night and make it.
Susan Smith says
April 20, 2013 at 5:37 PMThis looks yummy. I’m the only one in my family that likes coconut otherwise I would deffinately make this.
HilLesha says
April 20, 2013 at 6:49 PMI don’t like coconut, unless it’s Almond Joy (lol), but that looks really good!
Crystal says
April 20, 2013 at 8:36 PMYum, I love coconut and this looks amazing.
Sheri says
April 20, 2013 at 11:04 PMThat looks amazing!
Holly Thomas says
April 21, 2013 at 8:54 AMI love coconut cake, Thank you for the recipe!!
Janice Cooper says
April 21, 2013 at 10:44 AMOh my! This looks and sounds absolutely delicious! I love Coconut cake and only have it during the holidays when my mom makes her homemade coconut cake. Your recipe looks easier than my moms. I will have to give this a try. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Maria Iemma says
April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AMCoconut cake is one of my favorite deserts – I am going to add this recipe to my binder and will make it next time I am in the mood for cake.
Ty says
April 22, 2013 at 1:52 AMOMG!! I totally love Coconut Cake! And, this one looks so good!
Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie} says
April 23, 2013 at 11:52 AMYum I like coconut & being white this cake is so versatile.
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
April 24, 2013 at 10:29 AMThis coconut cake looks so incredibly moist and flavorful! I love the layers and all of the gorgeous coconut piled on top. Thanks for sharing!
Angela says
April 24, 2013 at 10:37 AMThanks so much, Kelly!
natalie nichols says
April 24, 2013 at 11:58 AMYummy. This would be great for me to make because I’m awful at making icing look smooth. Lol!
Jo-Ann Brightman says
April 25, 2013 at 8:44 PMI haven’t made a coconut cake in so long. This recipe shall inspire me to change that – even if I make a smaller cake so as not to be too tempted to eat it all by myself
ANN*H says
April 27, 2013 at 6:32 PMYum nothing like a good fresh made coconut cake to eat. I love the tastycake ones I buy them when ever they have them which isnt alot of times. As much as I love coconut cake I have never made one myself. Now would be the time since I have the recipe right here thanks to you
Kathy Lane says
April 30, 2013 at 11:45 AMCoconut cake is one of my favorite cakes.This recipe looks so good,now I’m going to be craving it too.Looks like I’m making a trip to the store for coconut.
Allyson Bossie says
May 3, 2013 at 10:43 AMMy friend Doris used to make me a “pina colada” cake that reminds me of this one..only she soaked the cake in pina colada mixer first..either way, I love coocnut and I want this cake 😀
Nena Sinclair says
May 6, 2013 at 4:42 PMI absolutely love anything coconut! This cake looks so yummy, I’ve definitely gotta make it! Thanks for sharing!
RANDY FULGHAM says
May 9, 2013 at 7:09 PMi like makig cakes –thanks for sharing the recipe for this one…
Amy N. says
May 15, 2013 at 6:48 PMOhhhhh how I love coconut! I wish my cakes turned out as pretty as yours!
Sandra Beeman says
June 7, 2013 at 8:30 PMSure wish I would have stopped by and found that cake! Coconut is under-used in my opinion! Looks like i weill have to make my own.
Kobi Klaf says
December 24, 2013 at 9:40 AMOh… this looks so good! Coconut cake is one of my favorite one.
Tammy says
September 9, 2014 at 12:01 AMI wish you would get rid of that Betty Crocker advertisement that NEVER moves away. I cannot look at a recipe in full because that ad blocks everythings.