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Coconut Cake

       

         
       I've used this recipe to make layer cakes, cupcakes and pan cakes for many years now. 
       When I made it again for a recent birthday, several people asked for the recipe so here it is. 
                                      The secret to its moist texture is the buttermilk.
The cake pictured above is filled with lemon curd and frosted with Seven Minute frosting.
The cake below is filled with Raspberry jam and whipped cream and frosted with Cream Frosting



For the Cake:
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 2 1/4 cups sifted flour, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk or sour milk
  • 1 cup flaked coconut
1. Grease and flour 2 round 8 inch cake pans or 1 9x13 inch pan.
2. Cream butter and add sugar gradually until light and well blended.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg.
4. Add 1 1/4 cups flour, baking soda and salt and beat well.
5. Add extracts to buttermilk and add half of liquid to batter. Beat well.
6. Add remaining cup flour and rest of liquid and beat until moistened.
7. Beat an additional 2 minutes at medium speed. Fold in 1 cup coconut.
8. Spoon into prepared pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick comes out dry.
9. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans.

If you’ve baked your cake in 2 round pans, you can fill the cake with any of the following:

• Lemon curd folded into lightly sweetened whipped cream
• Raspberry jam topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream
• Vanilla pudding

Frost with: Seven minute frosting (also known as boiled frosting) and top with flaked coconut.

Or: Frost with
Cream Frosting
• 1/2 litre of whipping cream
• 2-3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat with mixer on high until thick. Do not over beat.
Spread whipped frosting on top and sides of cake and top with toasted coconut
from the kitchen of
recipe file

23 comments:

  1. Hillcresthome PrimsMarch 21, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    HOLY MOLY, I have to bake this, my mouth is watering!!!!!!

    Spring Blessings and Happy Baking,
    Tricia

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  2. Designs on 47th StreetMarch 21, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    I am putting this on my Easter menu! Yummy!
    Donna

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  3. LindaMarch 21, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    I think a coconut cake should have some coconut in the cake. If it is just on the frosting, it is just a butter cake with some coconut on top. is there no way to add coconut milk to the cake batter?

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  4. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    Looks to me like there is 1 cup coconut in the cake batter, is there not. I am not sure, but that is how I read the recipe. Correct me if I am wrong.

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  5. LorrieMarch 21, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Those cakes look BEAUTIFUL! I just was hoping that you would have given us photos of how you shaped the icing so well. I really lack in the decorating department.

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  6. Lisa D.March 21, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    That cake looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. iowacowgirlMarch 21, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    Easter dessert. And since I'm a lifelong member of the Peeps Fan Club (yes, a high point of my life), I'll have a small flock of yellow chick Peeps nesting on top of the cake.

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  8. ellen b.March 21, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Oh boy this is a beauty!

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  9. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    Please clarify which kind of cream you mean, as I believe you've mixed up these terms and may confuse novice cooks:
    liquid cream = WhippING cream
    cream beaten until fluffy = WhippED cream

    ReplyDelete
  10. MaryMarch 21, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    Gonna hafta try this one!!

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  11. Melissa@Little Log House ChroniclesMarch 21, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    I make a cake similar to this one but I like this with the buttermilk. Thanks! I'm going to make it for the next birthday cake. I use coconut cream filling also and it is awesome and coconutty!

    The cream frosting looks very delicious too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonky GirlMarch 21, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Ah yes, just the dessert I was looking for. A pot luck is coming up for my DH at work. I think this will knock their socks off!
    Hope mine will look as yummy as yours.

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  13. SandyMarch 21, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    Wowzers! what a cake. I can't wait to try this lovely gem. :)

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  14. ClareMarch 21, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    OK, I want to make this, and eat it all by myself!! jk, I'll share with my family :) Looks yummy

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  15. BrendaMarch 21, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    This looks wonderful! I may add it to my Easter menu like Donna is. Printed out the recipe.

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  16. Bev KMarch 21, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Thank you for all your comments. Thank you also for the whipping/whipped cream question - I have corrected it to make it clear which is which in the recipe.
    As for the decorating - I don't do the fancy cake decorating well but I find using a long metal spatula meant for spreading does wonders to make a cake look nice.
    As for the coconut milk- I have never used it in this cake. The coconut in the cake as well as a bit of coconut extract gives lots of flavour.

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  17. KathyMarch 21, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    Oh...yummy...beautiful cake. I love coconut!

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  18. AnnelieseMarch 21, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    Oh Bev, this looks beautiful! I want to try this one soon. Thanks!

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  19. Kim McCallieMarch 23, 2011 at 3:51 AM

    Yum! I love coconut cake. It's perfect for spring!

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  20. MaryMarch 23, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    My favorite cake!! I am making this for Easter. I am going to try in my bunny mold that was handed down from my grandmother and put the cake on a bed of green tinted coconut for the grass! Thank you so much for this recipe!

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  21. KimTMarch 23, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    i kid you not, I came to this blog about 5 days ago looking for a coconut cake recipe! Now there is one! Yeah! I did end up making the coconut fish curry recipe and it was fab!

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  22. Meg LubyApril 3, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    this looks amazing! coconut cake is a classic. i love this! i had bookmarked a bunch of recipes to get back and comment on post vacation and this was one i knew i needed to share some love on. thanks for sharing :)
    -meg
    @ http://clutzycooking.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousApril 4, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Ladies....you have outdone yourselves yet again!! I made this cake as a dessert for a "Friday Night Girls Night In" dinner with my sister-in-laws. Oh me oh my did we ever enjoy it!! It also served as a birthday cake that evening and the colourful candles placed on top of the creamy white whipped frosting .... well what can I say!! It was only surpassed by the scrumptious taste of this delicious cake! This recipe is a keeper for sure!!

    Thank you for helping make our evening extra special with posting this incredible recipe!!

    ~ Shirley ~

    ReplyDelete

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