15 Coconut Cake Recipes to Satisfy Every Kind of Coconut Lover

From mile-high confections to easy sheet cakes, there's a coconut-flavored treat here for everyone.

Coconut Cloud Cake
Credit:

decorvow

From towering confections layered with coconut filling and finished with billowy frosting to sheet cakes to feed a crowd, there is no bad form of coconut cake. Some coconut cakes are vanilla, and the coconut comes from their filling and frosting; others have coconut in the batter; and some are triple plays with coconut in the batter, the filling, and the frosting.

Many of these coconut cake recipes use flaked coconut, but some also call for coconut cream, coconut milk, or coconut oil. And, while many of these treats are all about the coconut, some recipes pair well with complementary flavors like lemon, pineapple, and chocolate. There truly is a cake here for every coconut cake lover—likely more than one!

01 of 15

Coconut Layer Cake

Coconut cake
Credit:

decorvow

Tall, delicate, and packed with coconut flavor, this spectacular layer cake might be the ultimate combination of cake and coconut. There's a coconut cream filling, flaked coconut between each layer, and plenty of billowy, seven-minute frosting.

02 of 15

Coconut-Lemon Cake

coconut lemon cake
Credit: Bryan Gardner

This Bundt cake has coconut cream and lemon in the batter. It’s brushed with a lemon syrup after baking and served with whipped cream and toasted flaked coconut.

03 of 15

Coconut Crunch Cake

plated slices of Coconut Crunch Cake
Credit: Con Poulos

A triple coconut dessert, this single-layer cake has cream of coconut and coconut oil in the batter and a crunchy vanilla coconut topping that’s baked on top. Chocolate sauce makes a luscious accompaniment for serving.

04 of 15

Coconut Cake With Berries and Cream

coconut-cake-berries-cream-mld108771.jpg
Credit: Johnny Miller

A tasty riff on tres leches, this coconut sheet cake is soaked in condensed milk, heavy cream, and coconut milk. It’s spread with whipped cream and topped with berries for serving.

05 of 15

Coconut-Lemon Layer Cake

edf_cococake.jpg

Coconut takes center stage in this easy layer cake. But a touch of store-bought lemon curd added to the seven-minute frosting for the filling brings a touch of citrus to heighten the coconut. And those clouds of billowy frosting topped with shredded coconut are every coconut lover's dream.

06 of 15

Coconut-Sugar Hummingbird Cake

coconut sugar hummingbird cake
Credit: Jonathan Lovekin

We love the combination of pineapple, banana, and coconut in hummingbird cake, but it can be very sweet. Using coconut sugar, which doesn't have coconut flavor but does bring a caramel touch rather than plain sweetness, is a genius way to balance this favorite layer cake.

07 of 15

Chocolate-Coconut Sheet Cake

chocolate-coconut-sheet-cake-md109612.jpg
Credit: Chris Court

An easy sheet cake that will delight both coconut and chocolate lovers. No frosting is needed; it’s finished with a chocolate-coconut topping that’s poured over the warm cake and gives the dessert a delicious gooey texture.

08 of 15

Lane Cake

lane-cake-141-d113085.jpg
Credit: Yossy Arefi

This delicate cake has bourbon-spiked frosting and is filled with raisins, pecans, and coconut and coated with coconut and pecans. It's a Southern beauty that was invented in the late 19th century by Emma Rylander Lane—and even won her a baking competition in Alabama.

09 of 15

Coconut-Pineapple Loaf Cake

med103841_0608_loaf_cake.jpg

Toasted coconut provides texture and contrast to the sweet, juicy pineapple in this easy loaf cake. Eat alone or serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

10 of 15

Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake

Meyer Lemon Coconut Layer Cake
Credit:

Johnny Miller

A showstopping cake for a special occasion, this dessert alternates moist coconut cake and rich coconut-lemon curd and is covered with coconut buttercream frosting. Candied Meyer lemon slices and fresh mint decorate the top.

11 of 15

Coconut Cloud Cake

coconut cloud cake slice

Here's a coconut cake that lives up to its name and is as light as a cloud. That’s because it’s leavened by 14 egg whites—there’s no butter or egg in this light, tender vanilla cake. A silky seven-minute frosting and plenty of coconut flakes are the finishing touch.

12 of 15

Coconut Chiffon Cake With Chocolate Frosting

coconut chiffon cake with chocolate frosting
Credit: Armando Rafael

Egg whites leaven this lofty chiffon cake, which is made with matzo meal and potato starch rather than flour, making it just right for Passover. Coconut milk and coconut oil give the cake a subtle coconut flavor, making it too delicious to enjoy just once a year.

13 of 15

Ultimate Coconut Cake

2162_tv_cake.jpg

There's no denying this coconut cake is a project, but it's a supremely delicious one. It has six coconut cake layers that are brushed with simple syrup and sandwiched with a generous amount of thick, creamy coconut filling. Then there's a cream cheese frosting and plenty of toasted coconut spread around the sides.

14 of 15

Coconut-Buttermilk Pound Cake

edf-loves-buttermilk-poundcake-004c-med108875.jpg
Credit: Romulo Yanes

This rich pound cake has toasted coconut baked right in. A final sprinkle tops the buttermilk and confectioners’ sugar glaze for a simple, buttery finish.

15 of 15

Heart-Shaped Coconut Cake

alexis-coconut-heart-cake-114-d112178.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

This heart-shaped coconut cake has one layer of banana cake and one layer of coconut cake encompassed in luscious cream cheese frosting. Coconut flakes are dyed with red or pink powdered food coloring to give this gorgeous cake its color. It's the perfect cake to serve on Valentine's, an anniversary, or a cutesy dinner party.

Related Articles