24 Coconut Cake Recipes
Coconut Cream Cake
Recipe: Coconut Cream Cake
The nostalgia of coconut cream pie meets the fanfare of a layer cake in one delicious dessert.
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Coconut-Almond Roulade
Recipe: Coconut-Almond Roulade
If you can't find desiccated coconut, process shredded coconut in a food processor until finely ground.
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Coconut-and-Pecan Strawberry Shortcakes
Recipe: Coconut-and-Pecan Strawberry Shortcakes
For a creative, updated take on shortcake, we added coconut and pecans to the dough.
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Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting
These delectable Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting start with a cake mix and are a favorite dessert for any gathering. Make an impression by making birds' nests with malted milk balls and edible paper as a garnish for these cupcakes.
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Ambrosia Coconut Cake
Recipe: Ambrosia Coconut Cake
Make the filling and frosting up to 2 days ahead. Then, build the cake, and chill up to 24 hours.
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Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake Loaf
Recipe: Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake Loaf
Garnish this pound cake with flaked coconut or, for a dressier look, curly shavings of coconut. See the Test Kitchen note below for instructions on making fresh coconut shavings.
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Coconut-Almond Cream Cake
Recipe: Coconut-Almond Cream Cake
Brooks Hamaker, from New Orleans, makes this cake with the precision of a skilled baker who has made his masterpiece many times. If the tops of the layers are a little rounded, he recommends leveling them with a serrated knife. "This is a tall cake," he says, "and it needs to be level if you want your friends to admire your work before they devour the cake--as they absolutely will."
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Four-Layer Coconut Cake
Recipe: Four-Layer Coconut Cake
Coconut shavings can be purchased in the bulk section of your local health food store or dried fruit section in the supermarket.
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Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes
Recipe: Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes
Small bites are big treats! These Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes topped with a sweet Caramel Frosting make for a perfect after-dinner treat.
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Coconut Sheet Cake
Recipe: Coconut Sheet Cake
Coconut cake just got easier. Make a sheet cake instead of a layer cake for a dessert that's as easy as it is delicious. Top with cream cheese icing and a sprinkle of coconut for a cool, delicious dessert.
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Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake
Your guests will never realize this gorgeous and delicious dessert is dairy-and gluten-free, but the ones who usually have to decline dessert based on dietary restrictions will be so grateful.
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Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Recipe: Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Swap out your usual carrot cake with a lightly spiced, coconut-sweet version this Easter. A sheet cake feeds a crowd and travels better than a layered cake.
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Coconut Pound Cake
Recipe: Coconut Pound Cake
Coconut pound cake sounds delicious enough, but this recipe packs two secret Southern ingredients that take this cake over the top—pecans and bourbon.
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Coconut Cake with Rum Filling and Coconut Ermine Frosting
Recipe: Coconut Cake with Rum Filling and Coconut Ermine Frosting
This stunning layer cake will be the star of any Southern holiday table, and if you’re a baker who’s never tried ermine frosting, you’ll love its soft, buttercream-like texture.
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Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting
Recipe: Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting
This spiced cake is a holiday favorite for many families, and unlike some of the less-than-appetizing fruitcakes that might come to mind, this one only contains raisins—no odd dried fruits.
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Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe: Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
These rich cupcakes are filled with coconut flavor. They’re perfect for feeding a crowd at the potluck but impressive enough for a holiday dinner.
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Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake
Recipe: Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake
The word might make you cringe, but there’s no other way to describe a well-done tres leches cake than moist—and this one has dreamy coconut flavor to go along with that velvety texture.
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Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake
Recipe: Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake
A sweet, tangy orange filling between layers adds so much zest to a traditional Italian cream cake, and it’s perfect for a dressy holiday celebration.
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Tropical Carrot Cake
Recipe: Tropical Carrot Cake
This tropical treat combines everything you love about carrot cake and our beloved Hummingbird cake into one decadent dessert that might become a new Easter tradition.
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Coconut-Macadamia Nut Pound Cake
Recipe: Coconut-Macadamia Nut Pound Cake
This dreamy dessert is topped with an easy rum glaze that’s festive for any dinner party or Christmas cocktail.
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Festive Piña Colada Cheesecake
Recipe: Festive Piña Colada Cheesecake
This fruity cheesecake is like a slice of the tropics for your cake stand.
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Coconut-Lemon Cake
Recipe: Coconut-Lemon Cake
This classic white layer cake has a dreamy lemon filling and fluffy frosting. If you have leftover lemon filling from the layers, use it to fill tart shells for an extra bite.
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Chocolate-Coconut Layer Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Layer Cake
If you’re a coconut-cake fanatic but you have all chocolate lovers in your family, let us introduce you to the ultimate, delicious compromise.