

Yields:
10 - 12 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
This fluffy coconut cake is filled with an easy pineapple curd and finished with a cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut flakes. We love the bigger, unsweetened flakes, but if you prefer sweetened coconut for the outside it works just as well. The cake uses coconut milk to get extra flavor and it makes the cake quite rich. Since the cake batter uses oil instead of butter it stays soft and is easy to whisk together.
Making the pineapple curd is easy, but requires some attention. The eggs can curdle easily if left unstirred or if the pan gets too hot too quickly. Whisking over a low heat is best. The curd gets strained at the end to remove any curdled eggs and to make a silky smooth pineapple curd.
Try out more of our pineapple desserts before summer is up.
Have you made this yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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Ingredients
For the cake
Cooking spray
- 3 cups
all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups
granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp.
cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp.
baking powder
- 1 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1 cup
canned full fat coconut milk
- 3/4 cup
vegetable oil
- 4
large eggs
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
For the pineapple curd
- 4
egg yolks
- 3/4 cup
granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup
pineapple juice
- 4 Tbsp.
butter
For the frosting
- 1 cup
coconut flakes
- 1
(8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup
(1 stick) butter, softened
- 3 cups
powdered sugar
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Step 1Preheat oven to 350°. Grease two 8” cake pans with parchment and grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Step 2In another large bowl, whisk together coconut milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly between cake pans.
- Step 3Bake until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Step 4Meanwhile, make curd: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together eggs, sugar, and pineapple juice. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low and let simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and whisk in butter. Strain curd through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.
- Step 5Make frosting: Preheat oven to 350°. Place coconut on a baking sheet in an even layer. Bake until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes, tossing halfway through. Let cool completely.
- Step 6In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until no lumps remain.
- Step 7Level tops of cakes as needed. Place one layer on a cake stand or serving dish. Add some frosting and spread out into an even layer. Use an offset spatula to then build and a short wall of frosting around the edge or transfer some frosting to a piping bag with a large round tip and pipe along the edge. Pour curd in center and spread into an even layer. Place second layer of cake on top and frost top and sides with remaining frosting.
- Step 8Use your hands to press coconut flakes onto top and sides of cake. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
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