Classic Coconut Cake

Name: Classic Coconut Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 spray Nonstick vegetable oil spray; 2 cups all purpose flour; 1⅓ cups sweetened flaked coconut; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 2 cups sugar; 1 cup unsalted butter; 5 large egg yolks; 4 large egg whites; 3⅓ cups powdered sugar; 8 ounces cream cheese; ½ cup unsalted butter; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

A delicious layered coconut cake made with buttermilk and sweetened flaked coconut, topped with cream cheese frosting. This moist and fluffy cake combines the perfect balance of coconut flavor with rich, creamy frosting.

12 servings

1 hr 30 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1 spray Nonstick vegetable oil spray
•2 cups all purpose flour
•1⅓ cups sweetened flaked coconut
•1 cup buttermilk
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•2 cups sugar
•1 cup unsalted butter
•5 large egg yolks
•4 large egg whites
•3⅓ cups powdered sugar
•8 ounces cream cheese
•½ cup unsalted butter
•2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray; line bottom of pans with parchment paper rounds.
10 min
2.
Mix flour and coconut in medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk and baking soda in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolks and beat to blend. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions, beating just to blend after each addition. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon salt in another large bowl until peaks form. Add 1/3 of egg white mixture to batter; fold into batter just to blend. Fold in remaining egg white mixture in 2 additions. Divide batter between pans.
15 min
3.
Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run small sharp knife around sides of cake pans. Invert cakes onto racks. Carefully peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely.
45 min
4.
Using electric mixer, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in large bowl until blended. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Place second layer, flat side up, atop frosting. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle some of coconut over top of cake; pat more coconut on sides of cake. DO AHEAD: can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.
20 min

Ingredients

•1 spray Nonstick vegetable oil spray

•2 cups all purpose flour

•1⅓ cups sweetened flaked coconut

•1 cup buttermilk

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•2 cups sugar

•1 cup unsalted butter

•5 large egg yolks

•4 large egg whites

•3⅓ cups powdered sugar

•8 ounces cream cheese

•½ cup unsalted butter

•2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray; line bottom of pans with parchment paper rounds.

10 min

Mix flour and coconut in medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk and baking soda in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolks and beat to blend. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions, beating just to blend after each addition. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon salt in another large bowl until peaks form. Add 1/3 of egg white mixture to batter; fold into batter just to blend. Fold in remaining egg white mixture in 2 additions. Divide batter between pans.

15 min

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run small sharp knife around sides of cake pans. Invert cakes onto racks. Carefully peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely.

45 min

Using electric mixer, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in large bowl until blended. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Place second layer, flat side up, atop frosting. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle some of coconut over top of cake; pat more coconut on sides of cake. DO AHEAD: can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

20 min