Description
A tender, ultra-moist coconut cake that smells like a tropical bakery and tastes like celebration. I whisk creamy coconut milk into a buttery batter, fold in a heap of coconut, and bake until the edges turn golden and the crumb stays plush. It’s a crowd-pleasing dessert for birthdays, potlucks, date nights, or whenever you want an easy recipe that still feels special.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups grated coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon rum (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a bundt or round cake pan or line with parchment.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Beat butter until smooth in a large bowl; add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Stir in coconut milk and vanilla (and rum, if using) until combined.
5. Fold dry ingredients into wet just until the flour disappears—do not overmix.
6. Fold in grated coconut evenly.
7. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
8. Bake 35–45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
9. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then turn out to a rack to cool completely; garnish with extra coconut if you like.
Notes
Use room-temperature butter, eggs, and coconut milk for a silky batter and even rise.
Start checking for doneness at 35 minutes—coconut dries quickly if overbaked.
For extra moisture, brush the cooled cake with 2–3 tablespoons warm coconut milk.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 cake)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: coconut cake, tropical dessert, Caribbean dessert, easy recipe, moist cake, coconut milk cake, party dessert, sweet snack, breakfast ideas, dinner ideas