The Cake Slice: Southern Coconut Cake
February 20, 2009 at 2:39 am | Posted in cakes & tortes, groups, layer cakes, sweet things, the cake slice | 45 Comments
I am a coconut cake fanatic. I love it in all its forms…filled with pastry cream or lemon curd, iced with cream cheese frosting or buttercream. Any which way you slice it, I’ll take a piece! Coconut cupcakes are scrummy too…I made some here awhile back. So, naturally I was excited when Southern Coconut Cake won The Cake Slice group vote this month (although I know it only came from behind to beat out a chocolate-peanut butter cake because of the current salmonella scare, but so what).
There are no yolks in this cake, so the crumb is snow-white fluff. I really like that the recipe incorporates coconut milk into the batter. I punched up the coconut flavor a bit more by using a combination of vanilla and coconut extracts (rather than straight vanilla), and by folding a handful of finely grated unsweetened coconut (the desiccated stuff from the health food store) into the batter at the end. I made half a recipe, but rather than baking it in three 6-inch pans, like I usually do, I spread the batter into a quarter sheet pan (measuring something like 9″ x 13″). I then cut it into three strips, which I stacked into a rectangular cake… for some reason, I was obsessed with having a slice that looked like Pepperidge Farm.
The finished cake is not frosted with a traditional cream cheese frosting, but with a super light cream cheese buttercream, made with an Italian meringue. Wow, is it good…and it’s something that I never would have thought to do. The book that this recipe comes from, Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes, has so many cool ideas– I’m really glad to have it. I made a two-thirds recipe of buttercream, so I could have leftovers to frost my Valentine’s cupcakes.
Not only does this cake taste great, but it’s also soooo pretty. I want it for my wedding cake. Oh, darn…I’m already married! But there’s actually something else I can celebrate with a yummy coconut cake– a whisk and a spoon turns two today! I can hardly believe it (especially when I go back and look at those early posts–ha!), and if it weren’t for all of you who read and leave such encouraging comments, I may not have kept at it for so long. Thank you for making blogging so wonderfully fun and fulfilling!!
Here’s a printable link to the recipe. Better yet, get your hands on a copy of Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alicia Huntsman and Peter Wynne. Cruise through the list of The Cake Slice Bakers to check out all of our coconut cakes this month.
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a whisk and a spoon 
Happy 2nd bdae! haha. the cake looks gorgeous as usual! not to mention i thought that the cream cheese buttercream taste divine! haha. I wldn’t mind that as my wedding cake too.
Comment by Sihan— February 20, 2009 #
Happy blog-o-versary! Your cake is gorgeous and I agree, …the icing is amazing! 🙂
Comment by Gigi— February 20, 2009 #
I did the same thing, halving the cake and 2/3-ing the icing. Good idea on the 9×13, only one pan to deal with that way. And you’re right… it’s Pepperidge farms all the way.
Your cake looks fantastic! glad you enjoyed it.
Comment by Jacque— February 20, 2009 #
Scrumptious and divine!!
Comment by VeggieGirl— February 20, 2009 #
A slab of decadence that is!!! Lovely, just lovely!!!
Comment by nina— February 20, 2009 #
That cake sounds absolutely yummy, Steph!
And I’m with you on the coconut bit! What a great food… so versatile and easy to combine with so many things!
A very happy blog-anniversary and long, long life to the whisk… and the spoon! LOL Every time, it’s a treat to come and visit…
Comment by Vibi— February 20, 2009 #
That’s a Purdy cake from a gal down south!
Comment by Renee— February 20, 2009 #
Your cake looks gorgeous! Love the oblong shape. Happy 2nd blog birthday too.
Comment by Katie— February 20, 2009 #
Looks wonderful. I love the layers, so moist and delicious.
Comment by Jo— February 20, 2009 #
Happy Blogiversary! What a great cake to celebrate the day…I cannot wait to try this frosting that everyone is raving about!! And I must say, you succeeded in making your cake look like the perfect Pepperidge Farm slice (except your cake looks so much more delicious)!
Comment by Elyse— February 20, 2009 #
Happy Blogoversary — blog has been a real treat to visit, and looking forward to seeing more of your delicious posts!
I would agree — the cream cheese buttercream was to die for!
Comment by Linda— February 20, 2009 #
I agree with you on this cake. It was fabulous. Yours looks to die for! I am wishing I would’ve tried the frosting recipe since everyone is absolutely raving about it.
You described it perfectly. lol about the marriage thing!
Comment by Mary Ann— February 20, 2009 #
Looks delicious! Cream cheese buttercream sounds brilliant! Is that fresh, toasted coconut on top?
Comment by Foodess— February 20, 2009 #
Your coconut cake looks gorgeous. YUM!
Comment by pinkstripes— February 20, 2009 #
Oh, no! Was that today? Geez…
Your cake looks amazing. Guess I better get on the stick!
Comment by Lindsey (Cafe Johnsonia)— February 20, 2009 #
Happy second blog-birthday!! I love that this cake is stacked up… It shows off it’s nice layers.
Comment by Amanda— February 20, 2009 #
Foodess–Thanks! On top I have some lightly toasted large coconut flakes. They are unsweetened packaged flakes that I think I obught at Whole Foods.
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— February 20, 2009 #
Happy Blog Anniversary!!!!!!!! 🙂
Love love love the Southern Coconut cake! I make it for my mother a few times a year- by far her fav!
Comment by Jen— February 20, 2009 #
I just had to pop in from Meet Me in the Kitchen and wish you a Happy Blogoversary, Steph. I love Southern Coconut Cake. Yours looks Yummy!
Comment by Louise— February 20, 2009 #
Definitely a fave. That looks beautiful!
Comment by howtoeatacupcake— February 20, 2009 #
Great looking cake! We’ll all make it for you when you renew your vows!
Comment by foodlibrarian— February 20, 2009 #
Happy 2 nd anniversary and that slice is gorgeous…
Comment by rachel— February 21, 2009 #
Happy blog birthday!!
Comment by Stephanie— February 21, 2009 #
I am a coconut fanatic as well. No yolks? Maybe I should just make it and see if any other coconut fans come crawling out of the woodwork.
Comment by Jeanna— February 21, 2009 #
Oooh! It looks so beautiful! I’m a coconut cake fanatic too. I saw this recipe in my copy of Sky High, but haven’t gotten around to making it yet. It is definitely next on my list!
Comment by Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy— February 21, 2009 #
Happy Blogiversary!! I can’t wait to join you Cake Slicers next month and try these awesome cakes with you all =)
Comment by Stephanie— February 22, 2009 #
Coconut is my weakness.
NAOmni
Comment by NAOmni— February 22, 2009 #
Happy blogiversary! Your cake is beautiful–it almost makes me wish I liked coconut! =)
Comment by Di— February 22, 2009 #
WOW!!! Two years of beautiful blogging!!! Fantastic. Your photos are always lovely and your dedication is inspiring. Thanks for all that.
Lovely cake. Wish I had made it.
Comment by teaandscones— February 23, 2009 #
Happy 2nd birthday!! The cake looks gorgeous!!
Comment by Tammy— February 23, 2009 #
Happy Blog Birthday!! What an accomplishment! I read your blog constantly and continue to be amazing by all that you create. 2 years is something to be super proud of. Congratulations!
Comment by Erin Phraner— February 26, 2009 #
I love coconut cake too! Yours looks fantastic, so much better than Pepperidge Farm’s…not that I would turn down P.F. or any coconut cake (ever)! The cream cheese buttercream is intriguing, I will have to try it. Happy 2nd blog-birthday!
Comment by Min— February 28, 2009 #
I made this cake for my brothers birthday. It came out incredible!
Comment by gina's weight watcher recipes— March 2, 2009 #
What a fabulous cake! I just purchased the cookbook and see that there is The Cake Slice. How wonderful! Can you let me know how I could join?
julberg6@aol.com
Comment by Julie— March 16, 2009 #
I L_O_V_E no really LOVE coconut! And especially coconut cake! This cake looks awesome!!! I’ll be purchasing the cookbook tonite FOR SURE but I too see that there is The Cake Slice club. How do I join?
Comment by Stephanie— April 3, 2009 #
Stephanie: Thanks for the comment– you should definitely try this cake!! You can check out gigicakes.net, and ask gigi if she’s accepting new members into the group right now.
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— April 3, 2009 #
your cake looks SO good; i can’t wait to try this recipe!
Comment by Dorothy— May 28, 2009 #
Hi
How much coconut extract did you add to the batter.
Comment by jackie— October 4, 2009 #
Hi Jackie. I took the vanilla amount in the original recipe (2 t, i think) and went half vanilla and half coconut.
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— October 5, 2009 #
I want to try this but with full on coconut! I love coconut, and the icing/frosting is perfect, really great recipe.
Comment by Heather Sweetart— November 6, 2009 #
the recipe calls for 4 1/2 tsps of baking powder, is that correct? it seems a bit much at looking at other cake recipes in proportion. Does that much affect the texture or something? I am just asking cause I am trying this recipe for my easter bunny cake and hoping it comes out tasting as perfect as it looks.
Comment by cheri— April 21, 2011 #
Yes, 4 1/2 teaspoons is correct. The cakes from this book are tall!
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— April 21, 2011 #
Hi, is the unsweetened coconut milk the kind you find in the can or the refrigerated carton? Thanks
Comment by Suzanne— April 28, 2015 #
Hi Suzanne. I used the kind in the can here. Thanks!
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— April 28, 2015 #
Thank you for the quick reply! I was worried since the last comment was from 4 years ago. I’ve made the chocolate peanut cake from the Sky High book and it’s now my go to chocolate cake so I’m excited to try another one of their recipes.
Comment by Suzanne— April 28, 2015 #