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Favorite (easy) Coconut Cake | Bake at 350°

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  • August 21, 2024

piece of coconut cake on white plate with clear fork standing up in center

What has made this our family’s favorite coconut cake for decades now?

A. It’s freaking delicious. The cake is moist, the icing is decadent, and the
coconut flavor is just the right amount.

B. The cake is SO easy to make! 

C. Made in a 13 x 9″ pan, there are no layers to frost, and it’s perfect for
transporting to parties, the neighbor’s house, picnics, and potlucks!

coconut cake in 13x9" pan, overhead shot

I’m not saying you need to make it this week. (OK, maybe I am.) It’s a
great cake for a weeknight celebration, and it’s also scrumptious enough for a
special occasion. 

As I mentioned, we’ve been making this cake for decades, and I have
blogged about it
before (in 2009!!!), but it needed a slight update.  You see, this cake
uses a cake mix — cue gasp — and cake mixes have changed
quite a bit since my mom gave me this recipe. 

close up piece of coconut cake

A note about storing this coconut cake:

The icing is just that—icing. It’s not a super stiff, fluffy frosting. After
frosting, you’ll want to pop the cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so
for the icing to set, but once it’s set, store the cake covered with foil at
room temperature. Keeping it in the fridge will cause it to dry out. 

Let’s Make Favorite (easy) Coconut Cake 

easy coconut cake ingredients

You’ll need two boxes of white cake mix. Why? Because the amount of mix in
boxes has shrunk over the years. The recipe is based on the 18.25-ounce
box. 

digital kitchen scale zeroed out

digital scale showing 18.25 ounces cake mix, fix vintage recipe shrinkflation

Add enough of the second cake mix to equal 18.25 ounces. Yes, you’ll need a
digital scale. They’re inexpensive, and you’ll find that you use it more than you think
you will.  I bet I use
my digital scale
at least every other day if not every day! 

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small can cream of coconut in hand

The secret sauce to this cake is
cream of coconut
. This is different than
coconut cream or coconut milk. Usually it comes in bigger cans, and you’ll find it in the drink mixer
section of the store. 

cake batter and digital scale on leathered granite counter

Now my grocery store sells smaller cans in the baking section. If yours does,
too, it’s time to break out the scale. See, you’re already using that scale
again!

Mix the cake mix with the remaining ingredients and pour into the prepared
pan. Boom. (Told you it was easy!)

Let the cake cool, then make the icing. Did I mention this is CREAM CHEESE
ICING?!?

whipped cream cheese in stainless bowl

Why do I have to beat the cream cheese first?

OK, you don’t HAVE to…only if you want an icing with no cream cheese lumps.
Once the sugar and milk is added, it’s difficult to get all of the lumps out.
I prefer to beat the cream cheese until smooth before adding the remaining
ingredients.

cream cheese icing in bowl

Whip that up, then cover the cake with sweetened coconut. It’s a dream. 

easy coconut cake baked in 13x9" pan

YIELD: 12-16 pieces

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

BAKE TIME: 40 minutes

for the cake:

2 boxes white cake mix, divided

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

8 ounces sour cream 

15.5 ounces cream of coconut

for the cream cheese icing:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 pound powdered sugar 

3-4 TBSP milk

Sweetened shredded “Angel Flake” coconut

Lightly grease a 9 X 13″ pan. Preheat oven to 350. 

Pour one cake mix into a bowl placed onto a digital scale. Add enough of the
second cake mix to equal 18.25 ounces total. (Reserve the remaining dry cake
mix for another bake.)

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Add the oil, eggs, sour cream, and cream of coconut. Mix until combined and
most lumps are gone, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top bounces back when lightly pressed. The
cake will be lightly golden on top. Let cool completely on a wire rack before
icing.

Make the icing. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and 3
tablespoons milk. Beat until combined. The icing should be pourable. If
needed, add another tablespoon milk. Pour over the cooled cake and use an
offset spatula
to spread evenly.  Cover with coconut. Place in refrigerator to set the
icing, about 30 minutes. After that, cover with foil and store at room
temperature.

piece of frosted coconut cake on white plate with fork sticking out

Did you just fall out of a coconut tree? Make it! 

#Favorite #easy #Coconut #Cake #Bake

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