Description
A luscious and tropical dessert layered with fluffy coconut cake, sweet crushed pineapple, and rich cream cheese frosting, topped with toasted coconut flakes. Perfect for summer parties or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup coconut milk (full fat)
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup toasted coconut flakes (for topping)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and coconut milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Stir just until combined.
- Gently fold in the crushed pineapple and shredded coconut. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until fluffy.
- Layer the cakes with cream cheese frosting and additional pineapple chunks if desired. Frost the top and sides of the cake.
- Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top and press lightly into the frosting.
- Chill or serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Drain pineapple thoroughly to prevent soggy cake layers.
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smoother batter and frosting.
- Freeze cake layers individually if preparing in advance.
- For a stronger tropical flavor, add a touch of rum extract to the batter or frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tropical
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: pineapple coconut cake, tropical cake, summer dessert, cream cheese frosting, coconut dessert, pineapple layer cake