Coconut Velvet Cake. Beautifully moist & tender, flavoured with coconut milk & extract, then covered in coconut marshmallow frosting & dried coconut.
Coconut Velvet Cake
Originally published Nov 2014.
I’d been planning to develop a recipe for this coconut velvet cake for a long time and finally got around to it recently.
It had been on my mind ever since the runaway success of my recipe for Lemon Velvet Cake . Actually for the success of my entire collection of Velvet Cake Recipes.
Coconut Velvet Cake
Because of the fat content in the coconut milk some of the fat and liquid ingredients in the cake needed tweaking. That’s so the tender crumb structure would be maintained and I think I got the balance just right.
I chose not to add coconut to the cake batter, instead relying on the rich flavour of coconut milk. That, and the added boost of pure coconut extract for extra flavour.
You can add some dried coconut to the batter if you wanted but use fine cut, unsweetened if you do. 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup should be enough.
Fine cut dried (desiccated) unsweetened coconut is the type to use in this recipe, if you want to add it to the batter.
Three people always come to mind every time I make a new coconut recipe, my mom, my son and my friend Nancy. All of them are complete coconut lovers and would highly approve of this delicious cake.
Be sure to check out the other flavours in our entire collection of Velvet Cake Recipes!
Like this Coconut Velvet Cake recipe?
You’ll find hundreds of other sweet ideas in our Cakes & Pies Category and even more in our Desserts Category.
Coconut Velvet Cake
Coconut Velvet Cake - A beautifully moist and tender crumbed cake, flavoured with coconut milk and extract, then covered in a coconut marshmallow frosting and covered in a generous garnish of dried coconut.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1¼ cups sifted all purpose flour
- 1½ cups sifted cake flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups sugar
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup vegetable shortening at room temperature
- 1 tsp good quality vanilla extract
- 2 tsp pure coconut extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ cups coconut milk
- ¼ cup milk
- Approximately ¼ to ⅓ of a cup dried coconut to add to the batter, (optional)
For the Frosting
- 4 egg whites
- ¼ tsp cream of tarter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp pure coconut extract
- 1¼ cups sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
- Approximately 1 cup dried coconut, (sweetened or unsweetened, your choice)
Instructions
To make the cake
- Grease and flour 2 nine inch round cake pans and line the bottom with 2 circles of parchment paper. Sift together both flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar, Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the vegetable oil, shortening, vanilla and coconut extract. Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy
- Beat the eggs in one at a time.
- Mix together the milk and coconut milk.
- Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the coconut milk mixture.
- I always add dry ingredients in three divisions and liquid ingredients in 2 divisions. It is very important to begin and end the additions with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix the batter. As soon as it has no lumps in the batter, pour into the two prepared 9 inch cake pans.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
To prepare the Coconut Marshmallow Frosting
- In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer or when a teaspoonful of the mixture dropped into ice water forms a soft ball that holds its shape when cool.
- Whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla and coconut extracts to soft peaks in a large bowl.
- With the mixer on medium high speed, slowly begin to pour the sugar syrup down the side of the egg white bowl in a thin continuous stream.
- Continue to whip the frosting until it forms stiff peaks.
- Frost your cake immediately with this frosting while it is still slightly warm as it is easier to spread smoothly than if allowed to cool completely.
- Immediately cover the top and sides of the cake with the dried coconut. You can use sweetened coconut here if you like. Toasted coconut is good if you use unsweetened dried coconut. The sweetened coconut tends to burn more easily when toasted. To toast unsweetened coconut, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spread the coconut on a baking sheet. Bake for about 5 -7 minutes or until the coconut begins to turn golden brown. I like to toss the coconut once or twice during the baking tome to ensure even browning.
Recommended Products
Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1 sliceAmount Per Serving Calories 534Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 50mgSodium 354mgCarbohydrates 84gFiber 1gSugar 58gProtein 6g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
Coconut Velvet Cake
Nancy
Saturday 22nd of June 2019
Hi Barry, this is my daughters favorite cake so I want to make it for her bridal shower. I need a larger cake though, do you think it could be made as a 3 tiered 9 inch cake? Thank you!
Barry C. Parsons
Saturday 5th of October 2019
These cakes should not be stacked without supports.
Tangela
Friday 6th of July 2018
Hi Barry, Awesome recipe! Can it be halved?
Barry C. Parsons
Sunday 8th of July 2018
I don't see why not.
Stephie Scat
Tuesday 3rd of April 2018
I've always wondered..how do you store cake with this type of marshmallow frosting? Does it have to stay in refrigerator? or can you keep at room temperature? if so, how long does it last? Thank you!
Barry C. Parsons
Thursday 5th of April 2018
It should last a couple of days at room temperature. I store it in a sealed cake dome and ofter do refrigerate it too.
Elaine
Friday 8th of December 2017
Is it OK for cupcakes?
Loni
Friday 20th of January 2017
This cake is amazing! It isn't crazy sweet and the icing is perfect for the cake. But, I would be totally content with just the cake. It's that good!