Pineapple coconut cake is a wealthy white cake filled with pineapple taste and only a trace of coconut, layered with a velvety easy, indulgent coconut cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut. It’s the proper dessert for coconut and pineapple lovers alike.


Pineapple Coconut Cake
Useful canned pineapple and a splash of coconut milk make this particular cake harking back to a Pina Colada. You already know the way a lot I like a well-stocked pantry and these are two meals that you’ll all the time discover in my kitchen.
This isn’t your common pineapple cake. The pineapple is pureed and blended into the precise white cake batter so that you get the tropical taste in each chew. The ensuing batter was so moist and pineapple-y that I might hardly imagine it.
Coconut Frosting
In a nod of understanding to the entire individuals who can’t get previous the feel of coconut, this can be a easy frosting flavored with creamy coconut milk. This offers the frosting a delicate coconut style with out the feel that some would possibly discover off-putting.
The upper fats content material in canned coconut milk makes the frosting good and creamy. Use the complete fats number of canned coconut milk reasonably than the lite or reduced-fat variations for one of the best outcomes.
The coconut milk will get blended with cream cheese and powdered sugar to turn into a creamy candy cake frosting that’s value licking the spoon for. Please be aware that refrigerated coconut milk won’t work on this recipe.
When making the simple coconut cake frosting, make sure to solely beat the cream cheese in with the remainder of elements till simply mixed. For those who beat it for too lengthy, the icing is susceptible to turn into runny regardless of how rather more powdered sugar you add.


You might be welcome so as to add shredded coconut to the frosting, however I skipped it this time to create a coconut flavored frosting that the coconut-texture-avoidant members of my household would nonetheless love.
I like sprinkling toasted coconut flakes on high of this cake as a garnish and for a bit of further crunch however once more, provided that I do know everybody I’m serving it to is on board with the feel.
Pinapple Coconut Cake Recipe
The ultimate addition to this pina colada impressed cake is the addition of a tiny little bit of darkish rum to the frosting. It provides a depth of taste that I loved mixed with the pineapple and coconut flavors.
For those who can’t or don’t need to use rum within the frosting, coconut extract is an ideal substitution or you possibly can merely omit it altogether.
As a result of this Pineapple Coconut Cake is so moist, it retains properly within the fridge for 2-3 days and I particularly love the way in which the cake tastes when it’s chilly. It’s a really perfect summertime dessert that’ll make you consider sipping pina coladas (or Pineapple Mojitos) by the pool.


I’ve made this cake each the common manner and with gluten-free flour substitutions and it turned out properly each methods. Take a look at the entire Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes on this web site!
Coconut and Pineapple Cake
To make this delectable deal with, you’ll want the next elements:
- pineapple tidbits
- eggs
- sugar
- canned coconut milk
- butter
- vanilla extract
- flour
- baking powder
- teaspoon kosher salt
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- Non-compulsory: darkish rum or coconut extract, and sweetened coconut
Please do not forget that the coconut milk you purchase from the refrigerated part of the grocery retailer won’t work on this recipe. You want full-fat canned coconut milk.


Straightforward Pineapple Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (2) 8-inch or 9-inch spherical pans.
Place the pineapple chunks in a blender or meals processor and puree till utterly easy. In a big mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar till easy.
Stir within the coconut milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, stir to mix. Add 1 cup of the pureed pineapple and stir as soon as extra.
Divide the batter between the ready pans. Bake for 35-38 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart of the cake comes out clear.
Let the desserts cool within the pans for quarter-hour, earlier than rigorously inverting over a wire rack. Let the desserts cool utterly.
Place the cream cheese in a big mixing bowl and beat with an electrical mixer till easy. Sprinkle in half of the powdered sugar and beat to mix.
Add the remaining sugar and beat once more. Pour within the coconut milk and the vanilla, beat to mix after which style the frosting. Alter the sugar as desired, and add a tiny splash of rum, if you need.
Place one layer of the cake on a plate, high with ⅓ of the frosting, smoothing it gently throughout the cake, nearly to the sting. Gently place the second cake over the frosting layer.
I like to position the primary cake upright after which flip the second cake over, in order that the tops are dealing with in and the underside is on high offering a pleasant flat layer. Scoop the remaining frosting onto the highest cake and gently unfold it throughout the cake.
Sprinkle with coconut, if desired, and chill within the fridge till able to serve.
Baking Ideas
Watch out to keep away from overbeating the cream cheese for the frosting. Cease beating it as quickly as it’s easy.
Whether it is crushed for too lengthy, it is going to turn into runny and all of the sugar on the earth received’t thicken it once more. I actually just like the trace of rum within the frosting, however it’s scrumptious each with and with out it.
This cake may also be made in a 9×13 pan. Permit the cake to chill earlier than icing it within the pan or flip the cooled cake out onto a platter and frost utterly.
To toast the coconut, preheat the oven to broil. Unfold the coconut throughout a baking pan and place it within the oven.
Don’t stroll away. Watch the coconut because it begins to brown, it is going to solely take a couple of minute to toast and it’ll burn lightning quick in the event you aren’t paying consideration.


Recipes with Pineapple and Coconut
Like I discussed earlier, I like cooking and baking with canned pineapple. I can also’t get sufficient contemporary pineapple.
For those who attempt to love this cake as a lot as my household did, you’re additionally prone to love my Pineapple Mojito Fruit Salad (which, like Pineapple Coconut Cake, was impressed by my enjoyment of pineapple flavored drinks just like the Pineapple Coconut Sour) and Mango Pineapple Ice Cream.
Carry on the pineapple and coconut for breakfast, too! Check out our Pineapple Coconut Baked Oatmeal and Hawaiian Banana Bread with Pineapple and Coconut.
For extra coconut and pineapple dessert goodness, you must also have Pineapple Coconut Bars in your radar. They’re every little thing that’s scrumptious about this cake in bar type with a crispy shortbread crust and coconut flakes.
And the way might I neglect to say Pina Colada Ice Cream and Coconut Pineapple Smoothie Ice Cream? The names converse for themselves.
Servings: 10 -12 servings
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (2) 8-inch or 9-inch spherical pans. Place the pineapple chunks in a blender or meals processor and puree till easy, with none chunks. In a big mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar till easy. Stir within the coconut milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, stir to mix. Add 1 cup of the pureed pineapple and stir as soon as extra.
-
Divide the batter between the ready pans. Bake 35-38 minutes, till a toothpick inserted within the heart of the cake comes out clear. Let cool within the pans for quarter-hour, earlier than inverting the desserts over a wire rack. Let the desserts cool utterly.
-
Place the cream cheese in a big mixing bowl and beat with an electrical mixer till easy. Add half the powdered sugar and beat to mix. Add the remaining sugar and beat once more. Add the coconut milk and the vanilla, beat to mix after which style the frosting. Alter the sugar as desired, and add a tiny splash of rum, if you need.
-
Place one layer of the cake on a plate, high with ⅓ of the frosting, smoothing it gently throughout the cake, nearly to the sting. Gently place the second cake over the frosting layer. (I like to position the primary cake upright after which flip the second cake over, in order that the tops are dealing with in and the underside is on high offering a pleasant flat layer.) Scoop the remaining frosting onto the highest cake and gently unfold it throughout the cake. Sprinkle with coconut, if desired, and chill within the fridge till able to serve. Take pleasure in!
To toast the coconut, preheat the oven to broil. Unfold the coconut throughout a baking pan and place it within the oven. Don’t stroll away. Watch the coconut because it begins to brown, it is going to solely take a couple of minute to toast and it’ll burn lightning quick in the event you aren’t paying consideration.
Energy: 760kcal · Carbohydrates: 108g · Protein: 9g · Fats: 34g · Saturated Fats: 22g · Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g · Monounsaturated Fats: 7g · Trans Fats: 1g · Ldl cholesterol: 136mg · Sodium: 386mg · Potassium: 302mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 81g · Vitamin A: 988IU · Vitamin C: 1mg · Calcium: 109mg · Iron: 2mg
{initially printed 8/13/15 – recipe notes and pictures up to date 1/22/25}

