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    Home > Blog Index

    Published: Mar 29, 2021 · Modified: Aug 25, 2022 by Helen S Fletcher · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

    Coconut Cream Cake - The Perfect Easter Dessert

    Coconut Cream Cake

    This is the Coconut Cream Cake that was so very popular at the bakery. Easter seems synonymous with coconut and I'm not sure why but happy it is.

    Fairly early in the life of the shop, I got a mailer from General Mills touting their flours. It was a beautiful color brochure with cakes and sweet breads. I tried the cakes and the one that just amazed me is the one we used  with minor changes. This very almond flavored cake is the most moist white cake I have ever eaten.  We used the white chiffon cake for our wedding cakes and it never ceased to get raves.

    Because this is a very loose batter, it is important when folding in the whites to make sure you go to the bottom of the bowl each time. When making one cake this isn’t a big deal, when making a batch in a 60 quart bowl, it is very important so that all of the layers have all of the ingredients. If making this in a large batch, it is also important to scale out quickly as the batter can thin out if it sits too long.

    Make sure it goes into the oven right away and doesn’t sit. But even with its little idiosyncrasies it is, by far and away, the best white cake ever.  To make it even better, these layers freeze beautifully. Just freeze them until hard, then wrap well.  They will keep for a month.  To use, remove the covering and thaw at room temperature.

    One of the reasons I favor chiffon cakes is their moistness and the ability of the cake to stay moist for days.  Any cake that uses oil will maintain its moistness better than a cake made with butter. There is definitely a place for butter cakes.  We used them for wedding cakes but not for the wholesale clients which needed a longer shelf life.

    I have blogged the pastry cream used in this Coconut Cream Cake.  Just follow that recipe and make it at least one day ahead, although you can make it several days ahead and refrigerate it.

    The rest is just assembling it.  This Coconut Cream Cake is the cake with which I trained fledgling decorators.  As you will see any mistakes made are easily covered with the coconut which encases the entire cake.  When they could finish this perfectly, they could move on.

    If you remember the old fashioned Coconut Cream Cake, or if you are new to it, give it a try and see why this is the Coconut Cream Cake of my client's dreams.

    Pastry Cream 

    Make the pastry cream in the blog at least one day ahead.  It can be made several days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

    White Chiffon Cake

    Ingredients for Coconut Cream Cake

    2 ¼ cup sifted cake flour (225 grams or 8 ounces)
    1 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (215 grams or 7 ½ ounces)
    2 teaspoon baking powder
    ¾ teaspoon salt
    ⅓ cup non fat dry milk (30 grams or 1 ounce)
    ½ cup vegetable oil 
    ⅓ cup water 
    3 eggs, separated
    2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    2 teaspoons almond extract
    ⅔ cup water 
    ½ teaspoon cream of tarter
    ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams or 3 ½ ounces)

    Prepare three 9x2 inch round cake pans by spraying the centers and lining them with parchment rounds.  Spray the center of the rounds; set aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Cake ingredients
    Cake ingredients mixing

    Place the flour, 1 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar, baking powder, salt, dry milk, vegetable oil, ⅓ cup water, egg yolks, vanilla and almond extracts in a mixing bowl. Mix on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl.  Lower the speed of the mixer and add the ⅔ cup water half at a time, mixing well after each addition. It will be very loose.

    Whites in bowl
    White Beating
    Adding sugar to whites
    Whites on Whisk
    One quarter whites in batter
    Remainder of egg whites in batter
    Folding
    Folding 2

    In a clean mixing bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tarter until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar and beat until medium stiff peaks form. Whisk ¼ of the beaten whites into the batter to give it more body; fold in the remaining whites.

    scaling batter

    Divide the batter evenly between the pans (325 grams or about 11 ½ ounces each pan).

    Baked Layers

    Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. The cakes will be very slightly colored if at all, the tester will come out clean and the center will spring back when lightly touched.

    Batter pulling away

    As the layers cool, they will fall slightly and pull away from the side of the pan but remain flat – that is how it should be.

    Baked layers are ¾ inch tall.

    Assembly of the Coconut Cream Cake

    Assembly ingredients for Coconut Cream Cake

    1 cup heavy cream
    3 tablespoons powdered sugar (22 grams or ¾ ounce)
    Pastry Cream, chilled
    2 cups sweetened, shredded coconut (170 grams or 6 ounces)
    3 White Chiffon Cake Layers, thawed if frozen

    Cream in bowl
    Whipped cream in pastry cream
    Folding
    Folding done
    Coconut in
    Coconut mixed in
    Filling on first layer
    Filling spread on 1st layer
    2nd layer on
    Filling on 2nd layer
    Top Layer on

    Combine cream and powdered sugar in mixing bowl; beat until stiff. Fold into pastry cream. Stir coconut into filling. Spread half of filling, 420 grams or 14 ¾ ounces to within ½ inch of edge of one layer of cake. Place another layer of cake over filling and spread the remainder of the filling over it. Top with the last layer of cake.

    Yield: 860 grams or 30 ½ ounces filling.

    Frosting  Coconut Cream  Cake

    1 ½ cups heavy cream
    ⅓ cup powdered sugar (40 grams or 1 ⅓ ounces
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    3 cups sweetened, shredded coconut (255 grams or 9 ounces)

    Frosting ingredients in bowl
    Frosting mixed
    Frosting side of cake
    Frosting smoothing sides
    Frosting top of cake
    Smoothing top of cake
    Cake finished with roosting
    Coconut in pie plate
    Applying coconut to side
    Patting sides
    patting coconut on top

    Combine cream, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Beat until very stiff.  Spread the cream over the sides of the cake. Smooth the sides.  A bench scraper works fine here.  Finish by spreading the remaining cream over the top of the cake.  As you can see in the photo, the cake is not perfectly frosted.  Press coconut onto sides and top. Place the coconut in a pie plate or other container. Hold the whipped cream frosted cake in one hand and pick up some coconut in your other hand.  Keeping the cake over the pie plate, pat the coconut onto the side of the cake.  The excess coconut will fall back into the pie plate.  Pat the coconut lightly in place on the top and sides.  Place in refrigerator overnight to set up.

    Note: This cake may be made in its entirety, frozen, covered and then frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

    There is also a Chocolate Version should you prefer chocolate or take a look at the Coconut Cream Pie with a Difference.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kary Favish says

      August 25, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Hi Helen.
      I have made your coconut chiffon cake twice and each time it looks like it’s not completely done in the middle. Although it is slightly pulling away from the sides The toothpick does not come out perfectly clean and I’m just afraid it will be raw when I’m ready to serve. The pans I’m cooking in or 9 inch and I’m cooking at a 350° temperature for 12 minutes. My oven has been calibrated so it’s not the temperature. Please help

      Reply
      • Helen S Fletcher says

        August 25, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        Hi Kary, I have no idea how this happened but I went back and checked the original recipes. Sure enough a couple of ingredients were off so everything is corrected now on the post. If you make it again, it will be what it should have been. I'm so sorry this happened.

        Reply
    2. Alberta Parker says

      April 04, 2021 at 5:20 pm

      THANK YOU! for sharing this delicious cake! It was our Easter dinner dessert and a hit with all of us. This is most definitely one of the best cakes I have made (and I like to bake). Very easy and quickly comes together. I followed your recipe with one small oversight - I used all purpose flour (weighed) and didn't realize I did until the cake was in the oven, even though the cake flour was on the counter! Even still, the cake was moist and light and 3 days later still yummy. I frosted with whip cream and refrigerated.

      Additionally, my 6 year old granddaughter and I made your painted cookie recipe and they are also delicious. Both of these recipes will be repeated for sure.

      I really enjoy your blog and all of your great tips. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        April 04, 2021 at 5:26 pm

        Hello Alberta, thank you for this wonderful comment. So happy both worked out well. I baked with my grandson when he was little and he still bakes to this day. The cake is one of my favorites. I laughed about the cake flour. I think we have all done something like that and only realized it after it was too late.

        Reply
    3. Feyi says

      March 30, 2021 at 1:01 am

      Hi Helen, I will be trying this recipe this Easter. I also came across your painted sugar cookies on your blog and will like to do them this Easter too. Is the all purpose flour used bleached or unbleached in the recipe? So when it says all purpose flour on your blog are you referring to bleached or unbleached? Thanks

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 30, 2021 at 6:31 am

        Hi Feyi - It doesn't make any difference in the recipe. It's a personal preference. I use bleached all-purpose flour.

        Reply
        • Feyi says

          March 30, 2021 at 4:19 pm

          Thank you Helen. I baked the cookies today. Perfection .
          It came out perfectly well following all your tips of chilling in between steps.
          I am in love with your site. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.
          I came across your yellow cake recipe, can sour cream be substitute for buttermilk or buttermilk is just it? Thank you

          Reply
          • hfletcher says

            March 31, 2021 at 2:32 am

            Hi Feyi, so happy the cookies worked well for you. Sour cream should work, just keep all the ingredients for the rest of the recipe the same.

            Reply
            • Feyi says

              March 31, 2021 at 6:05 am

              Thank you. I was able to snag a copy of your book on Amazon last night and I am super excited. I would love to treasure it eventhough we have access to your blog.
              I was going through your site again and found another recipe for yellow cake - the tale of one layer yellow cake. Now which one should I try? And can I add lemon zest to it? My son's 1st birthday is coming right after Easter and I am thinking of baking a vanilla lemon cake . Or what would you suggest? Thanks Helen. You are a gem!

    4. Debra Egan says

      March 29, 2021 at 8:44 pm

      Hello Helen, Thank you kindly for taking time to reply. I will give it try!

      Reply
    5. Pam Hopp says

      March 29, 2021 at 11:06 am

      I love chiffon cakes. Can this be successfully baked in a tube or 9 x 13 pan?

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 12:16 pm

        I've never tried it Pam, so I can't really say. But it is an outstanding chiffon.

        Reply
    6. Crystal Moody says

      March 29, 2021 at 7:19 am

      Hi Helen! Could you use coconut extract instead of almond extract in this coconut cake? Or if making a lemon cake with lemon curd, lemon extract?
      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 12:18 pm

        Sure Crystal, you can use any flavoring you wish.

        Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Hi Crystal, sure you can use whatever flavoring you like.

        Reply
    7. Eileen Murphy says

      March 29, 2021 at 7:15 am

      Lovely, I had lemons that needed to be used recently and the curd is in my freezer. This is perfect, I can do the layers ahead and be ready to make icing and easy assembly. Instead of being in the kitchen I will have more time to enjoy my company. (small group, all fully vaccinated of course)Thank you Helen. I hope your Easter celebration is wonderful.

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        Hi Eileen, Good for you. This will be a great dessert and as you said, you have more time with your guests. Enjoy the day.

        Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 30, 2021 at 1:34 pm

        Hi Eileen - just checking to see if my reply works.

        Reply
    8. Debra Egan says

      March 29, 2021 at 5:54 am

      Hello Helen. What do you recommend to use to spray the center of the baking pans before and after lining them with parchment paper? Thank you.

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 3:00 pm

        Hello Debra, I use a commercial product called Vegeline but any non-stick baking spray with a lecithin base will be fine.
        I've used the original Pam and it worked fine.

        Reply
      • hfletcher says

        March 29, 2021 at 3:05 pm

        Hi Debra, I use a commercial product called Vegeline. It is lecithin based and I have used the original Pam with good results.

        Reply
    9. Kim says

      October 20, 2014 at 8:33 am

      Looks Lovely! Can you tell me of other uses for this white cake batter in addition to this coconut cake?

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        October 20, 2014 at 12:46 pm

        Hi Kim: We used lemon curd between the layers and finished it with Italian Buttercream. We also used a whipped ganache. Use it wherever you want a light white cake.

        Reply
    10. Janet says

      October 10, 2014 at 5:35 am

      Looks like I have found a wonderful recipe to try this weekend....gluten free works very well in Chiffon cakes.... Thank you Helen!!

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        October 10, 2014 at 7:32 pm

        So happy to hear this Janet. Hope all is going well with you.

        Reply
      • Harriette Brown says

        October 14, 2014 at 8:24 am

        Hello Helen I tried the recipe gluten free using Pamela baking flour adding 1t vinegar to the veg oil and proceeding with your recipe also used more vanilla than almond extract. It turned out great. They ate it before pictures. Again thanks for sharing your gift.
        Harriette

        Reply
        • hfletcher says

          October 14, 2014 at 8:33 am

          Hi Harriette - thanks so much for sharing. And I am happy it worked out.

          Reply
    11. Marianne Vandeneycken says

      October 09, 2014 at 4:57 am

      Très beau ...! Easy to realize, nice elegant shape .

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        October 09, 2014 at 12:28 pm

        Thank you Marianne -

        Reply

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