This Pineapple Coconut Cake Features:
Plus, there’s a few other ways to make this cake including as a sheet cake, 2 layer cake, cupcakes, etc. See details above the recipe. However you bake or serve it, this pineapple coconut cake would be wonderful for Easter dessert or any spring or summer celebration!
The Details
I adapted this cake batter from my white cake recipe. The white cake is a very popular cake recipe on the site, both a personal and reader favorite. There are no surprises there—between its pristine crumb, fluffy texture, and stick-to-your-fork moisture, it’s impossible not to love. It’s my gold standard when it comes to soft cakes, so I’ve used it to produce many other flavors including pistachio cake, espresso cake, cookies & cream cake, burnt sugar caramel cake, coconut cake, strawberry cake, and today’s pineapple coconut cake. Here’s what you can expect:
Texture: The most notable aspect of this cake is the texture. We have an incredible balance of soft, springy, and moist. The coconut inside the cake adds that stick-to-your-fork moisture, too. You’ll only achieve this texture perfection if you follow the recipe closely and this includes using real cake flour, only egg whites (no yolks in the batter), and sour cream. Note that I slightly reduced the egg whites, milk, and sugar in this cake recipe compared to the base white cake. This is because pineapple is so wet and sweet. Flavor: Who knew a cake could taste like vacation? Juicy pineapple and coconut add bright, tropical flavors to each slice. The cream cheese frosting adds a little tang to each bite, which helps offset the sweetness of the pineapple curd inside. If you aren’t a fan of coconut, you may enjoy this pineapple upside down cake instead. Ease: If you’ve baked layer cakes before, this shouldn’t be difficult. If you’re new to layer cakes, don’t get nervous. Stacking and frosting is pretty simple as long as you let the cake layers cool completely. Take your time with each step; it’s worth the effort. Time: Set aside at least 5 hours to complete this cake recipe which includes making the pineapple curd and cake, cooling both completely, and frosting the cake.
Simply put, this cake exceeded our expectations. It’s truly one of the best cakes I know how to make!
Video Tutorial: How to Make Pineapple Coconut Cake
5 Success Tips
By the way, if you love coconut and cake, you’ll enjoy this nest-inspired Easter cake.
The Extras: Pineapple Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting
Fill the this pineapple coconut cake with homemade pineapple curd and cream cheese frosting. (Just like how we fill lemon coconut cake with lemon curd.) The cream cheese frosting is also used on the exterior of the cake, too.
Pineapple Curd: I adapted the pineapple curd recipe from my lemon curd. I reduced the sugar since pineapple juice is so sweet and since sugar helps curd thicken, I added a little cornstarch to make up some of the difference. The curd has exceptional pineapple flavor, but it’s very sweet like apple butter, pumpkin butter, or jam. One crucial note for the pineapple curd—do NOT use fresh pineapple juice. Bromelain, an enzyme in fresh pineapple, prohibits curd from thickening appropriately. Your curd will be thin and it will separate, something I learned while experimenting. You must use canned pineapple juice, usually labeled as 100% pineapple juice. (The enzyme is no longer present after canning, so you’re good to go!) Cream Cheese Frosting: This cream cheese frosting recipe was just enough for thin layers between the cakes and around the exterior. I added a little liquid so it’s extra smooth and spreadable—you can use either pineapple juice or canned coconut milk for the liquid.
A Crumb Coat is Best
Since it’s so moist and filled with shredded coconut, the cake can be a little crumbly. I recommend applying a VERY thin crumb coat, which is a layer of frosting around the exterior of the cake to catch any crumbs. The cake is pretty slippery from the curd, so take your time assembling and frosting it. The frosting recipe below includes enough frosting for that thin crumb coat, then another thin layer of frosting on top of that. Here’s the pineapple curd, frosting, and cake assembly in photos:
