When the weather starts to get warmer (I know — for some of us it feels like it might never move past freezing), the heavy desserts we once craved during the holidays don’t seem quite right anymore. That’s why we love this light, airy and fluffy coconut cake recipe from Melina of Sugary & Buttery — inspired by this cake on our Vintage Carved Wood Cake Stand from our latest Spring collection:
Orange Coconut Cream Cake
For the cake:
2¼ cups cake flour
¾ cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of teaspoon salt
1½ sticks butter, at room temperature
6 egg whites
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Zest of 1 orange
1 vanilla bean
For the Frosting:
3 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 pack (8oz) cream cheese
1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon milk
2 cups shredded coconut
Make the Cake:
Preheat oven to 350° F and grease two 8-inch round cake pans; set aside.
Sift the cake flour into the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the sugar, baking powder and salt and beat on low speed for 15 seconds to combine.
Cut the butter into pieces, add to the batter and beat on low speed for 1 minute, or until the mixture is coarse and crumbly.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg whites, condensed milk, orange zest and shredded coconut until combined.
Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape the seeds into the mixture and whisk.
Add half of the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat on medium-high for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, add the remainder of the wet ingredients and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds, or until the batter is well-mixed, light and fluffy.
Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the tops are firm and golden brown and spring back when pressed lightly in the center. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
Make the Frosting:
Beat the cream cheese with the electric mixer on high speed for about 5 minutes, scrape down sides.
Add sifted powdered sugar and keep beating on medium speed, then add the milk.
Cut the butter into pieces.
Turn the mixer back up to high speed and add the butter pieces. Keep beating for at least 5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Assemble the Cake:
Cut off the tops of the cooled cakes if necessary and layer them with the cream cheese frosting.
Frost around the cake, about ½ thick, and cover the cake with shredded coconut.
This sounds light and summery…wish the weather matched the flavor!
This is identical to my late grandmother’s coconut cake recipe. She made it every holiday and for those special Sunday dinners. I miss her so much. She taught me to bake & to bake with love for family and friends.
Should I add more sugar if I don’t fin sweetened coconut? How much? Thanks!
Great question! We’d add just a few more tablespoons of sugar — not too much 🙂
So GOOD, just finished my first slice.
I will be baking this cake. Where can I get the flowers? Thanks
Glad you liked the recipe, Alex! You can find those flowers (one of our faux peonies) here: http://bit.ly/1F45TT5