Description
Southern hospitality shines through this Paula Deen coconut cake, blending creamy textures and sweet coconut flavors. Rich buttermilk layers draped with silky frosting invite you to savor classic Southern comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups self-rising flour
- 4 large eggs
- 2 (8 oz/226 g) packages cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks/340 g) butter, divided
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ cup sweetened cream of coconut
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- ¾ cup sugar (for filling)
- ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- Additional sweetened coconut flakes (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Environment: Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F and grease three 9-inch round cake pans with butter, dusting lightly with flour.
- Create Cake Base: In a stand mixer, cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, approximately 7 minutes. Gradually incorporate whole eggs, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
- Blend Batter: Alternately fold dry flour ingredients and coconut milk into the mixture, starting and ending with flour to maintain a smooth consistency. Stir in vanilla extract to enhance aromatic profile.
- Bake Cake Layers: Distribute batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25 minutes, testing doneness with a skewer that should emerge clean. Rest layers in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare Filling: Whisk sour cream, granulated sugar, whole milk, and sweetened coconut flakes until thoroughly combined. Using a skewer, create multiple small holes throughout each cooled cake layer to enhance moisture absorption.
- Craft Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually fold in confectioners’ sugar, sweetened cream of coconut, and vanilla extract to create a light, fluffy mixture.
- Assemble Cake: Position first layer on serving plate, spread one-third of filling, allowing it to seep into perforated surface. Repeat with subsequent layers. Apply frosting evenly across top and sides of cake.
- Finish and Garnish: Sprinkle additional sweetened coconut flakes over cake’s exterior for a decorative and textural final touch.
Notes
- Precise Mixing Technique: Cream butter and sugar for exactly 7 minutes to achieve a light, airy texture that guarantees cake softness.
- Temperature Control: Allow ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smooth batter integration and consistent cake structure.
- Moisture Enhancement: Pierce cake layers with a skewer before adding filling, enabling better absorption and creating a more succulent dessert.
- Coconut Flake Decoration: Toast coconut flakes lightly before garnishing to intensify flavor and add a subtle golden crunch to the cake’s exterior.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 614
- Sugar: 69 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 144 mg