nothing beats a coconut cake.   

a white cake covered in a blanket of shredded coconut.

so cool.

I visited home the other weekend.

As I walked in the back door, my mom was pulling this cake out of the oven. This was the best sight to come home to!

Because she knew I was obsessed with coconut cake,

Because my birthday was coming up,

And because baking for those you love is the best gift there is.

I have always been a huge Food Network fan. This coconut cake is what Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa is famous for.  I have been wanting to make her exact coconut cake recipe for years.  

Soooo I was too stoked when I was able to ice this cake and smother it in shredded coconut.

This cake is a splurge.

But, totally worth it.  

 Coconut Cake

(recipe from Ina Garten)

Cake Batter

• ¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure almond extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup milk
• 4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

Icing Ingredients:  

• 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.

- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don’t be concerned.

- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.

- Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.

- For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond extract on low speed. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix until just smooth..

- To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Cut a slice already…