Chocolate Coconut Cake
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Featuring a made-from-scratch chocolate cake layered with coconut pastry cream and covered in coconut buttercream frosting, this Chocolate Coconut Cake is a true show stopper.
A Decadent Chocolate Coconut Cake
This decadent dessert features chocolate cake layers that are thick, dense, light, and super moist, all at the same time. In between the cake layers is a simple coconut pastry cream. Then, the entire cake is covered in my popular coconut buttercream frosting. It’s a lusciously silky texture that glides across the tongue.
This cake is no more complicated than a regular layered cake. The ingredients and instructions may look intimidating but it really isn’t that difficult to prepare.
The chocolate cake layer is my favorite chocolate cake to date. The flavor is intense! With melted baking chocolate and cocoa powder, it has a dark, rich color and taste – very similar to a brownie.
If all of this sounds like too much chocolate (is that possible?!), don’t worry – the chocolate overload is all balanced out by the coconut filling and silky coconut buttercream.
If you’re searching for a dessert to impress the guests, or you just love the combo of chocolate and coconut, this Chocolate Coconut Cake is for you.
If you love coconut, you might want to try my German Chocolate Cake, coconut cream pie and pineapple coconut cake.
If you’re not a fan of chocolate, give my plain coconut cake a try. It’s decadent and full of coconut flavor.
What You’ll Need
Don’t let this long ingredient list intimidate you – the majority of the ingredients appear on more than one list.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda – Only a small amount of baking soda is needed for this cake to rise.
- Salt – Enhances the other sweet flavors in this chocolate cake.
- Semisweet chocolate – You can also use bittersweet chocolate but I don’t recommend unsweetened. Be sure to use baking chocolate and not chocolate chips.
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs – Whole eggs and yolks are needed for various layers of the cake.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Gives the rich chocolate taste throughout the cake. You’ll want natural cocoa powder, not Dutch-processed cocoa.
- Unsweetened coconut milk – I love the flavor this adds to the cake. However, you can also use whole milk.
- Cornstarch – Helps thicken the filling.
- Coconut extract – Ensures there’s coconut flavor in every bite.
- Shredded coconut – Sweetened coconut is the best option for the filling and garnish.
- Coconut buttercream frosting – The frosting has just enough coconut flavor to enhance the flavors in the filling.
- Light corn syrup – This makes the glaze shiny but is completely optional.
How to Make Chocolate Coconut Cake
Read through the instructions before you begin so you are prepared for what’s to come. I recommend this with any recipe to avoid errors while in the middle of baking.
Make the cake batter. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, stirring until melting and smooth.
In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Mix in the cocoa powder and melted chocolate.
Add half of the flour, then the coconut milk, and the remaining flour. Beat just until combined.
Bake. Divide the batter between 3 prepared cake pans, taking care to ensure the batter spreads all the way to the edges of the pan. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Cool completely.
Make the coconut filling. Simmer the coconut milk. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and extract. Slowly pour in the hot milk, whisking constantly.
Return to heat until thickened, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in the butter. Place plastic wrap on top of the cream, making sure it is touching. Cool completely in the fridge, then stir in the shredded coconut.
Layer the cake. Place a cake layer on a serving plate. Spread half of the pastry cream on top. Top with another cake layer, then the remaining pastry cream and the final cake layer.
Add the frosting. Prepare the coconut buttercream according to the direction in the recipe, then spread over the top and sides of the cake.
Make the chocolate glaze. Melt the chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a bowl over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Spoon ¼ cup of the chocolate glaze over the top of the cake then drizzle the remaining glaze along the edge so it drips down the sides. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the top.
If you love the look of drip cakes, you should see my chocolate peppermint cake. It’s a showstopper!
Tips for Success:
Before you jump into making this chocolate layer cake, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Make sure all cake ingredients are at room temperature. The batter will blend together easier when all ingredients are at the same temperature.
- Let the cake layers cool completely before you assemble the cake. The cake will crumble if you try to handle it before it’s completely cooled.
- In a pinch, freeze the cake layers.If you are in a hurry, carefully wrap the warm cake layers in plastic wrap and freeze them for 30 minutes to an hour to speed up the cooling process and make the layers easier to work with.
- Chill the frosted cake. I like to pop my frosted cake in the refrigerator for a few hours before adding the glaze. The warm glaze will set quicker when it comes into contact with the cold cake. This ensures those drips down the sides don’t run all the way to the bottom of the cake.
Serving Suggestions
This chocolate coconut cake is perfect for a party or friendly gathering. It can easily serve 10 to 12 people, maybe more. I like to display it on a nice serving plate, to impress the guests just a bit.
Since this cake is so rich and has so many layers, you can cut the slices thinner than you would normally.
Can I Make This in Advance?
With recipes that have several parts that require cooling, I like to prepare as much in advance as possible, so I’m not spending hours just waiting for things to cool. Luckily, several parts of this chocolate layer cake can be prepared ahead of time.
- The cake layers will last in the fridge for up to 2 days before assembling the cake. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- The cake layers can also be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Triple wrap in plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn. Thaw on the counter slightly before use.
- Both the frosting and filling can be prepared and refrigerated a day before use.
How to Store Extras
- How to store leftover cake. The fully assembled cake will last for up to 3 days in the fridge. Bring to room temperature just before serving.
- Can I freeze this cake? Yes, the frosted cake (without the glaze) cake be frozen for 2 months. Thaw in the fridge then allow it to come to room temperature before serving.
More Chocolate Recipes
Chocolate Coconut Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 ½ cups (325 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces (113 g) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (56 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting the pan
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) canned unsweetened coconut milk, room temperature
For the filling
- 1 cup (240 ml) canned unsweetened coconut milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 2 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ¾ cup (90 g) shredded sweetened coconut
For the frosting
For the glaze
- 4 ounces (113 g) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 4 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- ½ – 1 cup (43 – 85 g) shredded sweetened coconut
Instructions
Make the cake
- Heat the oven to 325°F. Spray 3 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper cut into a circle to fit the pan. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray and dust the pan lightly with cocoa powder. Tap out any excess and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk and set aside.
- Add the chocolate to a small heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of barely simmering water. Stir continuously until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together at medium-low speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. (The mixture may look curdled, this is normal and will come together once the rest of the ingredients are added.)
- Add the cocoa powder and melted chocolate and mix until well incorporated. With the mixer set to low speed. gradually add half the flour mixture, followed by the coconut milk, and then the remaining flour mixture. Beat just until combined. The batter will be thick.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 3 prepared pans. Use an offset spatula to spread the batter all the way to the edges of the pan and smooth out the surface. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few dry crumbs. Cool the cake in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely. Peel the parchment paper off the bottoms before filling.
Make the filling
- Bring the coconut milk up to a simmer in a medium saucepan. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and extract until blended and pale in color. Slowly pour in the hot milk while whisking continuously. Return the mixture back to the pot and whisk over medium-high heat until thickened, about 3 minutes. Pour the thickened pastry cream through a fine-mesh sieve then stir in the butter until fully melted. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pastry cream, making sure it is touching the surface, and refrigerate until cooled completely. Stir in the shredded coconut.
- Place one of the cake layers on a serving plate, bottom side up. Spread half the pastry cream over the top, leaving a ½-inch margin around the edge. Top with another cake layer. Repeat with remaining pastry cream and top with the third cake layer.
Make the frosting
- Prepare the coconut buttercream frosting according to the recipe instructions. Spread the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Using a large cake scraper, remove frosting from the sides of the cake until the cake layers begin to show through.
Make the glaze
- Place the chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Spoon ¼ cup of the chocolate glaze over the top of the cake. Drizzle the remaining glaze along the edge of the cake all the way around, allowing it to drip down the sides. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the top.
Notes
- Semisweet chocolate: You may use bittersweet chocolate instead. I don’t recommend using unsweetened chocolate. Avoid using chocolate chips since they don’t melt as easily as bars of baking chocolate.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Natural cocoa powder works best for this recipe. It’s acidic and will react with the baking soda to give the cake rise. Dutch-processed cocoa will not work the same way.
- Coconut milk: This adds wonderful flavor to all layers of the cake. However, you may use whole milk if needed.
- Corn syrup: It adds shine to the chocolate glaze and may be omitted if necessary.
- Wrap baked and cooled cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator. Assemble and frost the cake within 2 days. Or layers can be triple wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 2 weeks. Leave wrapped and set on the counter to thaw slightly before use.
- The frosting and filling can be prepared, covered, and refrigerated for up to 1 day before use.
- Once the cake has been assembled, cover it and keep it stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Bring it to room temperature just before serving.
- The frosted cake can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature just before serving.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.
Hi Jen! Any suggestions for baking in a 6inch pan?
I don’t scale recipes to fit smaller pans but you can use this guide to help you.
I just made this for my daughter-in-law’s birthday and this is a TERRIFIC cake! This cake had everyone’s attention when they walked in the door with its elegant presentation–the chocolate glaze worked to perfection. They loved it even more after the first bite. The cake is chocolatey without being dense, and the coconut cream filling really sets it off. This is definitely going to be on a regular birthday cake rotation. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hey so I’m making this for someone with a gluten problem. I was wondering if i could replace the flour with Bob’s Red Mills 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour.
While it’s usually ok to use Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour in place of all-purpose, I’ve not tested it with this recipe so I can’t say for sure that it will work.
My cake did not rise. I have never seen such a flat cake.
It’s quite possible your baking soda was no longer good. You can test to see if it’s still reactive by mixing a teaspoon with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. If it doesn’t fizzle, you need to replace the baking soda. I also recommend getting an oven thermometer to double-check that your oven temperature is accurate.
Hi there! My fiancé requested a chocolate coconut cake for his bday and I came across your recipe. After reading the rave reviews I’m sold! However I don’t have three small cake pans, and either way I prefer to use one. I have the proper tools to slice it into three equal layers. Can I bake it in just one pan or is three a must?
It depends on the size pan you wish to use. This recipe makes enough batter to fill three 8-inch pans so you’ll have too much batter for 1 pan the same size.
Thank you so much for the recipe!! I really want to make it for my birthday, is there any way I can substitute the eggs in the recipe?
This recipe requires eggs.
I’m plant-based so I substitute eggs with Bob Mills Egg Replacer for all my cakes and it works great. Just not sure what to replace the egg yolks with for the filling so I’m leaving it out.
This recipe was so fun to try! Every direction was detailed but simply stated. I definitely found myself eager to see the end result and it did not disappoint! Added a few personal touches and everyone is raging over the final product. Thank you!
Easy to follow and whole family loved it
I only have light coconut milk. Do you think that would work?
I’m not sure it has enough fat to keep the cake from drying out.
I made this cake and found the cake itself to be very dry. I followed the directions. I knew it was goi g to be dry after the cakes cooked on the rack I wrapped them in Saran Wrap to frost later. Each cake layer felt like a hockey puck. Any idea what I did wrong?
This cake is dense and fudgy, much like a brownie. It shouldn’t be dry. Double check your flour measurements and if at all possible, weigh it. Also, use an oven thermometer to check that your oven is registering the correct temperature. If it’s running hot, the cake will dry out.
Thanks. I will try this cake again and do those two suggestions.
Loved the filling, frosting and it looked amazing!