Red Velvet Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Two favorite cakes combined into one towering dessert, this Red Velvet Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting is bright and festive. A great dessert to share with anyone you love.
I made you a cake. It’s another gigantic cake and I couldn’t decide which flavor to make so I made both….in one mammoth cake mashup. What do you think? Do you think it’s big enough? This Red Velvet Coconut Cake is the best of both worlds and you’re just going to love it.
RED VELVET COCONUT CAKE
My grandmother used to make a red velvet cake when I was like 2 feet tall. I loved it….it was my favorite cake by far and, maybe, not because of the flavor but because of the color. Growing up north of the Mason Dixon Line, you didn’t see a lot of Red Velvet Cake flying around like you do today. She didn’t even call her’s a red velvet cake….it was known as Flame Cake to us Northerners.
And I’m not sure that it’s even the same cake come to think of it….maybe this story is completely irrelevant. But whatever, I used to request Flame Cake for my birthday every year.
Now, Red Velvet Cake has made it’s way to the millions of bakeries that are pushing red velvet everything. But what if we blended it with some sweet coconut and top with a Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting. What if?
I went with it and now you have a recipe for this towering Red Velvet Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting.
HOW TO MAKE IT
The instructions in the recipe card describe the naked cake I made originally but have since taken a liking to frosting the whole cake. You can do either, it’s just a preference I lean towards at times.
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Coat three 8 inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line with parchment circle on the bottom.
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Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
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Pulse the coconut in a food processor until it is very finely chopped.
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In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and coconut with an electric mixer on medium speed until thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes.
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Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
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In a small bowl, stir together the red food coloring, buttermilk, and coconut milk.
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Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stop and scrape down the bowl twice.
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In a small bowl, stir together the vinegar and the baking soda. With the mixer set at medium speed, beat the vinegar mixture into the batter.
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Divide the batter evenly into the cake pans.
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Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.
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Beat the cream cheese with the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla and coconut cream. Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar 1/2 a cup at a time until the mixture reaches the consistency of frosting and can hold it’s shape. Store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla to make the cake soak.
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Dip a pastry brush in the cake soak and brush the soak over the cake rounds.
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Use an offset spatula to spread one-fifth of the frosting in an even layer over the cake.
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Sprinkle one-third of the shredded coconut evenly over the frosting. Use the back of your hand to press them in place.
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Set the second cake round on top of the frosting, and repeat the process for layer 1 (if 1 of your 2 cake rounds is uglier than the other, use it here on the bottom and save the prettier one for the top).
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Cover the top of the cake with the remaining frosting and frost the sides of the cake. Garnish the frosting with the remaining coconut.
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Transfer the cake to the freezer and freeze for a minimum of 12 hours to set the cake and filling. The cake will keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
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At least 3 hours before you are ready to serve the cake, pull the cake out of the freezerand transfer the cake to a platter or cake stand. Allow it defrost in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours (wrapped well in plastic, the cake can be refrigerated for up to 5 days).
HOW TO FREEZE THE CAKE
Red Velvet Coconut Cake can be assembled and frozen up to 2 months in advance. Just wrap with plastic wrap and then cover with foil. Transfer to the freeze and freeze until firm.
You can transfer to a freezer safe container or bag if you have one large enough to fit the cake. This step will help ensure freshness.
MORE EASY LAYER CAKE RECIPES
If you love this Red Velvet Coconut Cake, you should also try out favorite Copycat Milk Bar Birthday Cake and Apple Pie Layer Cake.
We also love this Pink Champagne Cake for special occasions and this Kentucky Bourbon Cake is nothing short of amazing.
My cake is an old favorite that I tore from a newspaper and I didn’t keep the name of the paper or anything for credit so if you know where the cake recipe is from….just comment below…shout it out, tell me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
But right now, I got nothing. I adapted the mystery recipe a bit to include balsamic vinegar because it just adds something mysterious to the flavor, then I included shredded coconut and coconut milk to the batter.
The cake itself doesn’t taste overly coconutty…it’s subtle and amazing. The frosting is where you get that punch of coconut flavor, the coconut cream adds exactly what you’re looking for in a coconut dessert and the cream cheese adds the perfect tang.
This cake is seriously amazing and makes the most festive Valentine’s dessert. You don’t always need chocolate. Ok, yes, you do. Just serve a slice of this with a Chocolate Martini and you’re good to go. Have a very Merry Valentine’s Day. 🙂
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Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour, plus more for the pans
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, shake before measuring
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- For the frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 15 ounce can coconut cream
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4-6 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- For the cake soak:
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Coat three 8 inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line with parchment circle on the bottom.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Pulse the coconut in a food processor until it is very finely chopped.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and coconut with an electric mixer on medium speed until thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
- In a small bowl, stir together the red food coloring, buttermilk, and coconut milk.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stop and scrape down the bowl twice.
- In a small bowl, stir together the vinegar and the baking soda. With the mixer set at medium speed, beat the vinegar mixture into the batter.
- Divide the batter evenly into the cake pans.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.
- Beat the cream cheese with the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla and coconut cream. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar 1/2 a cup at a time until the mixture reaches the consistency of frosting and can hold it's shape. Store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla to make the cake soak.
- Dip a pastry brush in the cake soak and brush the soak over the cake rounds.
- Use an offset spatula to spread one-fifth of the frosting in an even layer over the cake.
- Sprinkle one-third of the shredded coconut evenly over the frosting. Use the back of your hand to press them in place.
- Set the second cake round on top of the frosting, and repeat the process for layer 1 (if 1 of your 3 cake rounds is uglier than the other, use it here on the bottom and save the prettier one for the top). Repeat with remaining cake layer.
- Cover the top of the cake with the remaining frosting and frost the sides of the cake. Garnish the frosting with the remaining coconut.
- Transfer the cake to the freezer and freeze for a minimum of 12 hours to set the cake and filling. The cake will keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- At least 3 hours before you are ready to serve the cake, pull the cake out of the freezerand transfer the cake to a platter or cake stand. Allow it defrost in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours (wrapped well in plastic, the cake can be refrigerated for up to 5 days).
34 Comments on “Red Velvet Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting”
LOVE the naked sides and the coconut on top! Just lovely!
Thanks, Melissa!
I’m obsessed with coconut right now, this cake is gorgeous!!
Thanks so much, Aimee! I’m really in love with coconut right now.
What a beautiful cake and that frosting sounds fabulous
Thank you!
I have never used balsamic vinegar in anything other than savory dishes. I’m so intrigued now I must try this, thank you!
So, let’s just say the balsamic vinegar was used because I was out of white vinegar….and let’s just say it made the recipe soooo much better. So, balsamic vinegar will now be going in everything. 🙂
Kellie this cake is gorgeous!! I love the coconut with the red velvet…right up my alley!
Thanks so much, Meg! It’s one of my favorites right now.
Gorgeous! I love the coconut!
Thanks, Amanda!
This is a gorgeous cake! I love red velvet cake and coconut frosting is my favorite. I would gladly take a giant slice right now.
If you lived closer, I would have given you half. So much food around here lately….or I would have traded for some of your cake today! 🙂
I love red velvet, but I don’t think I’ve ever had it with coconut – it sounds delicious! And I love your simple decoration – so pretty.
Thanks so much, Heather! This was one of those creations where I couldn’t decide what I wanted to I made both. 🙂
What a perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day! Love the flavors you’ve combined!
Thank you! It was hard not to eat the whole cake myself.
I love the look of naked cakes and this is so pretty with the white and red! Definitely a cake that is ready for Valentine’s Day. Also you are right, I don’t think I ever heard of a red velvet cake until I went to school in the south, then I came home and it was everywhere!
It’s so crazy, right? They just popped up and took over the bakeries! 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous. I love red velvet, and coconut, even more so combined. Love the way you decorated it too. Super pretty.
I always wanted a decorated horse cake for my birthday so one year my sister made me one. I can still picture it to this day. And it was 35 years ago. I love how food is so intertwined with memories of childhood. I now want to google flame cake. lol
I have a crazy coconut obsession right now. It’s crazy. But I’m ok with it. l love red velvet cake. Perhaps it is the color, but seeing a red cake makes me giddy inside. Love this combination and I love naked cakes. So much better than spending 30 minutes hating a frost job.
Love, love, love coconut! I want to lick that frosting right off my screen. I bet it goes amazingly well with the red velvet, too. This cake rocks!!
So pretty and festive, love the touch of coconut, slide me a slice willya!!
Oh my goodness I have never seen anything that looks so tasty. I can’t wait to make it! We are going to feature this as one of our picks for our Saturday Selections tomorrow. Yummy!
Thank you so much!!!!
Has anyone actually made this recipe? I tried to make this for my daughter’s birthday (she loves red velvet cake and coconut!) and the cake turned out beautifully. The cream cheese frosting was a TOTAL fail. Very disappointing. Had to look up another recipe for coconut cream cheese frosting at the last minute. Not sure how to tweak this to make the frosting for this receipt work- but I would love to hear other’/ experiences and suggestions.
I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you. I’ll go back and retest it to see if I can resolve any issues. Thanks for the feedback.
can I just bake it in 3 8 inch pans. the assembly sounds like something Id mess up
Yes, that would work too.
Hi Kellie,
Great recipe and thanks for sharing. Please I have a question about the recipe, for someone that’s lactose intolerant, can I only use coconut milk? And please I can only find white vinegar in my area. Would the white vinegar give me the same results?
Thank you, I’ll really appreciate it if I’m given a feedback.
Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
You can definitely use white vinegar but I’d use just a little less. Unfortunately, I’ve never tested the recipe with only coconut milk so I can say if it’s guaranteed to work. I don’t see why it wouldn’t scientifically but I don’t want to give you misinformation.
I tried this cake and the cake was lovely, BUT the frosting was runny. I followed directions to a tee. I think the whole can of coconut cream was the culprit . Regular Cream Cheese Frosting does not have milk in it and if so a couple of teaspoons to thin out. I put extra powder sugar to thicken up to no such luck. So, what I whined up doing was stuffing the cakes in a trifle dish and poured the frosting in between and finshed it off with shavings of white chocolate on top.making a red velvet trifle cake. I was only missing fresh strawberries.
This cake was tested multiple times so I’m not sure what went wrong. You do have to whip the frosting quite a bit to get it to become fluffy.