Lemon Coconut Cake
The very Best From Scratch Lemon Coconut Cake recipe on the internet. Layers of coconut white cake (from scratch) with homemade lemon curd and cream cheese frosting. All topped with more coconut!
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This recipe is sponsored by Ibotta. While I was compensated to create the recipe, all opinions are 100% my own.
This time of year, all food bloggers are focused on chocolate, peppermint, and egg nog recipes. I get it. I’ve shared quite a few this season already myself.
But you know what I adore as well during the holiday season?
Give me ALL the coconut desserts. Maybe because it looks like soft fluffy snow? Or maybe because when added to the top of this gorgeous Lemon Coconut Cake it becomes the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten. <—my friend Lois’ words, not mine, after taking a bite of this cake
Do you have favorite holiday traditions? Do you make the same recipes year after year? I know in my family, we do. But, I also try to add in some fun additions, whether it be a new cookie, or flavor of fudge. And now, I’ll be making this Lemon Coconut Cake recipe EVERY year. Mark my words.
How to make a Lemon Coconut Cake
Prepare your 9 inch baking pans by spraying them with non-stick baking spray, or lightly greasing them and sprinkling with flour. I also line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper (you can purchase already cut cake pan parchment circles too on Amazon). These are a huge time saver, and it ensures that every homemade cake will flip out of the pan perfectly.
I also use Wilton bake even strips on my pans to get perfect even layers, where I don’t need to slice off the dome tops. These work so well, and last a very long time!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk together the room temperature egg whites with 1/4 cup of the milk until combined. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, vanilla and almond extracts for 2 minutes, on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Slowly add in dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fully beat in egg white mixture. Finally, beat in the remaining milk and allow to blend for about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl.
Fold in your shredded coconut.
Pour batter evenly into two prepared pans and bake for about 26-28 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
For the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese for 3 minutes using a whisk attachment. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. Beat an additional 4-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
To assemble the cake, place one layer of cake on a cake stand. Spread about 1 cup of lemon curd or lemon pie filling on top of cake. I love using this Homemade Lemon Curd recipe (especially since I have all the egg yolks from making today’s cake)!
Add frosting on top of the lemon curd, repeat layers. Spread cream cheese frosting around the edges of the cake. Using your hands, press handfuls of shredded sweetened coconut into the frosting.
Refrigerate this lemon coconut cake until ready to serve. Slice and enjoy!
Want to save money making this Lemon Coconut Cake recipe?
OPEN THE IBOTTA APP
I used the Ibotta app to earn a little extra cash back for the holidays buying the products I needed for today’s recipe. If you’re new to Ibotta, it’s a cash back and rewards app the gives you a way to save money when you shop!
GO SHOPPING AT ONE OF THE FEATURED STORES
With hundreds of products to choose from, you’ll find something to inspire your holiday baking! I was able to purchase the cream cheese and vanilla extract for the frosting, stocking up on some extras for other holiday baking (like these Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies). Be sure to check the app often as offers change frequently.
All of my favorite, local grocery stores are listed, check to see if yours is on there! You can earn cash back on products and services from online and in-store retailers!
SELECT YOUR OFFERS
For today’s recipe I took a peek at my Ibotta app before heading to the store to get inspired for some holiday baking. I was able to earn cash back on the Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Watkins Vanilla Extract, as well as Any Item reward. I earned $4 in purchasing items I was going to buy anyway!
REDEEM REWARDS
After you choose your offers, you’ll scan your receipt to redeem your rewards. To date, I have earned over $90 in cash back. Once you’ve earned $20 you can “cash out” with gift cards, PayPal or Venmo. It’s super easy and fun! And easier than carrying coupons to the store!
Download the Ibotta app and start earning!
Looking for MORE Homemade Coconut Cake Recipes
You’ve come to the right place. I’ve got this Coconut Cake recipe from scratch. Traditional. Classic. Seriously THE BEST coconut cake. Ever. Nuff said.
Some people LOVE Coconut Cream Cake recipes. My recipes uses sweetened condensed milk, but you could also substitute coconut milk or coconut cream instead.
One of the easiest cakes to make! The pudding added to the top of the warm cake makes this so moist and delicious. Add some Cool Whip and toasted coconut and this Coconut Pudding Cake will be gone in no time!
These Lemon Coconut Cupcakes are from scratch and filled with sweet lemon curd. Topped with a creamy lemon frosting and shredded coconut, your family will beg for the recipe on Easter!
Want more lemon flavor?
Try baking this Lemon Cake with Creamy Filling and Lemon Curd. It’s my copycat version of Olive Garden’s Lemon Crumb Cake, and it’s fantastic.
This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf is even better than the real thing. Why? Because you can eat a whole loaf without having to explain it to the person behind the counter!
Tart and Sweet this Lemon Pound Cake is everything you’re craving!
What food will you be serving this holiday?
With Ibotta, you can earn a little cash back to make the season even merrier!
I’ll be serving our favorite Gingerdoodle Cookies, Macaroni and Cheese, and Lemon Meringue Fudge.
The Best Cream Puff Cake recipe featuring a fluffy crust, easy vanilla filling, and of course, chocolate. You’ll love this homemade version of a cream puff!
Happy holidays!!
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More Cake recipes
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- Coconut Cake recipe
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Lemon Coconut Cake
The very Best Lemon Coconut Cake recipe on the internet. Layers of coconut white cake (from scratch) with homemade lemon curd and cream cheese frosting. All topped with more coconut!
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
- 5 egg whites, room temperature
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 1/2 cup cake flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups shredded, sweetened coconut
- 2 cups lemon curd
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE:
- Whisk together the egg whites and 1/4 cup of the milk in a small bowl until slightly combined. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, vanilla and almond extracts for 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add in dry ingredients and mix until combined. Beat in egg white mixture until fully blended. Add in remaining milk and beat for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Fold in coconut.
- Spray two 9-inch cake pans with baking spray. Pour batter into pans and bake in a 350 degree oven for 26-28 minutes. Remove and cool completely on wire rack.
FOR THE FROSTING:
- Beat butter and cream cheese for 3-4 minutes using whisk attachment on an electric mixer. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream. Beat an additional 4-5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- To assemble, place one layer of cake on a cake stand. Add 1 cup lemon curd and spread over the cake. Then add a large amount of frosting to top and smooth with an offset spatula. Top with second layer of cake. Apply the second cup of lemon curd over the top. Then add frosting to entire cake. To add the coconut to the top and sides of cake, place cake stand on a baking sheet (to help catch excess coconut). Fill hand with coconut and press gently into sides of cake. Repeat until desired amount of coconut applied. ENJOY!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 slice cakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 650 Total Fat: 26g Saturated Fat: 17g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 86mg Sodium: 298mg Carbohydrates: 102g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 81g Protein: 5g
Recipe and blog post created in partnership with Ibotta. All offers were valid as of publish date. Don’t forget to check your app for details as offers change frequently and may not be available in all areas. All opinions are 100% my own.
Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator. Her recipes have been featured in over 15 magazines, and her passion is to share her love of cooking with the everyday home cook! Learn more about Aimee.
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I just love the flavor combination of lemon and coconut! I can’t wait to try it!
What a yummy recipe, thank you
This is my favorite combination! So light and refreshing — the perfect treat!
Super awesome cake! Love the combo of coconut and lemon
I love love coconut cake and with the lemon…OMG!! I might just have to make this today!
Absolutely love the lemon and coconut combo in this cake! It’s light, fluffy and delicious!
This looks incredibly delicious! I love this! looks so good!
Taste wonderful——but totally fell apart while I was icing. We are having trifle instead!
Sorry. I tried this cake and although the flavors were good, the texture was off. It was more like a dense pound cake and the frosting was very thin and too sweet…. and I’m an experienced baker…
The flavors are excellent I have just one question..after I spread lemon curd and frosting to the top of the cake it seems that the cream cheese frosting separates from the curd…just wondering if anyone else had this issue and what to do about it?
The lemon curd and frosting aren’t blended together, so I’m not sure what you mean by them “separating.”
Where is the recipe??? This site makes no sense.
Where is the recipes?
It’s at the end of the blog post. If you made it here to the comments, you went too far!
Made this cake yesterday. Based on the comments, I reduced the powdered sugar in the frosting by 1/4, and added 1 Tbs of fresh lemon juice into the frosting, to add more lemon flavor to the overall cake.
The results were great! The cake was moist, and rose very evenly. Huge thumbs up from my party of 7. Will make it again, May try to play with the base flavor of the cake by adding puréed raspberry or other berry.
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