Three Layer Coconut Cake Recipe

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Tender, moist, bursting with coconut flavor: here is everything we are looking for in a three layer coconut cake recipe. Get the tips and tricks for making this gorgeous cake perfectly every time.

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Iโ€™ve had cake on the brain lately. Maybe thatโ€™s because Iโ€™ve been trying not to eat cake, and so all I can think about is eating cake. But also, around here itโ€™s cake season (to everything there is a season).

There are First Communions in spring, which my grandmother Alice Abowd always graced with her specialty cakes. There was a piped cross cake, and a coconut lamb whose molds we still have (perfect for my nephew’s Communion cake this week). There used to be spring cake-walks at our parish carnival, too. Youโ€™d walk the circle until the music stopped playing and if you were standing on the number drawn from a hat, you won a cake. Brilliant.


And there is Motherโ€™s Day, a cake-worthy event if there ever was one. One particular Motherโ€™s Day probably 15 years ago, maybe more but I canโ€™t go there, my sister and I headed back to Michigan from Chicago to celebrate with Mom. Dad was with us back then, and my brother was in Michigan too. We loaded the car with over-the-top treats, including a big bucket filled with the most gorgeous roses Iโ€™d ever seen. They were a perfect shade of fuchsia and the underside of the petals was chalky pink; they blossomed into big, loose ruffles that filled both hands put together around them. Iโ€™d seen a few of the roses in the floral display at Treasure Island grocery store, and asked what they were, and could they get me several dozen? I swore I would never forget the name of that rose, so that I could always ask for it by name (and now: name forgotten).

There was also a Mother’s Day cake whose name was never forgotten. It was a tall, three-layered, handcrafted beauty steadied on the floor in the back of the car in a big blue box from Tiffany. A stately coconut cake was worthy of that box. But this coconut cake? Iโ€™d rather forget it and remember the roses. But nobody will let me.


Imagine the white tower of a cake on the kitchen table at home, a proud display of daughterly love on Motherโ€™s Day. Here was a confection of the highest order. Beautiful inside too, layers of meringue icing that stood firm and grand. We sliced into the cake immediately, all formalities and any right-before-dinner hesitancy aside.

The table was pretty quiet as we forked up the thick bites. I looked up from mine and caught my brother and sister mouthing something to each other. What? I said, What what!!


They threw down their forks, I kid you not, and told me in the dramatic terms they are experts at that my cake was inedibly dry. And flavorless. Dry, flavorless, and whatโ€™s for dinner anyway?

Fine. I agreed. It was not a good cake. It was a vain cake, pretty to look at with no character underneath it all. I was so irritated at Martha Stewart for giving me such a fail that I still fear a misfire every time I try something of hers (but then there were these, and the world was set straight). It’s something none of us can forget, not unlike that one time when I was a kid and got so irritated by all of the sibling harassment that I threw the TV remote at my brother (Iโ€™m sorry, I really am), and still today weโ€™re both stunned that I did it. Same with the cake. That stunningly bad display of bait-and-switch, of looks pretty/tastes bad still comes up, and its haunting has made me less of a cake baker than I would otherwise be, Iโ€™m sure of it.


So here you go. Iโ€™m done running from the coconut cake, or any white cake for that matter. Done accepting that they taste bad (often of raw flour, or something like that). Iโ€™ve tried many if not all of the approaches to a coconut cake, and this one is a winner for its deep coconut flavor and, of course, its moistness (if that means accepting a scoop of shortening, so be it). I feel certain Grandma Abowd would approve for her lamb cake, certain Iโ€™d pick this one if my number came up in a cake-walk, and positive Iโ€™ve finally made good on a cake worthy of spring cake season.

Triple layer coconut cake slice with a fork
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Three Layer Coconut Cake

The unsweetened coconut is a perfect way to impart more coconut flavor to the cake without more sugar, but sweetened flaked coconut is a fine substitute. The orange blossom simplesyrup adds moistness to the cake and a layer of flavor that enhances the coconut beautifully.
Servings: 15

Ingredients 

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus more for coating pans
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons coconut extract or flavoring

Orange blossom syrup:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange blossom water

For the Buttercream:

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon coconut extract
  • 6 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 4-5 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 cups desiccated shredded coconut (unsweetened coconut)
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Instructions 

For the cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF and place a rack in the center position. Coat 3 9-inch cake pans with butter and line the bottoms with parchment circles.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and shortening on high speed until they are light and fluffy. On medium-low speed, add the sugar one cup at a time. Once the sugar is incorporated, increase the speed and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy again, about 3 minutes.
  • Crack the eggs into a bowl, then add them one at a time to the butter mixture, beating to incorporate each egg before adding the next one.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, coconut milk, and coconut extract. On low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture into the batter in several additions, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go, and beat just until each is incorporated.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the three cake pans and smooth the batter into each pan. Bake the cakes for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they are golden, spring back lightly when touched in the center, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • While the cakes bake, make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, water, and lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer five minutes. Add the orange blossom water and set aside.
  • When the cakes are done baking, cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then remove the cakes and cool on wire racks. When the cakes are completely cooled, brush the tops and sides with orange blossom simple syrup.

For the Buttercream:

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl using hand beaters, until smooth. Beat in the coconut extract. Sift in the confectioners' sugar one cup at a time, incorporating on low speed and adding a tablespoon of coconut milk after every cup or two. Beat the buttercream until it is smooth and light.
  • To assemble the cake, place one layer of cake on a serving platter or cake stand, placing the squared-off cake edge side down. Top it with about a cup of buttercream and spread evenly to the edges. Center the second layer on top of the first layer with buttercream, and top with another cup of buttercream, spreading it evenly to the edges. Center the third cake layer on top, placing the squared-off cake edge side up, and spread the buttercream evenly over the top. Frost the sides of the cake. Sprinkle the coconut over the top and sides of the cake in small handfuls (itโ€™s messy, but thatโ€™s okay; just brush the excess coconut from the rim of the cake platter before serving). Serve the cake immediately, or chill and serve within a day or two.
  • Pat the the coconut onto the top and sides of the cake in small handfuls (itโ€™s messy, but thatโ€™s okay; just brush the excess coconut from the rim of the cake platter before serving). Serve the cake immediately, or chill and serve within a day or two after bringing back to room temperature.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Maureen Abood
Servings: 15
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17 Comments

  1. Gale Katzbach says:

    Maureen thank you so much for yet another amazing recipe! I made this cake for our Sunday Family dinner and it was a huge success!! Will be making it again for sure!

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Wonderful Gale, thank you for the report!

  2. Henry J says:

    Your Jiddo looks exactly like mine (could be twins!) with the exception of mine having a cigar in his left hand. Right down to the generous nose. The picture evokes great nostalgia. Our childhood must have been very much like yours. We need more of this. H

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      God bless our Jiddos, and the wonderful upbringings we had!

  3. Edie says:

    Thank you so much for your heartwarming and funny memories! I love looking at photos! Not only are you an accomplished cook, baker, successful blogger, (incredibly* well-written) it seems like you are successful almost anything! These memories are worth compiling in a book.
    *incredibly (not that I don’t believe that you cannot) but because I know from experience how difficult it can be to write so well, especially when dealing with bitter sweet memories!
    I bet someone could help you trace the name of that rose based on your description of the colors:

    Start with https://www.combinedroselist.com/freedom-gardens.html

    And, I thought that I was the only person that threw things (usually not directly at people!) when “my back was pushed up against the wall,” so to speak! What I try not to do is hurl words at people, because they seem to hurt people (me, us, anybody?) more than objects. (Just from my experience!)

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      This is wonderful in every way Edie–thank you so very very much! Here’s the book I did write!

  4. aruna says:

    Maureen, I want to bake your coconut cake this Monday for my dear friend’s birthday. The orange blossom water worries me a bit. I find that this smells more like laundry water. Not natural. Am I just buying the wrong brand ? I was able to find only “Ziyad”. Is there a substitute to this ? What if I just made a fresh orange juice infused syrup ?
    BTW. I love the website. I am from India. But my favorite food is from the Mediterranean. Greek, Lebanese , Spanish…etc etc..
    Help me out with the Orange water please ;(

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Hello, and thank you! Ziyad is a trusted brand, but if the orange blossom water doesn’t smell good to you, go right ahead and make simple syrup with fresh orange juice (not at all the same flavor as orange blossom water, but it will taste good!)–or instead even better, a drop or two of rose water. Vanilla simple syrup would also be good here, or coconut with the extract.

  5. jacquie says:

    oh my that lamb brings back memories of church chicken barbeques and the “spin-the-cake” wheel!

  6. Geralyn Lasher says:

    Now I understand how you came across my First Communion picture! Oh my Lord I LOVE the picture of you with that cake and your Grandpa! How adorable these pictures are!

  7. Tammy Tabor-Spitzley says:

    I think I may have used the same Martha Stewart recipe many years back. I too was very disappointed. It was beautiful and i was excited for weeks before to take such a beautiful cake to my church function. Dry and no flavor. Thanks for the new coconut cake recipe!

  8. Vicky Woeste says:

    Grandpa! Great photo!

  9. Celine says:

    YES! YES! YES! I can’t wait to bake this cake. I have deep love for anything coconut and we always adored Aunt Mary’s show stopping lamb cakes!! Now I have a triple reason to enjoy cake season.

  10. Kathy LaRue says:

    Mmmmm….coconut. So glad the health benefits are being discovered finally. I also have fond memories of coconut cake as a child. My brother and I remember the Easter coconut cakes that had jelly beans as decorations on top. What can I say? My mother was challenged as a cake decorator, but there was a lot of love mixed into that cake. Thanks so much for sharing, Maureen! Will be making this soon! (Without jelly beans)

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Gotta love the LOVE! I hope this cake is as wonderful for you as it is for me–and I’d love to hear how you like it!

  11. Diane Nassir (my maternal grandmother was an Abood (Jamileh) from Ammun Leb. says:

    Smiles and warm tears as always–lovely writing–and, a most beautiful cake–and, beautiful children with ‘zeitoun’ for eyes–my Aunt Louise always said that of me when I was a child!!

  12. Tom | Tall Clover Farm says:

    Maureen, you had me at Coconut Cake. And may i just say, look at those three layers on the cooling rack–perfection. I think I make a mean coconut cake but I can see your version is a real contender, and for sure a winner! Thanks for sharing.