From-Scratch Coconut Pound Cake
Coconut Pound Cake
Visual learner? Watch me make this coconut pound cake from start to finish!
Have you been in a holiday baking mood lately? I think I’m all baked out from all the marathon baking that took place during the beginning of quarantine. However, there is no way I’m going to let the holidays roll by without making at least a few festive treats!
I made red velvet snowball cookies and chocolate peppermint brownie cookies on The Today Show last week, so we might as well continue decking out the holiday dessert table!
Today I’ve got this pretty, fluffy, tender beauty that reminds me of snowy days, heavenly Coconut Pound Cake! This pound cake looks so wintry and is perfect for the holidays, don’t you think?!
This cake is a favorite around here, and I can officially add this to the list of coconut desserts my husband will actually eat . It has a buttery flavor with just the right amount of coconut to not be overwhelming. A little coconut can go a long way, and this one strikes such an outstanding balance.
The coconut glaze and shredded coconut topping bring it all together! Feel free to toast the coconut if you wish!
How to Make The BEST Coconut Pound Cake
- Cream the butter and sugar on low speed JUST until creamy. Over-creaming and using a high speed can lead to those gluey streaks in your pound cake.
- As with most pound cakes, the flavor intensifies the next day!
- Don’t skip the glaze and toppings! The key to a delicious coconut pound cake is to use layers of coconut flavor. This pound cake uses pure coconut extract, coconut milk, and shredded coconut to lend the best delicate coconut flavor.
How To Store
Store the finished pound cake in plastic wrap or slice, then individually wrap the pieces in plastic wrap. Store wrapped cake in an airtight container.
Happy Holidays!!!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Coconut Pound Cake
Ingredients
POUND CAKE
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, (1½ sticks)
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon pure coconut extract
- 1/2 cup canned coconut milk, unsweetened
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut flakes
GLAZE
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- salt, pinch
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded coconut flakes
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325 F. Grease and flour a 9 x5 loaf pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, cream together sugar and butter on low speed until well combined.
- Mix in eggs one at a time.
- Mix in vanilla extract and coconut extract. (see note)
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with the coconut milk and whole milk.
- Mix until batter is fluffy.
- Fold in shredded coconut flakes.
- Pour batter into prepare pan and give the pan a shake to even out the batter.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15-20 minutes. Check on it at the 60 minute mark and cover with aluminum foil if it's getting too dark. Continue baking until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumb clinging to it. (see note on baking time updated adjustment)
- Place on a cooling rack to cool (remember cake will continue cooking as it cools)
- Once pan has cooled remove cake from pan and allow to finish cooling completely on cooling rack.
- While cake is cooling make the glaze by combing all glaze ingredients in a bowl until silky.
- Pour half the glaze over cooled cake and then top with coconut flakes.
- Once glaze has hardened, drizzle on the remaining glaze and allow to harden.
- Slice and serve.
- Store cake wrapped in plastic wrap in an airtight container.
HI this is about when useing a Bundt pan and it burns at the top should I cover it also with foil after baking for 60mins ?
The Bundt pan will cook quicker than the loaf pan. Check it at 45-50 minutes and use the toothpick test. I never have any burns on my Bundt pan pound cakes, but my recipe is for a bigger cake.
I to am a baker, and the cake overflowed the 9×5 pan.
Hi can you share were you got the coconut extract? Thank you
I buy the McCormick brand of coconut extract at Acme Markets here in the states. Unlike vanilla extract it’s a clear liquid that works well if adding it to a glaze for the top of your pound cake. Hope this helps!
Can’t wait to try out this recipe – I love coconut. What brand of coconut extract do you use? What brand of rum extract? Thank you
Could this be made in a bundt pan instead of a loaf pan?
Like another Baker, the cake completely overflowed the 9 x 5 loaf pan. This is too much batter for this size pan. When you pour the batter in the pan it is already to the rim and it still needs to rise. Needs a larger pan. Will try again.
Yes it is my 9×5 loaf pan.The batter doesn’t rise much this is a pound cake and has a denser texture. I’m not sure what would be causing it to overflow other than an incorrect pan size or too much leavening.
Same here, but I knew it would potentially overflow since the batter was to the rim. I remove about 1/2 cup of the batter. I used exactly a 9X5 pan.
Tried this cake again. The key to this is is measure the flour exactly. It came out perfectly and delicious. Will definitely make again.