This coconut Easter cake is an easy lemon coconut Bundt cake decorated like a bird’s nest, topped with cream cheese frosting, shredded coconut, and chocolate Easter egg candies. You just need some basic baking staples, an electric mixer, and a standard Bundt pan to make this stunning springtime dessert that’s easy enough for cake decorating beginners.
I originally published this recipe in 2017 and have since added new photos and a few more success tips.
Out of all the seasonal candy sold in stores throughout the year, I think Easter candy takes the cake. (See what I did there?) Easter bunny, you’ve got the right idea. Give me a basket full of peanut butter eggs, please!
Today I’m sharing a fun Easter cake dessert, a recipe I have served every Easter holiday since I first published it many years ago. This beautiful birds’ nest cake certainly makes an impression, but the best part is… decorating this cake couldn’t be easier! Definitely much simpler than a layer cake, though if you’re up for a challenge, my carrot cake and coconut cake recipes also make for a sweet finale to a springtime meal.
Here’s Why This Will Be Your Favorite Easter Cake
- Easy to make, easy to decorate—if you have young fledglings in your nest, they love to help!
- You’ll find coconut both inside and on top of this Easter cake—toasting some for topping adds color and texture variation.
- Can prep the cake the day before.
- Decorating takes only about 10 minutes, tops.
- Makes enough for a crowd of your favorite “peeps.” 😉
One reader, Marie, commented: “I have been waiting to make this cake since you first posted it… I followed the recipe exactly. It both looked and tasted amazing! I think this cake will have to become a new tradition in my family. ★★★★★“
How to Make This Coconut Easter Cake
Let’s begin by constructing the interior of this nest: the lemon coconut cake batter.
Here are the best ingredients to use for your Easter cake and why:
- Cake Flour: To keep this coconut Easter cake soft, and prevent it from being too heavy, cake flour is a must. If you can’t find it, you can make this DIY cake flour substitute.
- Baking Powder + Baking Soda: Both leaveners lift this cake up as it bakes.
- Salt: Always needed for flavor.
- Butter: For that unparalleled buttery cake flavor. You need to cream the butter and sugar, so make sure you’re starting with proper room temperature butter.
- Sugar: We’re using granulated sugar to sweeten this Easter cake.
- Lemons: For the best flavor, use fresh lemons. You’ll use both the zest and the juice; remember to zest first, before slicing and juicing—much easier than trying to zest a squeezed lemon half!
- Vegetable Oil: Using oil helps keep the cake moist.
- Eggs: Key for binding the ingredients together, so the cake doesn’t fall apart (see below!). Use whole eggs here, for a denser-style cake. My regular coconut cake uses just egg whites, and is much lighter and fluffier.
- Vanilla + Coconut Extracts: Flavor.
- Sour Cream + Whole Milk: A careful ratio of these 2 ingredients gives this cake the best balance of structure and moisture.
- Sweetened Shredded/Flaked Coconut: I recommend using sweetened shredded coconut, sometimes sold as sweetened flaked coconut. It’s moister than unsweetened coconut, and that makes a big difference in the cake’s texture. I reduced the added sugar in the cake batter to make up for the sweetness. A cup goes into the cake batter; save the rest for feathering the nest!
Behind-the-Scenes: Recipe Testing This Easter Cake
For today’s recipe, my team and I went through 3 rounds of testing to land on perfection.
- We started with some of the same ingredients and ratios as this lemon coconut cake. Bundt cakes can have a tendency to turn out heavy and dry, and my first try at a coconut version was both. The texture was overly dense—even tough.
- The second cake we tested had better flavor and was definitely softer, but completely crumbled apart when we cut into it. (Did you see that on my Instagram stories the other week? The coconut cake crumbles tasted delicious over a bowl of orange sherbet, though!)
- For the third try, I took a note from my cranberry orange Bundt cake and used a combination of sour cream and whole milk to achieve the right balance of structure and moisture. We also reduced the amount of coconut, which was causing excess crumbliness, and added one more egg, to help with binding. The third time was indeed the charm, and that’s the recipe you’ll see here today.
This Easter cake is not as light and fluffy as this layered coconut cake, because a Bundt cake is always going to be more dense, with a tighter crumb. But that’s ok! The texture is similar to pound cake, and I just love how a Bundt cake gets that chewy golden crust on the exterior.
Expect a thick and fluffy batter:
After baking, let the cake cool for 2 hours in the pan, then invert it onto a cake stand or serving platter to continue cooling, and eventually decorate.
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Silky smooth cream cheese frosting is really easy to spread on a Bundt cake because it glides right on. In addition, it’s a fabulous “glue” for all the fluffy, feathery coconut on top.
You’ll flavor today’s cream cheese frosting with fresh lemon juice, but feel free to also add 1/2 teaspoon of coconut extract to the frosting if you’d like to amp up the coconut flavor.
How to Decorate This Easter Cake Like a Nest
Transforming this cake into a bird’s nest is quick and easy. Simply slather on the frosting (I use an icing spatula), then “feather the nest” by gently pressing the sweetened shredded coconut on top, so that it sticks to the frosting.
Finally, fill the center of the nest with your favorite candy-coated chocolate eggs. Then be prepared to swat away any sneaky little hands this Easter cake will attract!
And you know what would launch the cuteness factor into overdrive? Adding marshmallow chick Peeps to your nest!
Optional: How to Toast Coconut for Topping
I like to toast a little bit of the sweetened coconut to add some color variation on top of this Easter nest cake. It also adds that delicious crispy texture and toasted flavor.
For a contrast of texture and color, I toasted about half of the coconut. You can leave the coconut untoasted or toast it all—the decision is yours.
Spread the coconut on an ungreased baking sheet, and toast in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 6–8 minutes, until it’s golden-brown. Let it cool completely before using. Super easy.
Yes, absolutely. Bake and cool the cake 1 day ahead of time, cover tightly, and then decorate and serve the following day.
Sweetened shredded coconut works best because it’s moister, which helps keep the Bundt cake moist and tender.
For a layer cake, try this coconut layer cake, pineapple coconut cake, or lemon blueberry cake. Decorate the exterior with coconut and Easter egg candies.
Easter Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 4 hours (includes cooling)
- Yield: serves 10-12
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This beautiful springtime nest cake is easy enough for cake decorating beginners. Top the lemon coconut Bundt cake with creamy lemon cream cheese frosting, feathery sweetened coconut, and, of course, candy-coated chocolate eggs!
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 cups (360g) cake flour (spooned & leveled)*
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 and 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 1 heaping Tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/2 cup (120g) full-fat sour cream or plain yogurt, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup (180ml) whole milk, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup (100g) sweetened flaked/shredded coconut
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces (226g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups (240g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1–2 Tablespoons (15–30ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Topping
- 1 and 1/2 cups (150g) sweetened flaked/shredded coconut*
- 1–2 cups candy-coated chocolate eggs, such as Cadbury Mini Eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Generously grease a 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan.
- Make the cake: Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and lemon zest and beat on high speed for 3 minutes until creamed. (Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need guidance on how to cream butter and sugar.) Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the oil and mix on medium speed to combine. With the mixer running on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, then add sour cream and the vanilla and coconut extracts. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Whisk the lemon juice and milk together. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the lemon-milk mixture and mixing after each addition until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. The batter will be thick and fluffy. Fold in the coconut.
- Spoon/pour evenly into Bundt pan and bake for 55–65 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. If you find the top is browning too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil about halfway through bake time.
- Cool cake for 2 hours in the pan set on a cooling rack, and then invert onto a cake stand or serving plate. Cool completely before decorating.
- Make the frosting:Â In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add 1 more Tablespoon of lemon juice to thin out, if desired. Taste. Add a pinch of salt if desired.
- Using an icing spatula or a knife, frost the cooled Bundt cake. Top with sweetened flaked/shredded coconut. Fill the hole in the center of the cake with candy-coated chocolate eggs. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 24 hours. If the cake has been refrigerated for longer than an hour, let it sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving, to soften up a bit.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I usually store frosted cakes in a cake carrier.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: You can make and cool the cake 1 day before serving, store covered overnight, and decorate and serve the following day. You can also make and decorate the cake 1 day in advance; see step 8. To freeze, wrap unfrosted baked and cooled cake in 1–2 layers of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw (still in the wrapping) overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before frosting, slicing, and serving.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 10- to 12-cup Bundt Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Cooling Rack | Icing Spatula | Cake Carrier | Citrus Juicer | Citrus Zester
- Cake Flour: For the best results, I strongly recommend cake flour. You can find cake flour in the baking aisle and I have many more recipes using it. If you can’t find it, try making this cake flour substitute.
- Sweetened Shredded Coconut: I recommend using sweetened shredded/flaked coconut in the cake and as the topping. It’s moister than unsweetened coconut and that makes a big difference in the cake’s texture. If desired, pulse the coconut shreds in a food processor to chop them up so they aren’t as long inside and outside of the cake. Chopping the coconut is optional.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: All refrigerated items should be at room temperature so the batter mixes together easily and evenly. Here is why room temperature ingredients are important in baking.Â
- Whole Milk & Sour Cream: Whole milk and full-fat sour cream are strongly recommended for the best taste and texture. You can substitute full-fat plain yogurt for the sour cream, if needed. And if you don’t have whole milk, lower fat or nondairy milk work in a pinch.
- Toasted Coconut for Topping: If desired, you can toast some or all of the coconut for the topping. Spread the coconut on an ungreased baking sheet, and bake in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 6–8 minutes, or until browned to your liking. Let cool before using.
- Can I Use Another Frosting? If you don’t want a cream cheese frosting, this lemon buttercream would be so tasty, and you can halve the recipe to make just enough for the Bundt.
- Can I Use Another Flavor Bundt Cake? Yes, you can use this frosting and decorating technique with another flavor Bundt cake such as cheesecake swirl carrot Bundt cake, chocolate marble banana Bundt cake, lemon berry yogurt cake, hummingbird Bundt cake, and cream cheese pound cake.
- Inspired by Real Simple.
Reader Comments and Reviews
Can I make the frosting & leave it in the fridge overnight, then decorate tomorrow?
Certainly! You may need to beat in a splash of milk to make it soft enough to spread again.
Help! Not sure what happened but after cooling the cake sunk. Could I have perhaps underbaked it? I nibbled at the crumbs and it tastes great. I hope to hide the appearance with the frosting and coconut but I am so disappointed. What could have happened
Hi Janet! Cakes that deflate when cooling are usually under-baked. An easy fix for next time!
Can I use coconut milk instead of whole milk and sour cream?
Hi Deirdre, we have not tested that but let us know if you do!
Wonderful cake!