Adapted from reader-favorite white cake, this pineapple coconut cake is supremely moist and pillow soft with extra coconut packed in each bite. Homemade pineapple curd adds another layer of sweet tropical flavor inside the cake. The cake is made with canned coconut milk, shredded coconut, pineapple juice, and pineapple chunks, a delightful combination promising big flavor.
This Pineapple Coconut Cake Features:
- Supremely moist and ultra fluffy pineapple coconut cake with flakes/shreds of coconut and sweet chunks of pineapple
- Homemade pineapple curd filling
- Smooth & luscious cream cheese frosting
- Flaky coconut around the exterior
Plus, there’s a few other ways to make this cake including as a sheet cake, 2 layer cake, cupcakes, etc. See details above the recipe. However you bake or serve it, this pineapple coconut cake would be wonderful for Easter dessert or any spring or summer celebration!
The Details
I adapted this cake batter from my white cake recipe. The white cake is a very popular cake recipe on the site, both a personal and reader favorite. There’s no surprises there– between its pristine crumb, fluffy texture, and stick-to-your-fork moisture, it’s impossible not to love. It’s my gold standard when it comes to soft cakes, so I’ve used it to produce many other flavors including pistachio cake, espresso cake, cookies & cream cake, burnt sugar caramel cake, coconut cake, strawberry cake, and today’s pineapple coconut cake. Here’s what you can expect:
- Texture: The most notable aspect of this cake is the texture. We have an incredible balance of soft, springy, and moist. The coconut inside the cake adds that stick-to-your-fork moisture, too. You’ll only achieve this texture perfection if you follow the recipe closely and this includes using real cake flour, only egg whites (no yolks in the batter), and sour cream. Note that I slightly reduced the egg whites, milk, and sugar in this cake recipe compared to the base white cake. This is because pineapple is so wet and sweet.
- Flavor: Who knew a cake could taste like vacation? Juicy pineapple and coconut add bright, tropical flavors to each slice. The cream cheese frosting adds a little tang to each bite, which helps offset the sweetness of the pineapple curd inside. If you aren’t a fan of coconut, you may enjoy this pineapple upside down cake instead.
- Ease: If you’ve baked layer cakes before, this shouldn’t be difficult. If you’re new to layer cakes, don’t get nervous. Stacking and frosting is pretty simple as long as you let the cake layers cool completely. Take your time with each step; it’s worth the effort.
- Time: Set aside at least 5 hours to complete this cake recipe which includes making the pineapple curd and cake, cooling both completely, and frosting the cake.
Simply put, this cake exceeded our expectations. It’s truly one of the best cakes I know how to make!
Video Tutorial: How to Make Pineapple Coconut Cake
5 Success Tips
- Use real cake flour, only egg whites, and full fat sour cream. I have instructions for making a cake flour substitute from all-purpose flour and cornstarch, but for best taste and texture, I urge you to use real cake flour in this recipe and not the substitute. 4 egg whites promise the fluffiest crumb. Save 2 of the yolks for the pineapple curd. Full fat sour cream guarantee a tender, moist crumb.
- Use the correct coconut milk. A majority of the liquid in this cake batter is canned coconut milk. Canned coconut milk is a cooking ingredient, not a beverage. It’s almost always unsweetened and is creamier and thicker than regular milk. It’s usually found near the Thai food products. Do not use refrigerated carton coconut milk because the two are very different.
- Add coconut extract. Like when I was testing my coconut cake recipe, I found this cake lacked coconut flavor without a little coconut extract. The cake is still delicious without it, but if you can find coconut extract, definitely use it.
- Pulse the coconut into finer pieces. Use sweetened shredded coconut because it’s moister than unsweetened and that makes a big difference in a cake’s texture. (I reduced the added sugar in the cake batter to make up for the sweetness.) Sweetened coconut is sometimes sold as long skinny shreds, a size some find off-putting in cake. Therefore, I recommend pulsing the coconut in a food processor or giving it a rough chop to break down the pieces.
- Ensure all ingredients are room temperature. All refrigerated items should be at room temperature so the cake batter mixes together easily and evenly. Simply put, cold ingredients won’t properly combine to produce a smooth, light cake crumb.
By the way, if you love coconut and cake, you’ll enjoy this nest-inspired Easter cake.
The Extras: Pineapple Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting
Fill the this pineapple coconut cake with homemade pineapple curd and cream cheese frosting. (Just like how we fill lemon coconut cake with lemon curd.) The cream cheese frosting is also used on the exterior of the cake, too.
- Pineapple Curd: I adapted the pineapple curd recipe from my lemon curd. I reduced the sugar since pineapple juice is so sweet and since sugar helps curd thicken, I added a little cornstarch to make up some of the difference. The curd has exceptional pineapple flavor, but it’s very sweet like apple butter, pumpkin butter, or jam. One crucial note for the pineapple curd—do NOT use fresh pineapple juice. Bromelain, an enzyme in fresh pineapple, prohibits curd from thickening appropriately. Your curd will be thin and it will separate, something I learned while experimenting. You must use canned pineapple juice, usually labeled as 100% pineapple juice. (The enzyme is no longer present after canning, so you’re good to go!)
- Cream Cheese Frosting: This cream cheese frosting recipe was *just enough* for thin layers between the cakes and around the exterior. I added a little liquid so it’s extra smooth and spreadable—you can use either pineapple juice or canned coconut milk for the liquid.
A Crumb Coat is Best
Since it’s so moist and filled with shredded coconut, the cake can be a little crumbly. I recommend applying a VERY thin crumb coat, which is a layer of frosting around the exterior of the cake to catch any crumbs. The cake is pretty slippery from the curd, so take your time assembling and frosting it. The frosting recipe below includes enough frosting for that thin crumb coat, then another thin layer of frosting on top of that.
Here’s the pineapple curd, frosting, and cake assembly in photos:
Other Cakes & Cake Sizes
- 9×13 Inch Cake: Simply pour the batter into a greased and lightly floured 9×13 inch pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 2 Layer Cake: This is a 3 layer 8-inch cake, but if you want a 2 layer cake, prepare two 9-inch cake pans in step 1. Divide batter between pans and bake for 25-28 minutes or until cooked through.
- Bundt Cake: This cake batter will fit into a greased 10-cup or larger Bundt pan. I’m unsure of the exact bake time (likely around an hour similar to this Easter cake), but use a toothpick to test for doneness. Same oven temperature. Feel free to frost with cream cheese frosting (half the frosting recipe should be enough) and serve slices with a spoonful of pineapple curd.
- Cupcakes: Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 19-21 minutes. Yields about 2-3 dozen. Feel free to core out some of the baked and cooled cupcake and fill with pineapple curd.
- Piña Colada Cake: I haven’t tested this recipe with the addition of rum to yield a piña colada cake. However, rum would definitely work in the frosting. Use 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of your favorite rum to replace the coconut milk/pineapple juice and vanilla extract.
- Pineapple Cake (no coconut): Follow the recipe below but substitute whole milk for the canned coconut milk, leave out the coconut extract and shredded coconut, then increase pineapple chunks in the cake batter to 1 and 1/2 cups. Use pineapple juice as the liquid in the frosting and skip the coconut garnish.
Pineapple Coconut Cake
- Prep Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours (includes cooling and chilling)
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This pineapple coconut cake includes pineapple chunks, coconut, coconut milk, plus homemade pineapple curd and cream cheese frosting. Each bite is packed with moist texture and irresistible flavor. Review the recipe notes before beginning. To save time, feel free to make the pineapple curd first. It must cool completely before you use it in the cake’s assembly.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 and 1/2 cups (285g) cake flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 3/4 cup (180ml) canned coconut milk, at room temperature*
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) pineapple juice (canned or fresh)
- 1 cup (80g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup (225g) pineapple chunks (canned and drained or use fresh), plus extra for garnish
Pineapple Curd
- 1 large egg
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/3 cup (80ml) canned pineapple juice (must be canned)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons; 60g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and cut into 4 pieces
Frosting
- 8 ounces (224g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar, plus an extra 1/4 cup (30g) if needed
- 2 Tablespoons canned coconut milk or pineapple juice (your choice)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- optional for garnish: fresh or canned pineapple chunks and/or 1 cup (80g) sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans. (If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.)
- Make the cake: Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside. (Note that the video shows sifting the flour, but you do not have to.)
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the egg whites until combined, then add the sour cream, vanilla extract, and coconut extract. Beat until combined. Mixture will look curdled as a result of the varying textures and solid butter combining. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients, coconut milk, and pineapple juice. Beat on low speed until combined, then beat in the shredded coconut and pineapple chunks just until combined. Whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no butter lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be slightly thick.
- Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for around 22-24 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. (Make the curd as the cakes cool.) The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
- Make the pineapple curd: Fill the bottom pot of a double boiler with 1-2 inches of water. (Or use the DIY double boiler method listed in the notes.) Place on high heat. Once the water begins to boil, reduce to low heat to keep the water at a simmer. Whisk the egg, egg yolks, granulated sugar, cornstarch, pineapple juice, and salt together the top pot of your double boiler. Continue to whisk as the curd cooks because constant whisking prevents the egg yolks from curdling. Whisk and cook until the mixture becomes slightly thick, resembling the texture of hollandaise sauce, about 10 minutes. If curd isn’t thickening, turn up the heat and keep whisking. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in the butter. The butter will melt from the heat of the curd. Pour curd into a jar or bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top so it is touching the top of the curd. (This prevents a skin from forming on top.) Cool completely. The curd will continue to thicken as it cools. Once cool, the plastic wrap can be removed. Makes 1 cup. You will have leftover curd after using in the cake. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 week. (Great on sourdough, biscuits, or toast!)
- Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, coconut milk or pineapple juice, vanilla extract, and salt with the mixer running on low. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add the extra 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar (I usually add it).
- Assemble and decorate: If your cakes are domed on top, use a large serrated knife to slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. Discard (or crumble over ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand, cake turntable, or serving plate. I use and recommend an icing spatula to apply the frosting & curd. Evenly spread a scant 1/2 cup of frosting on top. Spread 1/4 cup of pineapple curd on top of the frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with 1/2 cup of frosting, then 1/4 cup of curd. Carefully place the third cake layer on top. The cake is very slippery due to the frosting and curd, so be careful with it. I highly recommend a crumb coat for this cake, so spread a very very thin layer of frosting on top and all around the exterior of the cake. A bench scraper is helpful to smooth the sides. Refrigerate crumb-coated cake for 30-60 minutes—again, this is a slippery cake so refrigeration is very helpful. Remove cake from the refrigerator and spread the remaining frosting all over the cake. (Which should only be a small amount at this point.) Decorate with pineapple chunks on top of the cake and/or press coconut gently into the sides of the cake.
- Refrigerate cake for at least 20 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting, though it’s still a pretty fluffy cake.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: You can make the pineapple curd ahead of time. After it cools completely, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 week. The cake layers can be baked, cooled, and covered tightly at room temperature overnight. Likewise, the frosting can be prepared then covered and refrigerated overnight. When ready to decorate, let the frosting sit at room temperature to slightly soften for 15 minutes, then give it one more mix with the mixer on medium speed for about 1 minute before frosting cake. Frosted cake or unfrosted cake layers can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating/serving.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | 8-Inch Round Cake Pans | Double Boiler | Cake Turntable | Icing Spatula | Bench Scraper | Cake Carrier (for storage)
- 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’re in a pinch, you can use a DIY cake flour substitute but the cake won’t taste as light and soft.
- Egg Whites: Egg whites (no yolks) are KEY to the cake’s fluffy texture. Save 2 egg yolks for the pineapple curd.
- Canned Coconut Milk: With some reviews that this cake is too wet, we have re-tested and changed the amount of coconut milk to 3/4 cup (180ml) instead of the original 1 cup (240ml). Canned coconut milk is a cooking ingredient, not a beverage. It is usually unsweetened, so make sure you’re using unsweetened. It’s usually found near the Thai food products. Do not use refrigerated carton coconut milk. You need 3/4 cup for the cake, not the entire can. You can use 2 more Tablespoons in the frosting if desired. There will be a little leftover in the can. Coconut milk separates, so make sure you either shake up the can before opening or, after opening the can, whisk the liquid and coconut cream together to yield the thick coconut milk you need in this recipe.
- Sweetened Shredded Coconut: I recommend using sweetened shredded coconut. 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 or chop them up so they aren’t as long inside and outside of the cake. Chopping the coconut is optional.
- Pineapple Chunks: If using canned pineapple chunks, purchase a can labeled with “chunks” or “tidbits.” You can save the liquid you drain to use in the cake. (There likely won’t be enough for the curd though.) Do not use crushed pineapple, which is too liquid and thin. If using fresh pineapple, cut chunks into bite-size pieces.
- Double Boiler Alternative for Curd: If you do not own a double boiler, you can simply place a small heatproof glass bowl over a saucepan—you will cook the curd in the top pot/bowl.
- Pineapple Juice: You can use fresh or canned pineapple juice in the cake batter and frosting recipes. However, in order for the pineapple curd to thicken, you must use canned juice in the curd. See blog post above for details. Since you need canned juice for the curd, it may just be easiest to use canned juice in the batter and frosting, too.
- Cream Cheese: Use block cream cheese, not cream cheese spread. If desired, you can use this vanilla buttercream instead of cream cheese frosting. If you follow that frosting recipe, you can use canned coconut milk instead of the whole milk/heavy cream OR 3 Tablespoons pineapple juice and 2 Tablespoons coconut milk instead of whole milk/heavy cream.
- Amount of Cake Batter: This recipe yields nearly 8 cups of batter, which is helpful if you need it for different Cake Pan Sizes & Conversions. See box above the recipe for different cake pan options.
Keywords: pineapple coconut cake
I made a half recipe in 3 6″ pans, but a complete recipe of the pineapple curd. I spread some of the curd between the layers, and poured the rest over the slices. It was heavenly!
I have a question, though, about curd. I’ve now made your lemon curd and your pineapple curd. Both were delicious, but the textures were very different (and both needed far more than 10 minutes of cooking). The lemon curd was so thick that we had to dig it out of the jar and spread it with a knife; we discovered that it was amazing spread on graham crackers and topped with a squirt of whipped cream. (Later, I actually served this to dinner guests when it turned out one of them couldn’t eat the dessert I’d prepared; they *loved* it!) The pineapple curd, on the other hand, was about the consistency of heavy whipping cream as it comes from the carton; it poured easily. Which is correct, or should it be somewhere in between? How can I tell when it’s done cooking, as I’ve never made Hollandaise?
Thanks so much!
Hi Kathy, somehow I missed this question earlier! The lemon curd and pineapple curd have two different consistencies. Pineapple curd will never thicken like lemon curd does unless you add gelatin or more cornstarch. Both of the consistencies you’re describing sound accurate and what should be expected. If you want to thin out the lemon curd, you can reduce the butter down to 4 or 5 Tablespoons. (Or reduce down to 3 egg yolks.)
This cake has become my family’s favorite and asked for by name. Followed the recipe and it turned out perfectly!
★★★★★
I made the curd and it’s not very pineapple-y. What if I diced some fresh pineapple, drained it and spread on the cake layer with some coconut whipped cream? Would the pineapple thin the whipped cream? I’m going to use the curd and the whipped cream on the other layers (I’m using your ‘best yellow cake’ recipe and slicing the layers in half) but I want some real pineapple kick. I’m frosting the cake with cream cheese frosting.
Thanks!
Hi Suzy, we haven’t tested that but don’t see why it would be an issue. Make sure to get as much excess moisture off the pineapple as possible. You could also use the cream cheese frosting between the laters with the pineapple, that way you would have less risk it it turning runny. Let us know what you try!
Hi Trina, thank you for your reply. I piped a circle of the cream cheese frosting around the edge of the cake and then I placed the well-drained pineapple inside and then topped it with coconut whipped cream and it was great! Did not leak or run or affect the quality of the whipped cream.
Hi, I’m excited to try this recipe but can you please clarify when to sift the cake flour?
Under 5 Successful Tips – it says we should sift and then measure the cake flour. However, in the ingredients list, it doesn’t indicate that we should be using 2.5 cups of sifted cake flour and the instructions don’t include the sifting step. The video seems to show that sifting occurs after measuring. Thanks!
Hi Silvia, you do NOT have to sift the flour for this cake. Upon further testing, we decided it just was not necessary.
This is an amazing recipe. I made cupcakes, including the cored-out center filled with curd. The cake is delicate with the best hint of coconut complemented nicely by the juicy pineapple. It is not too sweet – it is just right on flavor and texture. I really appreciate the work that goes into creating these recipes along with the detailed explanations for success. Following this recipe carefully yields delicious results. I will make these again!
Overall, I love your recipes. Just wanted to make the curd from this one…having a lot of experience making lemon curd, I followed this recipe to the letter. It never set up…was runny. Very runny. Even after extended cooking time.
Hi Bev, Be sure to read the section “The Extras: Pineapple Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting” for tips on the curd.
So strange. I printed the recipe on 4/14 and it says 3 9 inch pans. Now I’m making the cake on 4/17 and it says 3 8 inch pans. But the bake time didn’t change? Doesn’t pan size affect bake time? Confusing and a little disappointing.
Hi Katie, after some recent testing, we determined that we preferred the slightly thicker layers in 8 inch pans. But you can use either! Bake time will be similar, but as always, keep an eye on the cakes in the oven and use a toothpick to test for doneness.
I’m allergic to cream cheese, what other frosting can i use?
Hi Zenia! You can use vanilla frosting instead – feel free to use coconut milk or pineapple juice in place of the cream/milk in that recipe like we do here.
The directions say 3 8 inch pans or 2 9 inch pans but a previous response from Trina stated 3 9 inch pans. Which is correct 2 9 inch pans or 3 9 inch pans.
Hi Margie, we now recommend 8-inch pans.
Hey there!! Would this recipe be too much for 3 6×2 round pans? Looks like it makes 8 cups of batter, so should be ok per your cake pan measurements post (love this, by the way!!)?
Hi Alyssa, this will be too much batter for 3 6-inch cake pans. (Remember, you don’t fill the cake pans all the way to the top so 3 6-inch cake pans may hold this batter, but shouldn’t be baked with all of this batter.) You’ll need to halve the recipe or you can use my coconut cupcakes recipe and add some chopped pineapple to the batter. You can swap the caramel filling for the pineapple curd and use another frosting recipe you enjoy.
I halved the recipe as suggested for 3 6-inch pans and it turned out beautifully!! Thank you!
Hi Sally and team, this cake sounds delicious and I’m going to try it! I’d like to ask for possible substitution options for the pineapple curd. I read that it’s very sweet, and I would prefer my cake to be tangy, coconut-y but not sweet. Any ideas? Thank you!
How about lemon curd? It’s sweet, but not nearly as sweet as pineapple curd. You could also swap the frosting for this whipped frosting which will bring down the overall sweetness of the cake.
How does the recipe change if I wanted to do cupcakes?
Hi JH, see section titled “Other Cakes & Cake Sizes” for cupcake directions.
Oh, how I wish I’d seen this recipe before making my coconut cake for Easter. This one sounds even more fantastic.
Delicious! If anyone has trouble with the curd not thickening, you might be making the same mistake I did the first attempt. I don’t have a double-broiler so I did the “DIY method”–however, in my ignorance I used a bowl that had a handle on one side as my top bowl (a mixing bowl). The handle made it not fit flush over my bottom pot of boiling water, and made a lot of the steam escape around the side of my bowl instead of being concentrated enough to cook my curd. So even though I did all the ingredients correctly, and even added more cornstarch AND an extra egg yolk in desperation after 10 minutes, after 20 minutes the curd was hot, but still totally liquid, even though I turned the heat up. I was so aggravated! But I tried it again the next morning after I had thought about it, using two pots that fit snugly, and it worked like a dream. In fact it thickened in under the 10 minutes prescribed.
★★★★★
Can I use imitation coconut extract?
Hi Cristina, yes, that’s fine!
This is the second time I’ve made this cake but the curd keeps coming out too runny (cake is delicious)…I wisked for over 12 minutest this time in the double boiler…same result. Any ideas?
Hi Stephanie, Be sure to read the section “The Extras: Pineapple Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting” for tips on the curd. So glad you love this cake!
This was ok, not sure I would make it again. It was a very dense cake, not sure what I did. I used the cake flour and followed the instructions as directed. I thought is was supposed to be a light, fluffy cake. It had really good flavor, though. This (3) layered beauty looked awesome, too, and carried a nice coconut flavor. If anyone has thoughts on why it may have turned out more dense than fluffy, I would love to hear your suggestions. Thank you, A.
★★★★
Hi Andrea, thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! Yes, this should be a light and fluffy cake. A few things that may cause this cake to be dense: over-mixing the batter (make sure to mix until just combined), adding too much flour when measuring (make sure to spoon and level instead of scooping), and lastly, make sure your baking powder/soda is fresh as it can lost strength after just a few months.
I will certainly try to make it again. I ended up freezing it, and enjoyed a slice at a later time. This recipe has potential. I will try it again. Thank you for your suggestions.
Delicious, Sally! Thanks for this amazing recipe. Can this keep in the fridge?
★★★★★
Hi Coco! Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Hi Sally, love your recipes. But i didn’t have a particularly great experience with this one. The taste and aroma was Excellent and i made two 9-inch cakes with the batter. The cakes didn’t bake until 35 mins and still felt very moist and delicate to move around. I assumed because of the thickness of the batter. Unfortunately, the feedback received was that the cake felt raw and uncooked. I knew few minutes more in the oven the cake could do dry which isn’t the goal too. Can you suggest on what i could’ve done better? I used a home made substitute for the cake flour and followed all the measurements and steps as per the recipe1
★★★
This was amazing! (As always from you!)
I screwed up my timing and didn’t get to let the cake chill before frosting and was a little skimpy on the pineapple curd. That said, no one would have ever known my mess ups with how great this came out. I chopped my pineapple chunks and toasted the coconut for the garnish. Definitely good ideas. I am keeping this recipe forever!
★★★★★
I made this for my husband’s birthday in May. Everyone loved it! I am making it again this week just because – well, because they keep asking me to make it again. It really is wonderful!!
★★★★★
I’m torn on this one. I made it for a dinner party last night, and my guests said they liked it, but I felt it was too soggy (as another reviewer mentioned), too sweet, and tasted overpoweringly of pineapple and not enough coconut (we couldn’t find coconut essence/extract where I live in Asia, strangely, so that explains lack of coconut flavour). Some of Sally’s other recipes are phenomenal (like the Lemon meringue pie), but I felt unfortunately that this one was more miss than hit.
★★★
I made 30 cupcakes following this recipe (omitting the pineapple curd). I thought the batter and frosting were delicious! For cupcakes, I considered using crushed pineapple; however, I finally went with a can of pineapple tidbits which worked fine…. the size wasn’t overpowering. I think pineapple chunks would have been too thick. Since the coconut milk can partially solidify in the can, I recommend briefly pulsing the canned coconut milk in a blender prior to adding it to the batter. Since I like a stronger coconut taste in the frosting, next time I think I will use coconut flavor instead of coconut milk. I enjoyed the pineapple juice in the frosting and may add a little more. I garnished with shredded coconut, a single pineapple tidbit, and yellow sanding sugar. These are a definite do over!
★★★★★
Did you find that the frosting piped well for cupcakes?
Hi Sally,
If i want to make smaller cake, which ingredients so i have to reduce and by how much?
Thank you
Hi Mel, it depends on the size of your pans, but our cake pan sizes and conversions guide will be helpful for you to scale the recipe down for your needs. Hope this helps!
Hi, I am so excited to make this cake tomorrow. One question, I wanted to put toasted coconut along the exterior of the cake, as a garnish, do you think this would work well? Thanks
Hi Carson, that sounds delicious! Hope you enjoy the cake.
Tried this today and for some reason the cake was very wet – not moist – wet , so that it tasted almost as if it wasn’t fully baked, when it was. It’s hard to describe, it was definitely cooked, but it was as if the mixture was too wet. It was not really sticky to eat. What did I do wrong?
Hi Margaret, this is certainly a moist cake, but if it feels almost too moist, it sounds like it needs another minute or two in the oven. Did you happen to make any ingredient substitutions?
No, I did it exactly as per the recipe, although I must admits I did think it had a lot of liquid ingredients, and cooked it for about 35 minutes. I’ve made it again this evening with 35g more flour, 20g less sour cream and 40ml less coconut milk, and it is much better, so not sure why but less liquid seems to suit my oven better.
Sally mentioned that the cake layers are slippery once the curd is added. A tip to help keep the curd from leaking out and to keep the cake layers together: pipe a ring of frosting around the perimeter of the bottom cake layer before adding the curd. I haven’t made this cake yet but can’t wait to try it.
Hi Sally I made this cake in a nine 9 x 13 pan
how do I incorporate the
pineapple curd? Thank you
★★★★★
Hi Kimmi, You can add a layer of curd on top and then top that with frosting!
Thank you Stephanie
The cake is already done ✅ and I did just that , it looks absolutely delicious thank you for your fast reply
~ Kimmi
★★★★★
Hello! In a 9 by 13 pan, I wonder if making holes throughout the cake and then inserting the curd in the holes then top with cream cheese and coconut on top What are your thoughts?
Hi Yvette, you can definitely do the poke cake method like you’re describing, or you can spread the curd on top of the cake before frosting (this would get a bit messy, though!) Or, you can simply keep the curd separate and spoon over the individual slices. Hope you enjoy the cake!
The batter was too thick and heavy, was raw on the inside, after being in the oven for almost 30 minutes! Very Bad.
★
Could I substitute canned Mango Slices cut into chunks instead of the pineapple ?? It’s just that I only have crushed pineapple which isn’t recommended.
Thanks x
Hi BevvyLoo, I haven’t tested it but I’m sure that swap would be fine in the cake batter. If the chunks seem pretty wet, I would blot them before adding to the cake batter.
Thank you so much Sally, I made the cake with the canned Mango & I drained as much juice as possible from the fruit … I cut it into small bites & it came out excellent !! My Husband & son loved it
★★★★★
Sounds good Sally!
Thank you !
★★★★★