Chocolate Coconut Cake

5 from 11 votes

This chocolate coconut cake is out of this world tasty! Imagine soft and moist chocolate cake layers frosted with super creamy coconut frosting. This cake is perfect for any occasion and 100% made from scratch. Tastes just like Bounty candy!

Prep Time40

Cook Time22

Chill Time4

Total Time5 2

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Sabine

Ingredients

chocolate cake

2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
¾ cup dutch-processed cocoa powder, spooned and leveled
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
½ cup mild flavored vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
2 large eggs
½ cup coconut milk
½ tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup boiling hot water

coconut frosting

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups cold full-fat mascarpone
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
½ cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Line the bottom and the sides of two 8" (20cm) baking pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder and stir to combine. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl with a stand or handheld mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat oil, eggs, coconut milk, vinegar, and vanilla just until combined. Stir in dry ingredients to combine. The batter will be very thick. Slowly mix in hot water until combined. The batter will be very thin.
Divide batter into the two prepared baking pans equally. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake. I baked mine for 22 minutes. Let cool in the pan for about 15-20 minutes. Then remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool to room temperature.

Coconut Frosting

In a large mixing bowl with a stand or handheld mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat butter until creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add mascarpone and stir on medium-high speed until creamy and combined, about 1-2 minutes.
Sift in powdered sugar and mix until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Then add coconut milk and vanilla and stir to combine.

Assemble the Cake

Cut a thin layer off the tops of your cakes to create a flat surface. Then cut each cake in half horizontally. Place one cake layer on a cake stand, turner or serving plate. Spread ¼ of the frosting over the cake. Repeat two more times.
Place last cake layer on top and lightly frost the outside and the sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Chill at least 4 hours in the fridge or overnight.
Decorate the cake to your preference and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Video

Notes

Cooking Time and Temperature

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes. Chill the assembled cake for at least 4 hours before serving.

Taste & Texture

This chocolate coconut cake is incredibly moist with a soft, tender crumb. The chocolate flavor is rich without being overwhelming, while the coconut frosting is creamy, smooth, and lightly sweet.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating

Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Whole Cake: Freeze for up to 2 months.
Individual Slices: Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thawing: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

Serving Recommendations

I love serving this cake after dinner with coffee because the chocolate and coconut flavors pair so well with a warm drink. It's also one of my favorite cakes for birthdays and holiday celebrations.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Coconut milk: Full-fat coconut milk gives the best flavor and texture.
Mascarpone: I don't recommend replacing it with ricotta because the frosting texture won't be the same.
Espresso powder: Leave it out if you prefer, although I think it really enhances the chocolate.
Decoration: Toasted coconut flakes make a beautiful topping.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate shavings can be added for extra richness.

Proper Storage Tips

Keep refrigerated because of the mascarpone frosting.
Store in an airtight cake container.
Cover cut slices to prevent them from drying out.
Chill leftovers promptly after serving.

Pro Tips

Use cold mascarpone straight from the refrigerator.
Mix the frosting only until smooth.
Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting.
Chill the assembled cake before slicing.
Use full-fat ingredients for the best flavor and texture.

- If using canned coconut milk, hold the can under hot running tap water for about 20 seconds. Then shake vigorously to combine the coconut water and solid coconut fat into a smooth and creamy milk. However, the milk should not be hot!

- Mascarpone may curdle and looks like cottage cheese within a couple of seconds after starting mixing. It can be very quickly overmixed because of its high-fat content. To avoid this, I recommend using a large mixing bowl for mixing the mascarpone frosting. This makes it less likely to overmix the mascarpone. Also, mix the cream on medium speed and just long enough until smooth and combined.

- Please make sure that you use full-fat mascarpone and no low-light or substitute product. Also, don't interchange it with ricotta. Mascarpone should not be room temperature when using it but cold and straight out of the fridge.

Nutrition