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Fluffy coconut cake slice with white frosting and toasted coconut topping.

Coconut Sheet Cake

Sharon Best Profile PictureSharon Best
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 628 kcal

Ingredients
  

For The Coconut Sheet Cake:

  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs separated, at room temperature
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 1/4 cups full-fat canned coconut milk well shaken

For The Coconut Buttercream Frosting:

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons full-fat canned coconut milk well shaken, plus more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 7 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup shredded coconut toasted, optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Make The Coconut Cake:

  • In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift a second time, then set aside.
    Flour and sifter on kitchen countertop for baking bread or pastry.
  • In a clean bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed.
    Beating butter and sugar together for Coconut Sheet Cake.
  • Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
    Butter and egg being mixed in a stand mixer for baking recipes.
  • Mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts until smooth.
    Mixing vanilla and coconut extracts into the cake batter for coconut sheet cake.
  • With the mixer on low, add about 1 cup of the flour mixture and mix just until combined. Add about 1/2 cup of the coconut milk and mix just until incorporated.
    Creamy yellow butter and sugar mixture in a stand mixer for baking.
  • Continue alternating additions of the flour mixture and coconut milk, mixing on low and scraping the bowl as needed, until everything is just combined. Do not overmix.
    Mixing flour and coconut milk into Coconut Sheet Cake batter.
  • Using a large spatula, gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter in 2-3 additions, turning the batter over itself until no streaks of egg white remain.
    Beaten egg whites and cake batter ready to be folded for Coconut Sheet Cake.
  • Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, the center springs back when gently touched, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    Spreading coconut sheet cake batter evenly in a white baking dish.
  • Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely in the pan, about 60-90 minutes.
    Golden baked cake in white baking dish on kitchen countertop.

Make The Coconut Buttercream Frosting:

  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
    Beating butter until smooth and creamy for coconut sheet cake.
  • Add 4 tablespoons coconut milk and the coconut extract and beat until combined.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, beating on low until incorporated, then on medium until smooth after each addition. If the frosting is too thick, add more coconut milk 1 teaspoon at a time until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency. Beat 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.

Frost And Serve The Cake:

  • Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the coconut buttercream evenly over the top and sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired.
    A Coconut Sheet Cake in a rectangular baking dish, topped with swirled coconut buttercream frosting.
  • Slice and serve immediately or cover the pan tightly.

Nutrition

Calories: 628kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 5gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 19gSodium: 205mgFiber: 1g
Keyword Coconut Sheet Cake
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