Coconut Strawberry Cake
This Coconut Strawberry Cake features 3 layers of soft white cake topped with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut. It’s perfect for summer!
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This past weekend, we piled into the car and made the 1-hour trip down to upstate South Carolina. Our destination – an awesome U-pick strawberry farm that we discovered last year. Yup, strawberry picking has now become a yearly tradition for us. We each pick a full bucket, and then we all eat more strawberries than you can imagine.
I managed to steal away some of those strawberries to make this Coconut Strawberry Cake. I’m thinking this cake will have to become a yearly tradition now, too! This cake features 3 layers of soft white cake topped with diced strawberries sandwiched in between layers of a velvety cream cheese frosting.
As if that isn’t enough, the entire cake is covered with toasted coconut. The slightly crunchy bits of coconut combined with the creamy frosting are incredible!
Coconut Strawberry Cake
If you’ve never picked strawberries before, put it on the list of things to do ASAP! Mid-May is prime strawberry-picking season here in the Carolinas. Early-mid April is the best time to pick strawberries if you live down on the Gulf Coast, while mid-June is best time for northern states.
Similar to when we used to pick blueberries in upstate New York, the first thing we noticed when we bit into one of those farm-fresh strawberries was the flavor. Ripe strawberries from the grocery store can be very good…but ripe strawberries from a farm? Amazing. Strawberry picking is fun for adults and kids, so put it on the calendar. And plan on making this Coconut Strawberry Cake with some of those ripe berries!
Switching back to today’s recipe, this Coconut Strawberry Cake is perfect for early summer parties. The combination of the tropical flavors from the coconut with the fresh strawberries is a real treat. Add in the soft and fluffy white cake, and your friends will be begging you for the recipe!
Ingredients for Coconut Strawberry Cake
- Cake flour. Cakes made with cake flour are softer and more tender than cakes made with all-purpose flour.
- Granulated Sugar.
- Baking powder. This white cake calls for a lot of baking powder. It’s necessary for the cake to rise.
- Salt.
- Unsalted Butter.
- Egg Whites and Whole Eggs. This cake also calls for a lot of egg whites. Save the extra egg yolks to make homemade ice cream!
- Sweetened Coconut Flakes. Adds texture and a tropical flavor to the cake itself.
- Whole Milk.
- Vanilla and Almond Extracts.
How to Store Leftover Coconut Strawberry Cake
Word of warning: this is a large cake. I opted for a 3 layer cake as it just looks quite impressive. Plus, more cake is always more better, right? On a side note, this strawberry coconut cake does freeze well. If you have leftover cake, I recommend slicing it into pieces and then wrapping each piece individually with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped slices in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 4 months.
If you’re looking for a fantastic summer dessert, put this cake on the list! And if you’re looking for a fun summer weekend activity, find a place to pick strawberries near you. Cheers!
Did you make this Coconut Strawberry Cake at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Coconut Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 4 cups + 2 Tbsp cake flour
- 2½ cups granulated sugar
- 1½ Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 6 large egg whites room temperature
- 2 whole large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup sweetened coconut shredded
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
For the Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 16 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3¾ – 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
For the Strawberry Filling and Topping
- 1½ cups sweetened coconut shredded
- 1½ pounds fresh strawberries stemmed, hulled and diced
- 12 oz. fresh strawberries halved or whole
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray (3) 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper; set pans aside.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir until flour mixture is well combined.
- Add the butter and mix on low speed until crumbly mixture forms.
- Using a medium bowl, whisk together egg whites and additional eggs. Add this egg mixture to the bowl of the stand mixer in two additions, mixing well after each addition. (Tip: Don’t forget to scrape down sides and bottom of bowl.)
- Add shredded coconut, milk, vanilla and almond extracts; mix until well combined and fluffy.
- Divide batter evenly into the 3 prepared pans.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of each cake comes out mostly clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 5 minutes. Invert cakes onto a wire rack until completely cool.
For the Frosting
- Using a stand mixer, add butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract; mix on medium-high speed until well combined.
- Add confectioner’s sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition, until frosting reaches desired consistency.
To Assemble
- Using a large, dry skillet, toast the shredded coconut over medium-low heat, stirring often, until light golden brown.
- Place one layer of cake on a large plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Sprinkle 2 cups of diced strawberries evenly on top of the frosting.
- Add second cake layer and gently press down to secure layers. Add another layer of frosting and 2 more cups of diced strawberries.
- Add the third cake layer and gently press down to secure. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
- Press toasted coconut gently into the sides of the cake.
- Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.
- Before serving, press halved or whole strawberries into top of the cake.
Looking for more strawberry dessert recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Cant wait to make this soon for me for the frosting can i use vegan cream cheese i never had coconut strawberry cake before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
I haven’t made this cake with vegan cream cheese, but I say go for it, Ramya. It should work well. Let me know how it turns out!!
An unconventional but delicious pairing of coconut and strawberry! Looks so luscious and delicious!
Toasted coconut and strawberries are great friends in this cake! Thanks, Michelle!
This looks crazy good!!!
Thanks, Mimi! I know you’re not a baker, but I wish I could send you a slice of this cake in the mail. 🙂
this cake looks absolutely beautiful David. And I love strawberries and coconut so winner winner. Funnily enough, our strawberry season here in Queensland is also mid-June! which of course is mid-winter.
That is so funny that we are 6 months apart in terms of seasons…yet strawberries are in season at the same time. I learned something new today! Grab some of those fresh berries and make this cake – it sure didn’t last long around here. 🙂
Your strawberry-picking tradition sounds like such a delightful family activity, and this Coconut Strawberry Cake is the perfect sweet treat to celebrate the occasion! We have the same tradition too, during Christmas on our end as our summers fall during those times.
We’ve had so much picking strawberries at that farm – and the berries are SO much tastier than the ones in the grocery store. This cake is a great way to use extra berries. Thanks, Raymund!
Ah… if yall had driven a few miles south, we could have taken yall to Washington Farms here to do some strawberry picking! Jk jk! Seriously though, strawberry picking was a yearly activity for G and me when she was growing up- so much fun! And wow what a fantastic cake you made! I love this combination of strawberry and coconut you have! In fact, if yall have leftovers, I’ll pick some fresh strawberries and bring them to yall in exchange for a slice or two?? 🙂
I like that deal, Shashi – strawberries in exchange for cake! Although, to be fair, we really have fun going out into the fields and filling up our buckets with those bright red berries. Robbie is a pro at it!
To me this is the perfect cake to serve this summer.
I am with you 100%, Karen! This is a great summer cake!!
This was delicious. Cake was super moist. Next time I will try the cake recipe with pineapple or passion fruit.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this cake, Laurie! I love your idea of a pineapple or passion fruit twist next time. We can’t get fresh passion fruit around here, but maybe I can use frozen pulp. I’ll have to play around in the kitchen! 🙂