Go Back Email Link
+ servings
gluten-free coconut cake recipe
Print Recipe
4.53 from 61 votes

The BEST Gluten-Free Coconut Cake

This gluten-free Coconut Cake recipe is light, fluffy, sweet, and loaded with coconut flavor. It's my favorite cake, and it could be your favorite too!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, cake recipes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 1201kcal
Author: K.C. Cornwell

Ingredients

  • ¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter or butter flavored substitute, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons coconut extract extract
  • 3 cups Gluten Free flour blend plus more for dusting the pans
  • ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum or baking binder* *unless your blend already contains it
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk I use coconut milk
  • 4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

For the Cream Cheese frosting:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don’t be concerned.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together the Gluten Free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.
  • Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 55 to 65 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
  • For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and coconut extract on low speed. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix until just smooth (don’t whip!).
  • To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

Recipe Conversion of an original by Ina Garten.
Makes 8 healthy serving or 10-12 smaller slices.

Nutrition

Calories: 1201kcal | Carbohydrates: 128g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Cholesterol: 256mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 276mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 101g | Vitamin A: 2169IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 2mg