Description
Coconut Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is a fabulous cake that has the most fantastic flavor and texture. Perfect for spring!
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
- 3 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1–1/2 cups canola oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 2–1/2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, with juices
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1–1/2 cups sweetened flake coconut
Frosting:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 (8 ounce) cream cheeses, softened
- 6–7 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 cups coconut, toasted
- carrot candies, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of three 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper then spray with non-stick cooking spray and dust lightly with flour. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the oil, granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Beat in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Add the flour mixture, in two batches, until just combined. Stir in the shredded carrots, pineapple, walnuts and coconut.
- Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until cakes are browned on top and a toothpick inserted in each center comes out clean. Rotate the cakes halfway through the baking time to insure they’re all baked evenly. Remove the cakes from the oven, but leave the oven on to toast the coconut. Let the cakes cool 20 minutes in the pans and then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- While the cakes are cooling, toast the coconut and prepare the frosting. Spread 2 cups coconut out evenly on an ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Toast for 10-12 minutes, stirring every 4 minutes, until coconut just starts to turn light shades of brown. Let coconut cool completely.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. In a large bowl, whisk the cinnamon into 5 cups of the powdered sugar. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar mixture, one cup at a time, to the cream cheese mixture. Add the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until the frosting is smooth and creamy again. Turn the mixture to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes until frosting is fluffy.
- Place one cake on a cake stand or platter and spread with a thick layer of frosting. Top with another cake and spread the top with another thick layer of frosting. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes so the frosting sets and holds the layers together. Remove from the refrigerator and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Immediately press the toasted coconut all around and on top of the cake. Decorate with carrot candies, if desired.
Notes
Store in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 5 days.