World's Best Coconut Cake

12 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 30 m Total: 45 m Beginner
5.0/5 (1)
World's Best Coconut Cake
Very easy to make yet so elegant and delicious with sour cream, whipped cream, and sweet coconut. From the author: This cake needs nothing else. It’s the most delicious coconut cake I’ve ever had and I don’t usually care for coconut!

Ingredients

12 servings
  • CAKE
  • 1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe yellow cake mix, prepare according to directions on box and add the reserved syrup with required ingredients
  • FROSTING
  • 1 cup sour cream (8oz)
  • 1 cup very cold heavy whipping cream (8oz)
  • 1 can Angel coconut, drained & syrup reserved

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Drain coconut and reserve syrup to add to cake mix. Preheat oven and prepare pan(s) as directed on box. Prepare cake mix according to package directions and add the reserved coconut syrup. Bake as directed. Cool completely.
  2. In medium bowl, combine sour cream and drained coconut; set aside. Whip cream until stiff peaks form and fold in sour cream-coconut mixture. Fill and frost cake. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my frosting too runny?

A: Make sure the whipping cream is very cold before whipping, and whip it until you see stiff peaks form. If your kitchen is warm, chill the bowl and beaters first.

Q: Can I frost the cake while it's still warm?

A: No, the cake must be completely cool or the frosting will melt and slide off. If you're in a hurry, you can set the cooled cake in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before frosting.

Tips and Techniques

The reserved coconut syrup is what makes this cake extra moist and flavorful—don’t skip it! For best results, refrigerate the finished cake for at least an hour before serving to let the frosting set up properly.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Duncan Hines Butter Recipe cake mix: any butter-flavored or yellow cake mix
  • Angel coconut: any sweetened flaked coconut in syrup
  • heavy whipping cream: Cool Whip or whipped topping

Equipment Needed

  • cake pans (as specified on box)
  • electric mixer or whisk
  • medium mixing bowl
  • offset spatula for frosting