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Coconut Sheet Cake with the sweetest whipped white chocolate frosting. Light and fluffy, lemony vanilla cake made with a mix of almond flour, vanilla, lemon, and creamy coconut milk. Then all mixed with sweet flakes of shredded coconut. Once baked, generously frost this simple sheet cake with everyone’s favorite frosting. A whipped vanilla made with melted white chocolate to make it even more special (and delicious). Then simply decorate with additional coconut, and if you can, add edible flowers to create the perfect cake for spring and summer!

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

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How about one last Easter recipe for you all? I know we’re down to the wire, but I had to share my recipe for coconut cake with you all ahead of this weekend! The second I decided I wanted to create a coconut sheet cake, I knew exactly how I wanted it to be.

The cake itself needed to be sweet, light, and moist—so moist. I’ve found many vanilla-based cakes to be on the drier side, which is no good.

The cake itself had to be the main focus. It had to have a subtle sweet coconut flavor—not too overpowering, but just right! Then there’s the frosting—something that would complement the delicate flavors of the cake—and something whipped!

In my head it all sounded so yummy!

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

This cake was inspired, oddly, by the bunny cake my Nonnie used to make over Easter. Her cake was a boxed vanilla cake baked in a bunny cake mold. She frosted it with the classic Betty Crocker vanilla frosting and then piled on sweetened, shredded coconut. Then she gave the bunny some eyes and called it a day.

I am sure many of you are familiar with “The Bunny Cake.” My Nonnie did it well, and we all loved it every year she made it.

I remember loving the mass amount of shredded coconut on top. Her cake reminded me that I’ve never shared a simple coconut-focused sheet cake!

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Here Are All The Details

Step 1: the cake batter

To make this cake, you’ll need coconut oil, plain Greek yogurt, eggs, honey, brown sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, and canned coconut milk.

For the dry ingredients, I used a mix of all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and shredded coconut. You first mix the wet ingredients, then stir in the dry.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Some Cake Batter Notes:

Almond flour is used for added moisture and flavor. If you do not regularly use this ingredient, you can use the same amount of all-purpose flour.

Now the coconut. I prefer to use shredded, unsweetened coconut. This is more a personal preference than anything else. If you already know you like your treats on the sweeter side, I recommend using sweetened coconut.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 2: bake

Now, pour the batter into a rectangular baking dish and place it in the oven. You’ll smell the coconut and lemon as the cake bakes; it’s wonderful. It will take about 30 minutes.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 3: make the frosting

When the cake comes out of the oven, start making the frosting. You’ll need butter, sugar, lots of vanilla, melted white chocolate, and additional coconut milk. Beat that all together and you’ll have one of my favorite cake frostings.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

No one ever knows there’s white chocolate in the frosting. But it’s what makes this buttercream extra special and leaves everyone wanting more.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 4: frost and decorate

What I love so much about sheet cakes is just how easy they are to frost and decorate. I slathered the frosting all over the cooled coconut cake. Then I piled on yummy shredded coconut.

The beauty of a sheet cake is that you don’t have to cut or layer anything. Just bake, frost, and enjoy!

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Add a few edible flowers to make this so cute for spring, summer, Easter, and Mother’s Day!

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Looking for other sweet cake recipes? Here are some favorites:

Swirled Blueberry Lemon Thyme Cake

Double Strawberry Cupcakes

Retro-Style Chocolate Sheet Cake

Swirled Blackberry Lavender Sheet Cake

Lastly, if you make this Coconut Sheet Cake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Coconut Sheet Cake

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com
4.88 from 33 votes
18
calories 437kcal
Prep30 minutes
Cook30 minutes
Total1 hour
With whipped white chocolate frosting! The beauty of a sheet cake is that there is no cutting or layering – just bake, frost, and enjoy!
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Ingredients 

White Chocolate Frosting

Instructions 

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350° F.  Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
    2. In a large bowl, beat together the coconut oil, yogurt, eggs, honey, brown sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla. Add the flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined, then slowly beat in the coconut milk until fully combined. Stir in the shredded coconut.
    3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes, until the top is just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool.
    4. To make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the melted white chocolate and vanilla. Beat until combined.
    5. Frost the cake all over. Top with shredded coconut. Slice, eat and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

Coconut Sheet Cake | halfbakedharvest.com

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.88 from 33 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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99 Comments

  1. Arielle says:

    Hey there,
    This looks wonderful! I’m just wondering if I could make this into a layer cake still, instead of the sheet pan. What size round pans would you use for a two layer cake?
    Thanks 🎂

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi Arielle,
      Thanks so much! I haven’t tried this, but I would do two 8-inch round pans. I hope you love this recipe!

      1. Arielle says:

        Thank you!
        I did try it with the 8” rounds and I think it worked great! Still baked for 33 minutes I think it was, and frosting was enough to cover everything:-) it was deeeliscious! Big winner