This Chocolate Coconut Cake is my favorite chocolate cake recipe – it’s moist for days and super chocolatey. And the coconut icing & toasted coconut topping compliment the cake perfectly.
Chocolate Coconut Cake
If you saw my “Let’s Chill” post from Labor Day, this is the cake with a slice missing that was sitting in the cake carrier with ice packs taped to it. 🙂 I took it to the tailgate for the WVU vs. Alabama football game that weekend. It’s not necessarily football food, but I was tasked with bringing sweets and since I’d made this, it was one of the things I brought. Despite not being inherently football food, it ended up being a big hit. Like I said, it’s crazy moist and full of flavor. If you like chocolate and coconut together you will definitely love this cake!
After the game, my sister in law took some home to the rest of the family, who didn’t come to the game. When my brother came by the next day, he made sure to come inside and get one more taste of this cake before it was gone. Just like everyone else, he couldn’t prevent himself from just one more bite. 🙂 One of my favorite things about this chocolate cake is that you only need to use one bowl. One less dish to wash is a win in my book! You’ll notice it’s a very dark cake and that’s because I use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa. It’s my fave and ever since I used it the first time, I’ve never bothered with any other. If you haven’t tried it, I totally recommend it. Of course, you could use regular cocoa if you prefer.
It’s also a slow-bake cake, so it bakes at 300 degrees. Weird, right? But it works! The coconut icing is as coconut as it comes and I could just have eaten it by itself. The toasted coconut not only looks pretty, but adds more coconut flavor and a bit of texture. This cake is a totally win. I have a feeling it will be requested again. 🙂
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Chocolate Coconut Cake
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 Slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Chocolate Coconut Cake is my favorite chocolate cake recipe – it’s moist for days and super chocolatey. And the coconut icing & toasted coconut topping compliment the cake perfectly.
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE CAKE
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup boiling water
COCONUT ICING
- 1 1/4 cups butter
- 1 1/4 cups shortening
- 9–10 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tsp coconut extract
- 3–4 tbsp water or milk
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened coconut
Instructions
Keywords: chocolate coconut cake, coconut cake recipe, best coconut cake recipe, easy coconut cake, best chocolate cake recipe, easy chocolate cake recipe, homemade chocolate cake, chocolate cake with coconut
Enjoy!
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I am a chocolate coconut addict and this recipe is AMAZING. I used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil for that subtle taste of coconut in the cake. Sooooo delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER! I make this cake all the time. I have told many people about your blog and shared your recipe. It is so moist and delicious. I use a different cream cheese frosting recipe (without shortening)…but the chocolate cake is incredible. And I use unsweetened coconut which I toast. Frosting is sweet enough so it is great with unsweetened coconut.
★★★★★
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Thanks for sharing it with others too!
Hello! I’ve made this cake for two parties and everyone absolutely LOVED it! I was wondering if this recipe could be used for cupcakes?
So glad to hear it! Yes, it would work for cupcakes.
This looks amazing! I’m from Europe and we don’t have shortening, can you tell me how to replace this in the icing? Thanks!
Yes, just replace it with additional butter.
i made this chocolate cake for a party. it was the most MOIST delicious chocolate cake I have ever had…and ever made. It was a HUGE hit. And the next day – it was still amazing! I did use a different cream cheese frosting since I did not want shortening in my frosting. But this will be my go to cake recipe. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
★★★★★
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it!
Just baked the cake and adjusted the recipe (added 25%) to accommodate 9″ rounds. I’m very excited to see how this turns out!!! I’m not an accomplished cake baker and found this recipe pretty easy to follow. It’s the technical stuff -like icing it- that I’m worried about! Fingers crossed!!!
Hey Lindsey, this looks really good. Infact it looks devine cos it has my favorite thing in the world: Coconut! Will definitely be making this. I do have one question though. I live in the UK and I have tried to find the Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa but I can’t get it not even on the UK Amazon site. The only one they have is Hershey’s Cocoa 100% Cacao Natural Unsweetened. Can I use this? And do you think it will still come out dark? Thank you so much.
It won’t be as dark, but the regular natural unsweetened cocoa will bake fine.
Can I use cream cheese and butter in the frosting instead of the shortening?
Yes, you can. You also just swap out the shortening for additional butter.
This sounds really delicious and something new to try. Thank you for sharing this.
Simon
Could I use butter instead of shortening in frosting?
Yes, you can
Why add the boiling water I thought that was a little odd?
Hi! I’m baking this now…so excited! How much did you fill up the tins. I filled them about about 2/3, have my oven set to 300, and they’ve been in about 40 minutes and still aren’t finished. Any thoughts?
I don’t remember exactly how full they were, but the batter should be evenly split between the three 8 inch pans. It is a slow bake cake and ovens tend to be a little different so it’s possible they’d take a little longer. Did they end up turning out ok?
What can I substitute for buttermilk?
Regular milk should work fine as a replacement.
This was delicious. Going to try some other time with a marshmallow frosting. Thanks.
I’m so glad you liked it! A marshmallow frosting sounds great to! I have a Smores Cupcake with a marshmallow frosting you might like.
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This looks utterly delicious! Would be perfect for my Virtual Bake Sale for Macmillan Cancer Support- check it out here https://www.foodnerd4life.com/virtual-bake-sale-2014/
FoodNerd x
This chocolate coconut cake looks exceptional delicious . Toasted coconut … ..yum
I was fortunate to be at the tailgate to sample this delicious masterpiece!!! The cake melts in your mouth and the dark chocolate and coconut flavors are to die for!!! This one is a home run!!!
Yay! Thanks Tina! Had so much fun meeting you all! So glad you liked the cake. 🙂
Lindsay you should teach a cake making/decorating class. I would totes take it cuz your cakes are always gorgeous! And I love the chocolate coconut combo. 😀
Thanks so much Jess! I’ve been meaning to do some tutorials, just gotta find the time!
Oh, goodness! The toasted coconut on top is just gorgeous! I absolutely love coconut and I think I’d need a chaperone when making the frosting other wise there might not be enough left to cover the cake. Pinned!
Thanks Heather! 🙂
This looks like the ultimate chocolate coconut cake!! So perfectly light and fluffy!
Thanks Annie!
Lindsay! Thank you so much for posting this recipe as you said you would! Definitely worth the wait 🙂
Thanks Jessi! I’m so glad! 🙂
Aww, thank you so much for mentioning my Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal Cookies Lindsay!! You’re just the sweetest. 🙂 I’ve never actually tailgated before, which is totally strange because I love sports so much. My parents even own season tickets to baseball games, and we still haven’t done that! (We’re a little too excited about getting into the stadium early for batting practice, I suppose…) But if I knew you and your incredible cake would be there, I’d tailgate in a heartbeat!! I can never get enough chocolate cake. Ever. 😉 Pinned!
Thanks Amy! You’ve gotta try it sometime – good food makes all the difference. 🙂
Love everything about this cake! It’s beautiful!
i can’t wait to make your chocolate cake this weekend!!!
What did you think?
Ahh the infamous ice-box cake carrier cake! This looks amazing! I’m not sure who isn’t a fan of chocolate and coconut together, but I know I would love this cake!! Pinned!
Thanks girl!
beautiful!! this cake looks amazing!
Wow! What a beautiful cake. It looks so fluffy and delicious, and that toasted coconut! Love it.
I’m dying!! Love this so freaking much. Pinned!
Oh my heavens! This looks gorgeous and absolutely divine. I can’t wait to try it! I love the chocolate and coconut combo.
This is absolutely beautiful! and I love that you used dark chocolate 😉 pinned! yummm
My mom’s two very favorite ingredients – chocolate and coconut! I am making this for her birthday for sure! Gorgeous — everything about this Lindsay!!
Thanks Chelsea!
I love chocolate + coconut together!!! Big win in my book . . you are the cake baking queen! love this!
Thanks Alice!
oh my goodness – coconut is totally my jam, so I would be allll over this one! I kind of just want to make the coconut icing and just eat it with a spoon! so gorgeous Lindsay!
Man, this looks good. We all know how dangerous that “one more bite” is! I’d commit to at least two slices of this one and not pretend to be satisfied with a bite! Amazing…sigh.