A Coconut Bundt Cake Recipe is a delicious, sweet treat like the famous Tom Cruise Christmas cake he sends to friends. This cake is moist, buttery, and packed with coconut flavor, often topped with a luscious coconut frosting sprinkled with shredded coconut. It’s the kind of simple, homemade dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
Unlike the dry Bundt cakes I remember from my childhood, this recipe yields a perfectly moist cake that stands out as truly exceptional.
If you keep up with Hollywood buzz, you’ve probably heard that Tom Cruise sends his friends a locally made Coconut Bundt cake during the holidays. But if you’re like me, you might have just discovered this fun tradition of his. So, let’s look into what makes this cake so special!
The story goes that every holiday season, Tom Cruise continues a beloved tradition by sending a Coconut Bundt cake to his friends, a gesture that has become something of a legend in Hollywood circles. This cake, known for its rich, moist texture and delicious coconut flavor, is sourced from a local bakery and is eagerly anticipated by its recipients each year. The tradition showcases Cruise’s generosity and highlights the simple joy of sharing a delicious treat with loved ones.
l Iove cakes—they’re such a special treat! This Bundt cake is one of those truly standout desserts. What I especially love is how easy it is to make; it’s a simple, one-pan, almost one-bowl prep that anyone can do!
Why You’ll Love This Coconut Cake
- Moist Texture: The cake’s perfectly moist and tender crumb melts in your mouth with every bite.
- Rich Coconut Flavor: Infused with coconut’s sweet, tropical taste, it’s a delightful treat for coconut lovers.
- Easy to Make: With a simple one-bowl, one-pan preparation, it’s a breeze to bake, even for beginners.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday gathering or a casual dessert, this cake is perfect for any event.
- Delicious Frosting: The creamy coconut glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness and enhances the overall flavor. The frosting contains cream cheese, but it isn’t a dominant flavor.
- Visually Stunning: The Bundt shape and a sprinkle of shredded coconut make for a beautiful presentation.
Let’s Make This Coconut Cake!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Flour: The main structure-building ingredient in the cake, flour provides the necessary foundation for the cake’s texture.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
- Baking Soda: Another leavening agent, baking soda works alongside baking powder to create the perfect lift in the cake.
- Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cake by balancing the sweetness and bringing out the flavors of other ingredients.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and moisture to the cake, contributing to its tender crumb and delicious flavor.
- Sugar: Sugar sweetens the cake and helps create a tender texture by trapping air during the creaming process.
- Eggs: Eggs provide structure, moisture, and richness to the cake, while also helping to bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a warm, sweet aroma and flavor that enhances the overall taste of the cake.
- Coconut Extract: Coconut extract amplifies the coconut flavor, giving the cake a tropical taste.
- Coconut Milk: Coconut milk adds moisture and a rich coconut flavor to the cake, making it extra tender and flavorful.
- Shredded Coconut: Shredded coconut provides texture and a burst of coconut flavor throughout the cake.
- White Chocolate: White chocolate adds sweetness and a creamy texture to both the cake and the frosting, complementing the coconut flavor.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese gives the frosting a tangy richness, balancing the sweetness with its smooth, creamy texture.
- Butter (in frosting): Butter in the frosting adds richness and helps create a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting and provides the necessary texture for a creamy, smooth finish.
How to Make This Bundt Cake
Step 1 – Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when you’re ready to bake, which is crucial for even cooking.
Step 2 – Prepare Bundt Pan: Grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan. Properly preparing the pan helps the cake release easily after baking, preventing it from sticking.
Step 3 – Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This evenly distributes the leavening agents and salt throughout the flour, ensuring the cake rises uniformly.
Step 4 – Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Creaming these ingredients introduces air into the batter, which contributes to the cake’s light texture.
Step 5 – Add Eggs and Extracts: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Eggs help bind the ingredients together and add moisture, while the extracts infuse the cake with flavor.
Step 6 – Alternate Adding Dry Ingredients and Coconut Milk: Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the coconut milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. This method ensures the batter stays smooth and well-mixed without overworking it, which could lead to a dense cake.
Step 7 – Fold in Shredded Coconut and White Chocolate: Gently fold in the shredded coconut and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Folding helps incorporate these ingredients without deflating the batter, maintaining the cake’s light texture.
Step 8 – Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top, then bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Baking until just done ensures the cake is moist and tender.
Step 9 – Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a wire rack prevents the cake from becoming soggy by allowing air to circulate around it.
Step 10 – Prepare the Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until combined, and then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts. The frosting should be smooth and spreadable, adding both flavor and texture to the cake.
Step 11 – Frost and Decorate the Cake: Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the frosting over the top and sides of the Bundt cake. For added texture and flavor, you can sprinkle unsweetened or sweetened shredded coconut on top of the frosting. For the topping, I prefer the small and finer unsweetened coconut flakes.
Coconut Bundt Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 1¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅞ cup butter 14 tablespoons
- 3½ eggs Beat the fourth egg, then measure half – about ⅛ cup.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp coconut extract
- 2⅝ cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ + pinch tsp baking soda
- ¼ + pinch tsp salt
- ⅞ cup coconut milk
- 1¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut For the cake batter
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips
Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 6 tbsp butter room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¾ tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ tsp coconut extract
Topping
- unsweetened coconut flakes For covering the cake after frosting
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when you’re ready to bake, which is crucial for even cooking.
- Prepare Bundt Pan: Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan. Properly preparing the pan helps the cake release easily after baking, preventing it from sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This evenly distributes the leavening agents and salt throughout the flour, ensuring the cake rises uniformly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Creaming these ingredients introduces air into the batter, which contributes to the cake’s light texture.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Eggs help bind the ingredients together and add moisture, while the extracts infuse the cake with flavor.
- Alternate Adding Dry Ingredients and Coconut Milk: Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the coconut milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. This method ensures the batter stays smooth and well-mixed without overworking it, which could lead to a dense cake.
- Fold in Shredded Coconut and White Chocolate: Gently fold in the shredded coconut and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Folding helps incorporate these ingredients without deflating the batter, maintaining the cake’s light texture.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top, then bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Baking until just done ensures the cake is moist and tender.
- Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a wire rack prevents the cake from becoming soggy by allowing air to circulate around it.
Frosting
- Prepare the Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until combined, and then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts. The frosting should be smooth and spreadable, adding both flavor and texture to the cake.
Frost the Cake
- Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the frosting over the top and sides of the bundt cake. For added texture and flavor, you can sprinkle shredded coconut on top of the frosting.
Nutrition
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Add-Ons to This Bundt Cake
- Lemon Zest – Adds a bright, citrusy flavor that complements the sweetness of the white chocolate and coconut.
- Macadamia Nuts – Provides a rich, buttery crunch that pairs well with the coconut.
- Dried Cranberries – Adds a tart, chewy texture that contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the cake.
- Toasted Almonds – Introduces a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
- Coconut Rum – Enhances the coconut flavor with a hint of boozy richness.
- Orange Extract – Adds a fragrant citrus note that pairs beautifully with the coconut and white chocolate.
- Cinnamon – Introduces a warm spice that complements the sweetness and adds depth to the flavor profile.
This coconut bundt cake recipe is incredibly moist and loaded with sweet coconut and white chocolate. It’s easy to make but delivers a rich, complex flavor that tastes like it came from a pastry shop. The recipe yields a generous amount, making it the perfect choice for gatherings, parties, or dinner events.
I hope you get the chance to bake this fantastic cake from scratch! Every bite offers a moist, dense cake filled with the irresistible flavors of white chocolate and coconut.
Happy Baking!
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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