This coconut sheet cake, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting and a dusting of desiccated coconut, is the lightest, fluffiest sheet cake we've ever tried.
Prep Time1 hourhr
Cook Time1 hourhr
Total Time2 hourshrs
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12to 16 servings
Calories: 748
Ingredients
For the coconut sheet cake
1stick (4 oz)unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for the pan
1/2cupvirgin coconut oil
1 3/4cupssuperfine sugar (or just blitz granulated sugar in a blender until finely ground but not powdery)
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-cm) baking pan and line with parchment paper long enough to hang over the 2 long sides.
In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, combine the butter, coconut oil, and superfine sugar, and beat until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Add the vanilla and coconut extracts to the butter mixture and mix briefly to combine. Then add the egg whites, 1 at a time, mixing until completely combined before adding another.
Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the coconut milk, starting and finishing with the flour. Fold in the desiccated or shredded coconut.
Scrape the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake until the cake springs back to a light touch or a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, 27 to 35 minutes.
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Use the parchment paper to lift it out of the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the cream cheese frosting
In the clean bowl of a stand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth, creamy, and fully combined, about 2 minutes. We can’t overstress the importance of using room temperature butter and cream cheese to achieve a smooth consistency—it makes all the difference.
Reduce the speed, to low, add the confectioners’ sugar, salt, and vanilla, and mix until the sugar is incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and then sprinkle with the desiccated or shredded coconut. (This cake will keep for 2 to 3 days but is best eaten within a day of frosting.)