Pineapple Coconut America Cake (Printable)

Festive tropical layer cake with pineapple, coconut, and cream cheese frosting topped with fresh berries.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
09 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, well drained
12 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
13 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

14 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
15 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
16 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

→ Decoration

19 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
20 - 1 cup fresh blueberries
21 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and oil in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Fold in the drained pineapple and shredded coconut until evenly distributed.
06 - Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
07 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until fluffy.
10 - Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread generous layer of frosting. Top with second cake layer and frost top and sides.
11 - Arrange fresh strawberries and blueberries in flag or swirl pattern. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of sweet crushed pineapple and toasted coconut makes every bite feel like a vacation
  • Cream cheese frosting ties everything together with just the right tangy balance
  • Those red and blue berries on top make it the showstopping centerpiece of any summer gathering
02 -
  • Really drain that pineapple—press it through a sieve or squeeze it with your hands to remove excess juice
  • Room temperature ingredients are the difference between a light cake and a dense one
  • The frosting will seem too soft at first but firms up beautifully once chilled on the cake
03 -
  • Brush each cake layer with reserved pineapple juice before frosting for an extra punch of tropical flavor
  • Swap in coconut milk for regular milk if you want even more coconut essence throughout the cake

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