Pineapple Coconut Cake – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Pineapple coconut cake is a rich white cake full of pineapple flavor and just a hint of coconut, layered with a velvety smooth, indulgent coconut cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut. It’s the perfect dessert for coconut and pineapple lovers alike. 

Pineapple Coconut Cake

Handy canned pineapple and a splash of coconut milk make this special cake reminiscent of a Pina Colada. You already know how much I love a well-stocked pantry and these are two foods that you will always find in my kitchen.

This is not your average pineapple cake. The pineapple is pureed and mixed into the actual white cake batter so you get the tropical flavor in every bite. The resulting batter was so moist and pineapple-y that I could hardly believe it.

Coconut Frosting

In a nod of understanding to all of the people who can’t get past the texture of coconut, this is a smooth frosting flavored with creamy coconut milk. This gives the frosting a subtle coconut taste without the texture that some might find off-putting.

The higher fat content in canned coconut milk makes the frosting nice and creamy. Use the full fat variety of canned coconut milk rather than the lite or reduced-fat versions for the best results.

The coconut milk gets blended with cream cheese and powdered sugar to become a creamy sweet cake frosting that’s worth licking the spoon for. Please note that refrigerated coconut milk will not work in this recipe.

When making the easy coconut cake frosting, be sure to only beat the cream cheese in with the rest of ingredients until just combined. If you beat it for too long, the icing is prone to become runny no matter how much more powdered sugar you add.

You are welcome to add shredded coconut to the frosting, but I skipped it this time to create a coconut flavored frosting that the coconut-texture-avoidant members of my family would still love.

I like sprinkling toasted coconut flakes on top of this cake as a garnish and for a little extra crunch but again, only if I know everyone I’m serving it to is on board with the texture.

Pinapple Coconut Cake Recipe

The final addition to this pina colada inspired cake is the addition of a tiny bit of dark rum to the frosting. It adds a depth of flavor that I enjoyed combined with the pineapple and coconut flavors.

If you can’t or don’t want to use rum in the frosting, coconut extract is a perfect substitution or you can simply omit it altogether.

Because this Pineapple Coconut Cake is so moist, it keeps well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and I especially love the way the cake tastes when it is cold. It’s an ideal summertime dessert that’ll make you think of sipping pina coladas (or Pineapple Mojitos) by the pool.

I’ve made this cake both the regular way and with gluten-free flour substitutions and it turned out well both ways. Check out all of the Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes on this website!

Coconut and Pineapple Cake

To make this delectable treat, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• pineapple tidbits
• eggs
• sugar
• canned coconut milk
• butter
• vanilla extract
• flour
• baking powder
• teaspoon kosher salt
• cream cheese
• powdered sugar
• Optional: dark rum or coconut extract, and sweetened coconut

Please remember that the coconut milk you buy from the refrigerated section of the grocery store will not work in this recipe. You need full-fat canned coconut milk.

Easy Pineapple Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (2) 8-inch or 9-inch round pans.

Place the pineapple chunks in a blender or food processor and puree until completely smooth. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar until smooth.

Stir in the coconut milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, stir to combine. Add 1 cup of the pureed pineapple and stir once more.

Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake for 35-38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes, before carefully inverting over a wire rack. Let the cakes cool completely.

Place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Sprinkle in half of the powdered sugar and beat to combine.

Add the remaining sugar and beat again. Pour in the coconut milk and the vanilla, beat to combine and then taste the frosting. Adjust the sugar as desired, and add a tiny splash of rum, if you would like.

Place one layer of the cake on a plate, top with ⅓ of the frosting, smoothing it gently across the cake, almost to the edge. Gently place the second cake over the frosting layer.

I like to place the first cake upright and then flip the second cake over, so that the tops are facing in and the bottom is on top providing a nice flat layer. Scoop the remaining frosting onto the top cake and gently spread it across the cake.

Sprinkle with coconut, if desired, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Baking Tips

Be careful to avoid overbeating the cream cheese for the frosting. Stop beating it as soon as it is smooth.

If it is beaten for too long, it will become runny and all the sugar in the world won’t thicken it again. I really like the hint of rum in the frosting, but it is delicious both with and without it. 

This cake can also be made in a 9×13 pan. Allow the cake to cool before icing it in the pan or turn the cooled cake out onto a platter and frost completely.

To toast the coconut, preheat the oven to broil. Spread the coconut across a baking pan and place it in the oven.

Do not walk away. Watch the coconut as it begins to brown, it will only take about a minute to toast and it will burn lightning fast if you aren’t paying attention.

Recipes with Pineapple and Coconut

Like I mentioned earlier, I love cooking and baking with canned pineapple. I also can’t get enough fresh pineapple.

If you try and love this cake as much as my family did, you’re also likely to love my Pineapple Mojito Fruit Salad (which, like Pineapple Coconut Cake, was inspired by my enjoyment of pineapple flavored drinks like the Pineapple Coconut Sour) and Mango Pineapple Ice Cream.

Bring on the pineapple and coconut for breakfast, too! Try out our Pineapple Coconut Baked Oatmeal and Hawaiian Banana Bread with Pineapple and Coconut.

For more coconut and pineapple dessert goodness, you should also have Pineapple Coconut Bars on your radar. They are everything that’s delicious about this cake in bar form with a crispy shortbread crust and coconut flakes.

And how could I forget to mention Pina Colada Ice Cream and Coconut Pineapple Smoothie Ice Cream? The names speak for themselves.

{originally published 8/13/15 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/22/25}