How to Make the Ultimate Coconut Layer Cake Recipe | Claire Saffitz | Dessert Person
A huge thank you to Kerrygold for sponsoring today’s video! Kerrygold has been my go-to butter for baking—it brings a rich, creamy flavor that makes every recipe shine. Whether I’m whipping up a dessert or just spreading it on toast, Kerrygold never disappoints. Find out more and locate Kerrygold near you at
How to Make the Ultimate Coconut Layer Cake Recipe | Claire Saffitz | Dessert Person
Claire Saffitz brings a tropical twist to a classic layer cake with this Coconut Cake featuring rich, silky German buttercream. Made with full-fat coconut milk, toasted coconut flakes, and a light, fluffy sponge, this cake strikes the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The German buttercream, made with a pastry cream base and whipped butter, adds an ultra-smooth finish without being overly sweet. This is a special-occasion cake that feels timeless and fresh all at once.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Coconut Layer Cake
01:38 Ingredients & Special Equipment
03:01 Kerrygold
03:47 Make the Cake Batter
10:31 Level the Cakes & Toast the Coconut Flakes
12:42 Let the Toasted Coconut Cool
13:18 Make the German Buttercream
19:58 Assemble
27:01 Cut & Taste
28:48 Cat Cam
Coconut Cake with German Buttercream
Serves 8
CAKE
Coconut oil for the pans
3 cups cake flour (360g)
1 tablespoon baking powder (12g)
1½ teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (5g)
2 sticks unsalted butter (227g), at room temperature
3 tablespoons virgin coconut oil (40g), at room temperature
1¾ cups granulated sugar (350g)
4 large eggs (200g), at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (383g) can unsweetened full-fat coconut milk, well shaken
→ measure out 1 cup, reserve remaining for soaking the layers
ASSEMBLY AND BUTTERCREAM
1 cup milk
½ vanilla bean
150g sugar, divided
30g cornstarch
4 large eggs yolks
2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
3 sticks unsalted butter unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
5 ounces (142g) unsweetened large coconut flakes (about 2½ cups), toasted
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Video Series:
Producer/Director: Vincent Cross
Camera Operator: Calvin Robertson
Editor/Motion Graphics: Hal McFall
Animation Credits:
Character Designer/Animator/Backgrounds: Jack Sherry
Character Rigger: Johara Dutton
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What should I bake next? Leave a comment!
Lite coconut milk wouldn't much matter against that 1 1/4 lbs. of butter, lol.
Amazing, Claire! Coconut is great. Now I want some! Have you ever done sculpted cakes? You should do one of a curled up cat! You had the real thing in the background, sleeping thru the video 😂.
I really like the glass bowl on the kitchen aid, so you can see what shes mixing better.
Thank you for breaking down your recipes so thoroughly and giving reasons why you do the things you do. I’ve become a way better home baker because of you. ❤
I hate coconut
Oh hi!👋
Time is flying, it’s almost August!🎑
Love these lessons from your kitchen!!!
Love this!! Could you please maybe make a video for a German chocolate cake recipe? I always struggle with making the coconut pecan frosting.
Me watching this whole thing knowing I don’t like coconut and it ending with asking if it is because you don’t like coconut extract flavor and no, it is in fact just coconut in general 😂
The baby chair in the background. 🩷🩷🩷
Thank u for ALWAYS scraping the bowl of any kind of ingridienrs, Claire❤ many chefa dont care😢
those cake pans look like they have seen some shit- some really delicious shit
Do you ever use wet cake strips around the pans?
Hi Claire. Love love your channel and your cookbooks. I live in Canada and we can’t get Kerry Gold butter. Any recommendations for a Canadian brand?
Tempering?
I’m gonna make this now, wish me luckkk ❤
Question, could you break this down into a two or three day process if you didn’t have one continuous chunk of time?
My MIL bday is coming soon and I was just wondering what to make her but oh wow wow wow this is the one. Thank you for another recipe. Will let you know how it went. Coming up soon. Sending ❤️ 😍 💖
“That makes you feel like you’re eating suntan lotion” omg mother
So many adds. It's almost unwatchable
You're the best, but replace that paddle on your mixer!! 😳
edit: just saw you're using a diff one than the one that was originally on it 😅❤
Blanching!
Please do your own version of that famous tom cruise coconut pound cake