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Home ·  Recipes

Coconut Confetti Cake

Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Feb 7, 2016Updated: Aug 3, 2021
View Recipe20 Reviews
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

This coconut confetti cake is the perfect choice for any happy occasion. Thick coconut cake layers filled with rainbow confetti and topped with a coconut infused buttercream.

Coconut Confetti Cake

There are so many things to celebrate this month. From birthdays and job promotions to engagements and baby showers, all these happy occasions definitely require cake.

This coconut confetti cake is by far the happiest looking cake I’ve ever made. It even rivals my rainbow cake.

If a coconut cake filled with rainbow confetti topped with coconut buttercream doesn’t convey happiness to you, I advise you to stop reading now.

Coconut Confetti Cake

Coconut Birthday Cake

This coconut confetti cake is ideal for cake newbies, or anyone that has a difficult time filling cakes.

The cake is simply frosted. A piping bag fitted with a star tips makes assembling this coconut cake a total breeze!

This recipe makes three 6-inch cake layers. This produces fairly thick cake layers. I like them this way with just a touch of frosting for a kick of sweetness.

However, if you prefer thinner cake layers, feel free to use 8 or 9-inch cake pans.

Coconut Confetti Cake

Use a Piping Bag

Use a medium star tip to pipe little spikes all over the surface of the cake layers.

It’s an excellent way to practice your piping skills. More importantly, it a mess-free way to build and frost cakes.

These star tips are great options: Ateco #828, Ateco French star #869, or Wilton star tip #32.

Coconut Confetti Cake

I am so in love with this super cute cake stand. I’m a big fan of making smaller 6-inch cakes and this is the cutest stand to show them off in.

Coconut Confetti Cake

After piping on the top layer of buttercream, I showered the cake with a handful of confetti (because there is no such thing as too much confetti).

The great thing about this cake- it transports really well. It’s a very sturdy cake that can stay out at room temperature for a few hours.

Over time, the piped buttercream will stiffen and form a sugary crust on the surface.

Coconut Confetti Cake

In all seriousness, this cake tastes like a vacation. Coconut has that effect on me. It makes me believe I’m on a tropical beach with my toes in the warm sand about to spend a lovely afternoon reading an exciting summer book.

Whether you’re celebrating a child’s 6th birthday or a bigger kid’s 60th birthday, this coconut confetti cake is the fun way to spread happiness.

Coconut Confetti Cake

Coconut Confetti Cake

Thick coconut cake layers filled with rainbow confetti and topped with a coconut infused buttercream.
Yield: 6-inch cake
Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 slices
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Ingredients

Coconut Confetti Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (260 g)
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted, cooled (113 g)
  • ½ cup + 3 Tablespoons coconut oil (155 g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)
  • 4 large eggs, room temp
  • ½ cup full-fat coconut milk, canned* (120 g)
  • ⅔ cup pastel rainbow confetti

Coconut Buttercream:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp (226 g)
  • 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar (405 g)
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 Tablespoons full-fat coconut milk, canned

Instructions
 

Coconut Confetti Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line three 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Grease lightly and set aside.
  • Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combined cooled melted butter, coconut oil, and sugar. Add eggs and beat until mixture is pale in color. Scape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing.
  • Alternate adding flour mixture and coconut milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix on low speed until combined. Fold in rainbow confetti.
  • Divide batter among the three prepared cake pans. Level batter and bake for 35-40 minutes until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before unmolding. Allow to cool to room temperature on wire rack.

Coconut Buttercream:

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, salt, and coconut milk. Mix on low speed until buttercream is smooth. Scrape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing. Increase speed to medium and beat until buttercream is airy, smooth, and creamy. Transfer buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip.

Assembly:

  • If necessary, level cake layers. Place one cake round on cake stand, or serving dish of choice. Pipe little star spikes all over the surface of the cake layer. Top with a second cake round. Repeat filling cake surface with buttercream. Place final third layer on top and pipe buttercream on top. Sprinkle a handful of confetti over the top of the cake.
  • If serving immediately, let cake stand out at room temperature until ready to serve. Otherwise, keep stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Notes

  • Be sure to use canned full-fat coconut milk. Other coconut milks (low-fat and those found in the refrigerated dairy section) will not produce the same full coconut flavor.
  • Add another 1/4- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar if buttercream is too thin.
  • The coconut cake is based off this coconut raspberry cake from last year.  
Author: Maryanne Cabrera
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: birthday cake, coconut cake, layer cake, coconut buttercream
Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
20 Reviews
Filed in:
Layer CakesBirthday · Fall + Winter · Mother's Day · Spring + Summer · Sweet

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Reader Questions and Reviews

  1. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:
    February 7, 2016

    Keep ’em coming Maryanne! This one sounds wonderful and looks absolutely gorgeous! The shot of the top of the cake is amazing!! Hope the wedding plans are going well!

    Reply
    • Maryanne Cabrera says:
      February 8, 2016

      Thanks Mary Ann! It’s coming along. :)

  2. June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says:
    February 7, 2016

    That does look like a superbly happy cake! I like the coconut-y twist on classic confetti, sounds delish :)

    Reply
    • Maryanne Cabrera says:
      February 8, 2016

      Thanks June! I’m a fan of all things coconut! :)

  3. Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous) says:
    February 7, 2016

    i love things that have mutiple coconutty ingredients! the more the better. and this excites me so much more than a traditional confetti cake, because the flavor is just as exciting as the appearance :3

    Reply
    • Maryanne Cabrera says:
      February 8, 2016

      Thanks Heather! While traditional confetti cake pretty much just tastes like sugar, the coconut flavor in this cake pops!

  4. Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says:
    February 7, 2016

    I love everything about this cake! I really do! Just gorgeous!

    Reply
  5. Maris (In Good Taste) says:
    February 8, 2016

    Now THIS is a beautiful cake!

    Reply
  6. eat good 4 life says:
    February 8, 2016

    Holy smokes this is pure perfection. Do you care to send some please?

    Reply
  7. Cathy Trochelman says:
    February 8, 2016

    I really love this cake! The layers, the decorating, and the COCONUT!!!!

    Reply
  8. Summer says:
    February 9, 2016

    I love almost anything with coconut! So naturally, this cake would be right up my alley. But I must say this cake is absolutely gorgeous and looks so enticing, yummy, mouthwatering and tempting ♥

    summerdaisy.net

    Reply
  9. Heather | Heather Likes Food says:
    February 9, 2016

    It looks so perfect and PRETTY!!

    Reply
  10. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says:
    February 9, 2016

    This cake is absolutely gorgeous! My husband is a huge funfetti fan, he would love this!

    Reply
  11. mary-clay | the open oven says:
    February 12, 2016

    this coconut cake is so pretty and happy! I love both coconut cake and confetti cake, so a merger of the two is birthday cake perfection, for me.

    Reply
  12. Justine @prettyinpistachio says:
    February 18, 2016

    This is too cute! I wish I had a birthday to go to just so I could make this!

    Reply
  13. Coral says:
    February 23, 2016

    Hi! I made this cake for my sister’s birthday this past weekend. Everyone that tasted it said it was amazing! I used two 8″ cake pans and improvised by putting fresh strawberries in between the two layers.

    Thank you for such a delicious recipe!

    Reply
    • Maryanne Cabrera says:
      March 2, 2016

      That’s wonderful to hear! I’m so glad it was a hit. Thank you for trying out the recipe :)

      Adding fresh strawberries is such a great idea!

  14. Karolina says:
    March 25, 2016

    Hi!

    Do you melt the coconut oil? I never have baked with it.. I’m assuming you do.. Since the butter is melted, but just wanted to make sure..

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maryanne Cabrera says:
      March 25, 2016

      Hi Karolina! No, I didn’t melt the coconut oil. Coconut oil melts at 76 degrees F (24 degrees C). At room temperature it should be quite soft and it will mix easily with the other ingredients.

  15. Suzanne says:
    August 27, 2021

    This looks like great fun! Sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk?

    Reply
Maryanne Cabrera

Meet the Author

Maryanne Cabrera is a classically trained pastry chef, baker, cake maker, and cocktail shaker.
Read more about me

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