"A soft and tender cake flavored with rich and creamy coconut milk, salted pistachios and sweet white chocolate. Cream cheese pistachio buttercream is covered with sweetened shredded coconut."
Coconut and Pistachio Layer Cake
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- Recipe Card
Prep time 20mins
Cook time 35mins
Serves or Makes: 10-15
Recipe Card
For the Cake
ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon coconut extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups cake flour, sifted
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 14 oz can unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk
- 2/3 cup pistachios, salted, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
For the Cake
Method
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350. Line three 8-inch cake pans with a circle of parchment paper on the bottom of the pans, and spray the paper with non-stick spray.
Step 2
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter and sugar for five minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition. Beat in the extracts.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the coconut milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing just until moistened. Add the pistachios and white chocolate chips, using a spatula to gently stir them in.
Step 4
Divide the batter between the pans. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean, or with moist crumbs clinging to it. Set the pans on a wire rack, covered loosely with a clean kitchen towel, and cool completely before frosting.
For the Buttercream
ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon meringue powder, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/3 cup pistachios, salted, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, or all-natural coconut
For the Buttercream
Step 1
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter for several minutes until smooth. With the mixer on low, slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Add the pistachios, salt, meringue powder, vanilla and coconut extract. Whip the buttercream on medium speed for 4-5 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally, until very light and fluffy.
Step 2
Fill and stack the cooled cake layers, then frost all over with a thin crumb coat. Refrigerate the cake for 20-30 minutes (keeping the rest of the buttercream covered), then frost with a final layer of buttercream. Press the shredded coconut all around the sides of the cake.
Step 3
This cake is best served at room temperature, but leftovers should be kept in the refrigerator overnight because of the cream cheese buttercream.