Last Updated on February 7, 2023
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at how to make a lemon coconut cake southern living style. Lemon coconut cake is extremely popular and while this cake is best suited for an Easter celebration, the truth is, it can be enjoyed at any time of the year. It’s light, bright, and absolutely delicious. A coconut cake, with a zingy lemon filling oozing in the middle; this is sure to be a hit with any guests you have around! But how do you go about making a lemon coconut cake southern living style? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Lemon Coconut Cake?
Lemon coconut cake can be interpreted in a few ways. Sometimes the cake is lemon cake with coconut frosting, or the cake can be coconut-flavored cake with lemon frosting. While it can be presented in a few ways, the common factor is the gorgeous pairing of lemon and coconut. If this isn’t a flavor combination you’ve tried, I would definitely recommend it! It looks beautiful and will be perfect as a centerpiece for any gathering you have planned. While Easter is the best time to serve it (because of its colors and flavors), it can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Ingredients in Best Lemon Coconut Cake
You may be wondering what the ingredients are when it comes to lemon coconut cake southern living style. The ingredients can vary depending on which recipe you’re following. However, our recipe uses:
- salted butter
- sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- whole milk
- pure vanilla extract
- flaked sweetened coconut
- lemon wedges
- granulated sugar
- cornstarch
- boiling water
- egg yolks
- lemon zest
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
Nutritional Information of Coconut Cake with Lemon Filling
You may be curious as to the nutritional value when it comes to coconut cake with lemon filling. Each serving (which is around 75g), contains the following:
- Calories: 249
- Fat: 7.6g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Sugar: 27g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Protein: 3g
Lemon Coconut Cake Recipe
Let’s get down to why you’re here – how to make a lemon coconut cake southern living style. Let’s take a closer look.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup of salted butter (extra to grease the pans)
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour (extra to flour the pans)
- 1 tbsp of baking powder
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups of flaked sweetened coconut
- lemon wedges (to decorate)
Sweetened Coconut Flakes Shredded in 14 ounce bags (Pack of 2)
For the filling:
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tsp of lemon zest (grated)
- 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp of unsalted butter
For the frosting:
- 8 oz of softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
- 16oz of powdered sugar
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Lemon Filling
Grab a saucepan and add the granulated sugar, along with the cornstarch. Cook over medium heat and pour in around one cup of the boiling water. Mix continuously for a few minutes. At this point, both the cornstarch and sugar should dissolve. In a separate bowl, mix your egg yolks. Now pour in around 1/4 of the hot liquid with the yolks and mix well. Once mixed, pour the bowl into the saucepan (along with the rest of the liquid). Stir continuously and pour in the lemon juice and lemon zest. It should thicken in a few minutes. At this point, remove from heat and add the butter. Mix well and leave to one side to completely cool.
Step 2: Make the Batter – Lemon Coconut Cake Southern Living
Gather your cake ingredients and preheat your oven to 350F. Grab two cake pans and prepare them by greasing them with butter, and then flour them. Using a bowl, add the butter and mix until it becomes creamy. At this point, begin adding the sugar and continue mixing. Keep doing this until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Now begin adding the egg yolks individually; only add the next egg once the previous egg has been mixed.
In a separate bowl, add the flour, salt, and baking powder. Alternately pour the milk and the flour mixture; stirring well throughout. Once combined, at the vanilla extract. In another bowl, beat egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. Fold in egg whites gently to the batter.
Step 3: Bake the Cakes
Pour batter into your cake pans and place in the center of your preheated oven for around 23-28 minutes. You can check the cakes are ready by placing a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean, they are baked. Remove from oven and leave to cool completely.
Step 4: Make the Frosting – Lemon Coconut Cake Southern Living
Beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Now add the powdered sugar slowly; mixing well throughout. Finally, add the vanilla extract and stir. Leave to one side.
Read more about Almond Bark vs Candy Melts: 3 Key Differences
Step 5: Assemble the Cake
Lay one cake onto a serving plate and add around 1/2 cup of frosting to a piping bag. Pipe a thick frosting ring around the edge, then add around one cup of the filling into the center of the ring. Spread with a spatula, or the back of a spoon. Place the second cake on top and repeat the steps to use up your frosting and filling. Now you can cover the top of the cake, along with the sides with the remainder of the frosting. You can now choose to garnish the cake with lemon wedges and coconut flakes if desired. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Lemon Coconut Cake Southern Living: How To Guide
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup of salted butter extra to grease the pans
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour extra to flour the pans
- 1 tbsp of baking powder
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups of flaked sweetened coconut
- lemon wedges to decorate
For the filling:
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tsp of lemon zest grated
- 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp of unsalted butter
For the frosting:
- 8 oz of softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
- 16 oz of powdered sugar
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Lemon Filling – Grab a saucepan and add the granulated sugar, along with the cornstarch. Cook over medium heat and pour in around one cup of the boiling water. Mix continuously for a few minutes. At this point, both the cornstarch and sugar should dissolve. In a separate bowl, mix your egg yolks. Now pour in around 1/4 of the hot liquid with the yolks and mix well. Once mixed, pour the bowl into the saucepan (along with the rest of the liquid). Stir continuously and pour in the lemon juice and lemon zest. It should thicken in a few minutes. At this point, remove from heat and add the butter. Mix well and leave to one side to completely cool.
- Make the Batter – Gather your cake ingredients and preheat your oven to 350F. Grab two cake pans and prepare them by greasing them with butter, and then flour them. Using a bowl, add the butter and mix until it becomes creamy. At this point, begin adding the sugar and continue mixing. Keep doing this until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Now begin adding the egg yolks individually; only add the next egg once the previous egg has been mixed.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour, salt, and baking powder. Alternately pour the milk and the flour mixture; stirring well throughout. Once combined, at the vanilla extract. In another bowl, beat egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. Fold in egg whites gently to the batter.
- Bake the Cakes – Pour batter into your cake pans and place in the center of your preheated oven for around 23-28 minutes. You can check the cakes are ready by placing a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean, they are baked. Remove from oven and leave to cool completely.
- Make the Frosting – Beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Now add the powdered sugar slowly; mixing well throughout. Finally, add the vanilla extract and stir. Leave to one side.
- Assemble the Cake – Lay one cake onto a serving plate and add around 1/2 cup of frosting to a piping bag. Pipe a thick frosting ring around the edge, then add around one cup of the filling into the center of the ring. Spread with a spatula, or the back of a spoon. Place the second cake on top and repeat the steps to use up your frosting and filling. Now you can cover the top of the cake, along with the sides with the remainder of the frosting. You can now choose to garnish the cake with lemon wedges and coconut flakes if desired. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Conclusion – Lemon Coconut Cake Southern Living
I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with how to make a lemon coconut cake southern living style. While it may take a few hours to make this cake, it’s definitely worth the effort and makes for a gorgeous centerpiece.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making lemon coconut cake? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
