Chocolate Cake with Pink Coconut Topping
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Base
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup hot water
Cream Layer
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened (optional, for stability)
Pink Coconut Topping
• 2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
• 2–3 drops pink food coloring
• 1 tbsp milk (optional, to help distribute color)
Method
1. Make the Cake Base
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a round or square cake pan.
• In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla.
• Mix in buttermilk, then gradually add the dry ingredients.
• Stir in hot water until the batter is smooth (it will be thin).
• Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
2. Make the Cream Layer
• In a large bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• Beat in softened cream cheese until smooth and stable.
• Spread evenly over the cooled cake.
3. Make the Pink Coconut Topping
• Place shredded coconut in a bowl. Add a few drops of pink food coloring and a splash of milk (if needed) to distribute color evenly. Mix until all coconut is tinted.
• Sprinkle the pink coconut generously over the cream layer.
4. Chill & Serve
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour before slicing to set the cream layer.
• Slice and enjoy your pretty, fluffy coconut-topped chocolate cake!
