Best 4 Helens Coconut Cake Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary delight with Helen's Coconut Cake, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This classic Southern dessert is a multi-layered masterpiece, featuring moist and fluffy coconut cake layers sandwiched between velvety coconut custard filling and topped with a luscious coconut buttercream frosting. Each bite is a burst of coconutty goodness, transporting you to a tropical paradise with every spoonful.

The article presents three variations of this delectable cake: the original Helen's Coconut Cake, a simplified version with a shortcut custard filling, and a gluten-free adaptation that caters to those with dietary restrictions. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this article has a recipe that suits your skill level and preferences. So, gather your ingredients and embark on a baking adventure, creating a homemade coconut cake that will be the star of any occasion.

Let's cook with our recipes!

INCREDIBLE COCONUT CAKE



Incredible Coconut Cake image

I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. -Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 20

5 large eggs, separated, room temperature
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup canola oil
2-1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, chopped
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
FROSTING:
11 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup butter, softened
4-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1-1/4 teaspoons coconut extract
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Steps:

  • Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 325°. In another large bowl, beat sugar, butter and oil until well blended. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. , Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in coconut and extracts.. , Add cream of tartar to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites., Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth. , Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting and sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 689 calories, Fat 37g fat (21g saturated fat), Cholesterol 123mg cholesterol, Sodium 353mg sodium, Carbohydrate 85g carbohydrate (64g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.

HELEN'S COCONUT CAKE



Helen's Coconut Cake image

This is one great cake! The recipe is by Phyllis Richman, a staff writer with the Washington Post, she was a restaurant critic for 23 years, 8 of which she was also food editor. I am not big on desserts but I can't say no to this cake

Provided by Bergy

Categories     Dessert

Time 51m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 (4 ounce) can shredded coconut (preferable to flaked, 1 cup)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • (Shredded coconut sometimes called southern style gives the cake a crunchier texture, but flaked coconut can be used if necessary. Look for canned coconut which is more moist than the bagged coconut, it's fine if it is sweetened.) Heat oven to 350°F, butter and flour a 9x13" baking pan.
  • Heat milk and butter to scalding (do not boil), set aside.
  • Combine the flour baking powder and salt, mix well.
  • Beat eggs, add sugar beating all the while until they are thick& foamy.
  • Gradually add hot milk, then the vanilla beating all the while.
  • At slow speed beat in the flour, beat til smooth and combined.
  • Pour into the prepared pan.
  • Bake at 350°F for approx 30 minutes (test after 25 minutes with a toothpick).
  • Cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake slightly in the pan.
  • PREPARE THE TOPPING: Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in the brown sugar, add coconut& vanilla.
  • Spread the topping over the cake (do it evenly reaching right to the corners).
  • Turn oven to broil and place cake 6" from the heat.
  • Broil until bubbling and dark brown, turning if necessary to ensure even coloring.
  • The topping should be beyond golden but be very careful it can burn in an instant if you are not watching it.
  • Cool to room temp, cut into squares and serve.

GâTEAU D'HéLèNE (COCONUT CAKE)



Gâteau d'Hélène (Coconut Cake) image

This coconut cake was adapted from a recipe by Simone (Simca) Beck, best known as Julia Child's co-author on "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." She called it "Gâteau d'Hélène: a white cake filled and iced with coconut cream and apricot." The recipe, published in Ms. Beck's 1972 book, "Simca's Cuisine" (Lyons Press, 1998), capped what she called a "carefree lunch" because it could be made ahead. Indeed, this cake is best baked, filled, frosted and refrigerated for at least an hour (or up to two days). Kind of like a madeleine, its layers are purposefully a bit dry, as they need to hold a dousing of orange juice and rum. The whipped cream filling and frosting is soft and dreamy. It's an elegant celebration cake.

Provided by Dorie Greenspan

Categories     cakes, dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 1 (8-inch) cake (about 8 servings)

Number Of Ingredients 14

3/4 cup/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups/192 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
Finely grated zest of 1 orange (save the juice for the filling)
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup/60 milliliters orange juice
2 tablespoons dark rum (or more orange juice)
1/2 cup/160 grams apricot preserves
1 1/2 cups/360 milliliters cold heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup/66 grams granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups/128 grams unsweetened shredded coconut

Steps:

  • Make the cake: Center a rack in the oven, and heat to 325 degrees. Butter an 8-inch springform pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, and butter the paper; dust with flour and shake out the excess.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and sea salt.
  • Working with a mixer, beat together the butter, sugar and orange zest on medium speed for about 4 minutes, until pale and creamy. Add the eggs one by one, beating for 1 minute after each egg goes in, and scraping often.
  • Reduce the speed to low, and add half the flour mixture, beating until it almost disappears into the batter. Add the remaining flour mixture, and beat until it is incorporated. Give the batter a last stir with a spatula, then scrape it into the pan, smoothing the top.
  • Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack, let the cake cool 20 minutes, then run a table knife along the edges and remove the pan's sides. Invert the cake onto the rack, remove the bottom of the pan and the parchment, turn the cake over and cool to room temperature right side up.
  • Cut the cake into three layers; flip the top layer so that the crumb is exposed.
  • Prepare the filling and frosting: Stir together the orange juice and rum (if using), and using a brush or spoon, lightly moisten each layer with the liquid, then spread with apricot preserves.
  • Working with a mixer, whip the cream just until it holds soft peaks, and add the vanilla. Working on medium speed, add the sugar in a slow, steady stream; stop beating when all the sugar is incorporated and the cream is firm. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the cream into a small bowl, and stir in about 2/3 cup of the shredded coconut. You'll have a very thick mixture.
  • Place the layer that was the top of the cake on a serving platter, jam side up, and cover with half the coconut cream. Top with the middle layer, jam side up, and spread with the remaining coconut cream. Place the last layer on the cake, jam side down. Using an icing spatula or a table knife, frost the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream, then coat with the remaining shredded coconut.
  • The cake can be served now, but it tastes and cuts better after it's been refrigerated for at least an hour.

PINA COLADA DUMP CAKE



Pina Colada Dump Cake image

I love any dessert that tastes like the tropics. When I wanted to create a new dump cake recipe, I went right to pineapple, coconut and rum. I was very pleased with the results! -Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h10m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/3 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
1/3 cup white rum
1 package white cake mix (regular size)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup warm water
Whipped cream and maraschino cherries, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Evenly spread coconut, nuts and pineapple in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; drizzle rum over top. Sprinkle with cake mix. Drizzle with butter and water, Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 45-50 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream and cherries, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 325 calories, Fat 13g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 411mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (31g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your cake.
  • Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This will help them mix together more easily and create a smoother batter.
  • Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
  • Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This will ensure that the cake is cooked through.
  • Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. This will help the frosting set properly.
  • Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the cake for up to 2 months.

Conclusion:

Helen's coconut cake is a delicious and classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its moist and fluffy cake layers, creamy coconut filling, and sweet coconut frosting, this cake is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. If you're looking for a special cake to make for your next party or gathering, Helen's coconut cake is a great option. So preheat your oven and get baking!

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