Pineapple Coconut God Bless America (Printable)

Festive tropical layer cake with pineapple, coconut, cream cheese frosting, and fresh berries

# What you'll need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
09 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, well drained
12 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
13 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

14 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
15 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
16 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

→ Decoration

19 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
20 - 1 cup fresh blueberries
21 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and oil in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Fold in drained crushed pineapple and shredded coconut until evenly distributed.
06 - Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated.
07 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center emerges clean.
08 - Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until fluffy.
10 - Place first cake layer on serving plate. Spread generous layer of frosting. Top with second layer and frost top and sides completely.
11 - Arrange fresh strawberries and blueberries in patriotic flag or swirl pattern. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if using.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The combination of tangy cream cheese frosting and sweet pineapple coconut cake creates layers of flavor that keep people coming back for seconds
  • Its stunning red white and blue presentation makes you look like a professional baker with minimal artistic effort
02 -
  • Drain that pineapple really thoroughly, pressing it in a sieve if needed, because excess juice will make your cake dense and soggy
  • Room temperature ingredients are absolutely crucial for both the cake texture and smooth frosting, so plan ahead
03 -
  • Brush each cooled cake layer with a little of the reserved pineapple juice before frosting for an extra burst of pineapple flavor
  • Chill your frosted cake for 30 minutes before arranging the berries so they stay in place perfectly

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