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Coconut Cake
Copyright 2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved Show: Barefoot Contessa Episode: All Aboard Overall User Rating: 
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YUMMY
07/15/2008 at 02:30pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I[t as a very sweet and salty taste and it is more plain than it looks. IT IS DISCUSTING!!
Fantastic!
07/14/2008 at 12:29pm
User: Melissa from yuma, AZ User Rating:
This was an easy cake that I turned into cupcakes, and instead of adding the two extracts, I added all coconut extract because I did not have shredded coconut. It was amazing.
The most DELICOUS cake ever!!!
07/09/2008 at 09:39pm
User: Vanessa from Las Vegas, NV User Rating:
I made this cake for my husband's birthday, and boy was he a happy guy!!! This was the first REAL cake I've ever made and I was so happy with how it turned out! Even my Mom, who doesn't like coconuts LOVED it! It's so rich, decadent, and moist! Since it was my first time making a cake it did rise more than I expected (because I over-mixed it I think)...just mix the flour in, and don't over do it. This is a cake for entertaining : ) I will never make a boxed cake again : )
great cake
07/06/2008 at 08:10pm
User: Tina from mount pleasant, TX User Rating:
This cake is very good. Tina Miller
Possible error with milk ingredient
07/02/2008 at 10:48am
User: Pat from Pottstown, PA User Rating:
I've made Ina's Coconut cupcakes which were outstanding and her coconut cake which was a bit dense and seemed to lack something. I suspect in the editing of the cake recipe on her show they left out the word BUTTERmilk. The cupcakes have buttermilk which will do so much in making a cake tender and I believe if the cake was prepared with buttermilk it would be equally as wonderful as the cupcakes are.
Coconut Cake
06/28/2008 at 02:22pm
User: Allie from Marietta, GA User Rating:
It is delish
Vanilla Pound Cake
06/25/2008 at 09:54pm
User: Cathi from Friendswood, TX User Rating:
Tried this "coconut cake" but it came out more like vanilla pound cake. Was good but very heavy. Next time, going with Alton's recipe~Harder but much better...
coconut cake
06/22/2008 at 06:41pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This cake had a nice flavor and was not dry for me (I only cooked 30 min), but Alton Browns coconut cake is the light, airy cake I wanted.
Will let you know BUT....a mistake was made.
05/20/2008 at 05:44pm
User: Linda from Toronto, Ontario M5N 1L3 canada, CA User Rating:
When I looked at my cake after 20 minutes I was in shock. How much more time? I had done exactly what Ina said, filled 2 pans etc. By 43 minutes, the cakes were burnt and def. overcooked. How is that possible when the cupcake recipe (which is identical except for buttermilk) was 325 for 25 to 30 min. How could the same amount in 2 pans be 350 for 45 to 55 minutes. This is probably the case. Either this recipe is 325 for 45 minutes or it is 350 for 25 to 55 minutes. To me it is probably 325 for 45 to 55 minutes. Since when you go to a larger pan it is usually more time. So my guess is, 325. Since we already know they work at 325 right? I will let you know about taste later. So upsetting, I scraped off burnt part and iced anways. Mixed tri coloured coconut with regular white coconut and sprinkled and pressed into icing. Tasted icing and that was great. Linda
Terrific cake
05/12/2008 at 01:52pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I loved the cake and the frosting was out of this world... someone made this for dessert and there wasn't any left to have the next day... will make it very soon...
Mia in Kingwood, TX
05/12/2008 at 10:26am
User: MIA from Kingwood, TX User Rating:
It was wonderful ~ moist and rich; However, I did use all of the cream cheese called for in the recipe. When I only added 8oz, the icing seemed yellow and there wasn't enough to frost the cake. This one is a keeper. I made it for Mother's day and my Mom loved it!
Absolutely Divine
05/06/2008 at 06:15pm
User: HEIDI from Overland Park, KS User Rating:
I'm a chocolate fan, and don't like coconut. I needed a dessert for an Indian meal and made this. Its fantastic. Its my most requested recipe. BUT, do not cook it as long as stated. I believe she has a gas oven. I use electric and it was done at 30 minutes.
Double Layer of Heaven
04/30/2008 at 03:56pm
User: Sherry from Ormond Beach, FL User Rating:
As a beginner, I chose Ina's Coconut Cake as the first recipe ever to attempt in the kitchen...literally, the first! Although, it is rated intermediate, I found it easy to follow and well worth the effort! Never before have I ever made anything from scratch...but, will never buy a cake in a box ever again. I am tranformed! The cake was phenominal.
Best Frosting Ever!
04/07/2008 at 09:13pm
User: Jamie from everett, WA User Rating:
This cake was great! I followed the baking time and my cake was a little dry, so I would underbake next time. The frosting was amazing though! So good even for people that don't like coconut. The almond extract makes it special.
More like a pound cake
04/06/2008 at 07:13am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I did evething right and this is pound cake i love her recipe but this i will not be making again beware if you want cake this is not it
Heavenly coconut cake
03/30/2008 at 12:01pm
User: null from null, null User Rating:
This cake is moist & delicious. Not a complicated recipe to follow, for home made goodness everyone will enjoy! Thanks Barefoot Contessa!
mixed feelings
03/23/2008 at 03:44pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I have mixed feelings. This is the first time I made a coconut cake. The flavor of this cake was wonderful but it was very dense which I did not care for. I listened to the other reviews and made the frosting with 8oz of cream cheese and 1 stick of butter this made the frosting pretty runny. Overall great flavor bad consistency.
easier than the cupcakes
03/17/2008 at 11:03pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
similar to the coconut cupcake recipe (my very first Barefoot Contessa endeavor some 8 years ago) but quicker and easier. I used about 3/4 lb of cream cheese and only baked the cake for about 35 minutes. Other than that followed it to at tee and it was absolutely sensational. Imitation almond extract works too (all I can find.) It is a rich dense moist cake - fancy bakery quality. You will get raves for sure!
A LOT of work!
03/17/2008 at 09:17am
User: Brooke from Shorewood`, WI User Rating:
I'm willing to go the extra mile for certain recipes and since my husband loves coconut and saw this show, I decided to give it a try. I made it for a big dinner party. The frosting was a disaster! It tasted like that super sweet marshmallow fluff that you buy in a jar and it never really got thick enough. So I used a different recipe for the frosting. The cake was good, but that's it. Just "good." None of the big "Wow's" that I usually get for my desserts. In fact, no one really said much of anything about it. It was a big let down after sooooooo much work! There are way too many steps and, therefore, too many opportunities for things to go awry. I think it's safe to say that I'll never make this cake again.
awesome
03/15/2008 at 08:57am
User: ellen from new port richey, FL User Rating:
I bought the box mix and everyone loved these cup cakes
Ladies Night Treat
02/27/2008 at 10:52pm
User: m from Beverly Hills, CA User Rating:
Had the ladies over last night for a dinner & movie night. Served this Coconut cake with Tea/Coffee, Everyone loved it!!! After reading other reviews I decided to substitute the milk for coconut milk instead and the cake had a wonderful coconut flavor!! Delicious! :)
Fabulous Coconut Cake
02/25/2008 at 03:54pm
User: Debbie from Hot Springs, AR User Rating:
I made this cake for coworkers recently and everyone loved it. It is very dense and moist and rich so you won't need a large piece. It was a huge hit not only because it was delicious, but it was also a very pretty cake, reminding some of us of the ones our Moms used to make for Sunday dinners! Not too complicated or time consuming to make and well worth your effort.
so disappointed
02/25/2008 at 02:44pm
User: debbie from wadsworth, IL User Rating:
I love anything coconut. I found the cake to be dry and the frosting is way too rich.
Too Dense
02/24/2008 at 06:55pm
User: Sara from Forest Hills, NY User Rating:
My cake was extremely dense. I would use less almond extract in the cake because it was too overpowering. Also, the cooking time was way off. However, the frosting was amazing.
The BEST coconut cake!
02/19/2008 at 04:44pm
User: hooria from sterling heights, MI User Rating:
This is the best coconut cake I've had. My family just loved it..I made it as little cup cakes too and its just the best..the frosting is better than the cake...u can use the frosting on any other cake as well!!
Superb Coconut Cake
02/19/2008 at 03:38pm
User: ROSE from Houston, TX User Rating:
I baked this cake for Valentine's Day and Garnished with sliced strawberry's placed around the edges of the cake to appear to look like hearts. It was a delightful tasting dessert and fantastic finish to a special steak dinner I prepared for my sweetheart of a husband of almost 44 years. I WILL bake it againg. Thanks Ina
Beautiful Cake
02/15/2008 at 09:10am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
The cake is outstanding. Dense, moist truly perfect. The frosting will ruin everyones diet. It is fat laden, but yummy. My whole family enjoyed this treat. we made the icing pink beacuse we had it on valentines day and because my 3 year old loves to use food coloring.
To Die For
02/10/2008 at 02:54pm
User: Cassandra from Montgomery, AL User Rating:
The cake was wonderful, when I made the cake the first time it seems a little dry so when I made it the second time I put in only 2 1/2 ounces of the coconut into the batter instead of 4 ounces. Then I made it a third time and this time I made a filling for it instead of putting any coconut into the batter at all I used coconut milk, sugar,sour cream and flaked sweetened coconut. put holes in the cake but the filling into the cake and I must say it was to die for. The filling made the cake taste even better.
Coconut Heaven
02/09/2008 at 11:19am
User: Cindy from Charlotte, NC User Rating:
This is the best cake I have ever put in my mouth. Everyone who had it (lots of folks) thought so too. It's not hard to make - follow the recipe. A homerun!!!
SOOOO GOOD!!
02/07/2008 at 11:32am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
Beautiful cake! Moist, flavorful. Nothing else needs to be said!
Re: About that frosting and almond....
02/05/2008 at 01:25pm
User: c from Bloomington, IN User Rating:
she very distinctly says to use 1 lb of cream cheese in the frosting and you can see her taking two 8 ounce packages of cream cheese and putting them into her mixing bowl. So for those who claim it's only supposed to be 8 oz. I hope this clears up the confusion. I agree that 1.5 tsps of almond extract is a lot if you aren't a fan of the flavor. I want to taste coconut and vanilla with a hint of almond so I only used a shy 1/2tsp of almond. Other then that this recipe is very good. I don't pay much mind to times listed in recipes as I know my oven real well and I just use my cake tester when the cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. That's how I learned in cooking school and its never failed me yet. Bon appetit
Similar to coconut cupcakes
02/04/2008 at 07:21pm
User: maria from mahwah, NJ User Rating:
I haven't made this cake, however, I made the coconut cupcakes. If you read both recipes you will note there is a slight difference (in the books anyway) They were outrageously delicious. Note that there is a distinctive almond flavor. I love that since I traditionally make 3 layer cookies called rainbow cookies which has almond paste and almond extract. My family loves this cupcake so I will be making it again. Brought a tray to work and yes everyone EVERYONE loved them. Ina this is a winner (no surprise to me)
Should have read reviews first!!!
02/03/2008 at 10:58pm
User: Genia from rancho santa margarita, CA User Rating:
I am really upset with the way this recipe turned out. I made it for my dads birthday and he was choking at the end. This cake was dense and dry. Too much almond extract for my taste. I will give this another try and cut back on the baking time and almond extract. Icing was good three stars just because I liked the icing.
Best ever yellow cake with coconut topping
02/03/2008 at 03:40am
User: Carolyn from Long Beach, CA User Rating:
I used the same mixing method as Ina in her episode....slowly adding the sugar and mixing 1 egg at a time, etc. Cake turned out fantastic. I use a convection oven so I know to keep a good eye on baking times. It took 37.5 minutes. I got scared because the cake was very brown,(compared to the tv episode) but not overbaked. I am not sure why some folks had complaints and unhappy results. I thought the cake was nice and moist,I also like a dense firm cake, which this one is. The frosting made with 1 lb of cream cheese like the recipe states turned out fine. Definitely was not too much for the 2 layers. Since it is cooler in Feb, the frosting did not run at all. This cake is a keeper. Delish!!
The Best Coconut Cake
01/30/2008 at 09:38pm
User: Brenda from Burleson, TX User Rating:
This is the best tasting coconut cake that I have ever had.
A little to tough...
01/29/2008 at 08:40pm
User: abby from gaithersburg, MD User Rating:
Although this cake had a rich, creamy flavor, it was a little too tough. Also the frosting was strong and sugary, but it brought the boring taste of the cake more sweet and tasty. Altogether it was a yummy ending to a big meal, but not exactaly what you would want to make for a guest.
Yum
01/26/2008 at 11:20am
User: Shelly from Taber, CA User Rating:
I loved this cake although I thought the icing was pretty sweet. I think Id use a different icing such as a pudding one.
Delicioius
01/21/2008 at 02:56pm
User: Mandy from Atlanta, GA User Rating:
This cake was wonderful! Reminded me of a good old fashioned pound cake. The only problem was the cooking time: 50 mins too long and I almost burned cake. 25-30 minutes is long enough for baking. Other than that, moist and delicious and can be used for other flavored cakes!
A moist, dense cake
01/08/2008 at 03:38pm
User: Natalie from Lincoln, NE User Rating:
I made this cake for a birthday and it was a huge hit. Thankfully, however, I read others' reviews of the cake before I put it in the oven, which allowed me to follow their advice in regard to baking the cake for much less time than recommended in the original recipe. (My oven bakes slowly, and I still only left it in for 35 minutes.) I also agree with those who suggested that the cake calls for a bit too much almond extract. Next time, I'll cut the amount in the batter to 1/2 to 1 tsp. I left it out of the frosting altogether.
A Few Adjustments Needed
12/07/2007 at 09:35am
User: Erin from Arlington, VA User Rating:
This cake was great after a few adjustments. As almond extract is very potent, I reduced the amount used in the cake to only 1/2 teaspoon. Also, the cooking time listed is far too long. I cooked the cake for 30 minutes and it came out perfect, probably could have reduced it to only 25 minutes with optimal results as well. Also, Ina suggests serving the cake at room temperature, and I found it to be much tastier when it was chilled.
Excellent
12/01/2007 at 09:32pm
User: Jessica from Los Angeles, CA User Rating:
While I agree with some of you that the cake is a little dense, I think that made it all the better. Also the cooking time is way off, mine took about 30 minutes. Other than that the cake was excellent and I can't wait to make it again.
Fabulous and Multi-purpose
11/11/2007 at 09:02pm
User: Patricia from FORT PIERCE, FL User Rating:
I was looking for a basic yellow cake recipe that was full-proof! I used this cake recipe, minus the cocunuts, and added canned pumpkin, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice with cream cheese in the center in a bundt pan. Turned out excellent! If I didn't have a good base, the whole thing would've been a huge mess. Thank you Ina!
Best Cake Ever!!
10/28/2007 at 12:10am
User: Roseann from SSF, CA User Rating:
First of all I just have to say this is the best cake ever. I'm not sure why people say the cake is dry. Mine was so moist. Everyone who tryed the cake loved it! Thanks Ina.
A great coconut cake!!
10/13/2007 at 08:49am
User: jennie from louisburg, NC User Rating:
My Father loves Coconut cake, He has not had one sense his Mom died 14 years ago an I found this Recipe on food network, I thought i would fix it for him... He loved it he said i had to do this once a week.. So thinks Foodnetwork FOR MAKING OLD RECIPES BE NEW AGAIN
It's a Keeper
10/10/2007 at 11:38am
User: Pauline from Duryea, PA User Rating:
Everyone who tried this cake gave me the same opinion - Wow! It's a keeper. I toasted the coconut in a frying pan before I put it over the frosting. The cake is truly moist and delicious.
The best coconut cake ever!!
09/28/2007 at 09:50pm
User: Dyana from Bellevue, WA User Rating:
This is maybe one of my most favorite recipes ever. Not only was the end product amazing, it was also super easy to put together. I am by no means a baker or even a cook, but I was able to follow every aspect of the recipe no problem. I made this for my family and everyone loved it...it didn't even make it through the night!
more like "almond" than coconut cake
09/26/2007 at 06:56am
User: Christina from Lake Ariel, PA User Rating:
I was so excited to make my first Barefoot Contessa recipe and I made sure to do everything according to the recipe down to each sift and room temperature egg...I found the cake to be a disappointment. It was dry, dense and tasted mostly like almond extract. The icing was good, but not miraculous! I'm a little nervous to try another one of her recipes!!!
Beautiful to Behold!
09/17/2007 at 09:38pm
User: Cheryl from Winchester, KY User Rating:
I made this cake for a neighbor who had been so helpful and I'll never forget the smile and the size of his eyes when I walked that huge, beautiful, white, snowy cake over to him. He loved it, cut the entire cake into individual servings and froze them, since he lives alone. I could tell the recipe was a winner with the ingredients in it, and it was so easy to make. I will keep this recipe high on my list for special occasions! The Barefoot is so dependable...I can always count on her to come through with the best ideas and recipes!!!
Great special occasion cake
09/16/2007 at 04:14pm
User: caroline from Cockeysville, MD User Rating:
I made this cake for Easter and everyone LOVED IT! The frosting is so delicious, it would be good on anything. As always, Ina you are amazing!
Best icing ever!!!
09/13/2007 at 02:36pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
The frosting for this cake is the best! I didn't like the cake itself, though. It was too dense & lacking in something.....I'll definately be using the frosting recipe over & over & over....
Another Winner
09/12/2007 at 09:58pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I like the taste and texture of this cake. It reminded me of one my grandmother used to make.
Courtney
09/11/2007 at 05:42am
User: courtney from centreville, VA User Rating:
This cake is absolutely fabulous-our favorite of all time. Can't wait to make the cupcakes. The recipe in Ina's 'At Home' cookbook does call for a pound of cream cheese for the frosting-I thought it was perfect as is!
awesome frosting
09/10/2007 at 11:48pm
User: allison from austin, TX User Rating:
I did not try the cake. I made cupcakes and used this AWESOME FROSTING!!! PLEASE ADVISE- like everyone else has said in these reviews, the frosting recipe is wrong. It is not 1 lb of cream cheese, its 8 oz. And if you follow my advice, you will LOVE IT!!!
surprised
09/08/2007 at 01:02pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I'd expected this to be an amazing coconut cake, but I was a bit disappointed. The cake is pretty dense and dry, and it tastes more like almond than coconut. If I make it again, I'll ease up on the almond flavoring and substitute oil and hope for the best. The cake was still eaten up, though, so it can't be all that bad!
moist and delicious
08/26/2007 at 09:24am
User: Tony from Chamblle, GA User Rating:
I bake cakes from scratch all the time and this recipe is my new favorite. Thanks again Ina for another great recipe. Also recommend Betty's Chocolate Cake another great Ina Garten contribution!
Favorite Cake-
07/31/2007 at 03:34pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This is one of the best recipes that I have ever used. I like it so much that this is the cake that I use for gifts.
Awesome
07/26/2007 at 02:54pm
User: ELISE from Orlando, FL User Rating:
I had been searching for a coconut cake receipe and watched Ina make this on the show. I decided to give it a try, and I took it to work. I was a HIT. I love this cake and I will be making it for years. Thanks Ina, you rock!!!
Heavy and bland
07/21/2007 at 11:09am
User: Julie from East Kingston, NH User Rating:
Unfortunately, where I normally find Ina Garten's recipes to be amazing, this one didn't meet her normal high standards. The cake was extreamly dense and lacking in coconut flavor. The frosting, while good cream cheese frosting really didn't lend anything to the cake. Pretty much a disappointment overall.
Awesome Frosting
07/20/2007 at 01:37am
User: Lauren from Newport Beach, CA User Rating:
The frosting was amazing in this recipe....however the cake was very dry. I think next time i'll make it I'll do half butter and half oil to make the cake a little more moist. Other than the dryness the flavor was very good.
Sarah
07/09/2007 at 01:59pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I really loved this recipe,and I loved it so much I made it for my sisters birthday.
ina garten coconut cake
07/06/2007 at 06:37pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
wonderfull taste
makes great cupcakes
06/30/2007 at 03:52pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
really some of the most delicious cupcakes ever
Fabulous
06/25/2007 at 05:58pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
There is no other way to describe this delicious cake. It is easy to make and it is simply fabulous. I warn you, you better make it when you have a crowd, because you will want them to help you eat it! YUM!
coconut cake
06/18/2007 at 08:30pm
User: jill from hampton bays, NY User Rating:
I was a baker at the BAREFOOT CONTESSA in East Hampton for two years. Out of all the cakes I made, this one is my favorite. It's the Best!!
very rich and dense.
06/17/2007 at 04:28am
User: VIRGINIA from Martinsburg, WV User Rating:
This is a very tasty cake. The almond taste is very pronounced. Not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind. I think the flavor improves after a day or so in the fridge. Ina's recipes are the best!
tennis49
06/11/2007 at 04:01pm
User: Eleanora from Fairhope, AL User Rating:
I got a little concerned when I saw some of the suggestions in the review section, but decide to forge ahead and make the recipe exactly as Ina did. It came out perfectly. It was moist to start with and was even better the second day. I did lower the cooking time by about 5 minutes and that may be due to the fact that I have a convection oven. I am back online to print out the recipe for my neighbor who loved what I brought her.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!! :D
06/11/2007 at 02:39am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I made this cake for my friend's birthday yesterday....SOOOOOOO GOOD. The frosting was HEAVEN!!! I flavored it with vanilla and lemon instead of almond....WOW. I made the frosting with one 8oz. creme cheese, 1 stick of butter and 1Lb. pwdrd sugar...as reviews said the recipe was incorrect. I had to double that to cover the entire cake. But for the 2nd batch of frosting I added fresh lemon zest and used it for the outside of the cake. AMAAAAAZING!!! SOOO GOOD. Yum yum YUM. the cake was nice and big...lovely and delish!
people who gave this a BAD review are WEIRD.....
06/10/2007 at 08:08pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
TS VERY FUNNY THAT THIS RECIPE MADE INTO CUPCAKES GOT FAB REVIEWS, BUT WHEN MADE INTO A CAKE.. YOU COMPLAIN, I JUST THINK FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAKE, SHOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING...INSTEAD READ INAS COCONUT CUPCAKE REVIEWS...SAME RECIPE...GO FIGURE !!!!
Ah!
06/10/2007 at 08:05pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This was one of the best cakes I have ever made. If you don't like coconut, you could easily leave it out of the cake and frosting and it would still be fabulous!
Cake
06/08/2007 at 07:42am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
Amazing. If you want to impress anyone, serve them this cake.
What great frosting
06/03/2007 at 08:51pm
User: MICHELE from Bend, OR User Rating:
Many members of my family, including me, are gluten intolerant so we can't enjoy great cake recipes, like this one undoubtedly is. On the other hand, this frosting is SO good, it would make cardboard taste great, so a gluten free cake made from mix gets special treatment with this frosting used to top it, especially with the coconut on top. A winner!
Fabulous !!
05/25/2007 at 03:57pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I made this cake for my husband's birthday and as cupcakes to bring to a friend's. Rave reviews on both occasions. Even the batter is lucious. 8 oz of cream cheese in the frosting worked out perfectly. I will make this recipe again and again.
Perfect!
05/24/2007 at 01:00pm
User: Jennifer from Yorktown, VA User Rating:
I did only bake the cakes for 30 mins based on the reviews. The cakes came out perfect as did the icing. This is a great recipe...with perfect results. Just be sure to shorten the baking time based on your oven. I recommend checking for doneness every 15 mins.
DEFINATIVE COCNUT CAKE RECIPE
05/24/2007 at 10:43am
User: PEGGY from NEW CITY, NY User Rating:
I ALSO FOUND THERE TO BE TOO MUCH FROSTING, SO I FROZE THE LEFTOVER AND USED IT ON CUPCAKES DOWN THE ROAD. NO LOSS OF TASTE.
A Wonderful Special Occasion Cake
05/24/2007 at 07:32am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This cake was fantastic! Moist, velvety, dense, not overly sweet, with subtle flavor of vanilla and almond, a beautiful presentation and a huge cake that will serve a crowd. Take note: Use one 8 ounce pakage of cream cheese in the frosting. The recipe calling for one pound is clearly a mistake!
barefoot contessa
05/19/2007 at 12:04pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
unbelievable cake - best coconut cake i've ever had. would make an excellent special celebration cake!
Coconut cake
05/18/2007 at 08:51pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
The frosting is delicious!
Excellent
05/09/2007 at 07:46pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This cake is excellent!
Good birthday cake
05/04/2007 at 03:31pm
User: Jennie from Wauwatosa, WI User Rating:
I think this cake was good, however it required a little tweaking of the recipe. First, I agree with the reviews that said it was necessary to add more powdered sugar to the icing. If you don't, the icing turns out running and it doesn't stand up as well/ Second, the bake time is too much. I would only bake it for 37-42 mins, because the first time I baked it for 50mins and it was dry. I love coconut and I made it for my son's birthday and it was a hit.
very heavy cake
04/29/2007 at 11:12pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I really looked forward to making this cake, since I have always had the best luck with all of Ina's recipes. This was the first recipe which was not excellent. While tasty, this cake is very dense, a bit too dense. I was hoping for something more moist and tender. The frosting was too runny, so I had to add a second box of confectioner's sugar.
Ina does it again!
04/29/2007 at 10:38am
User: Sharon from Baltimore, MD User Rating:
In reading other reviews, I just have to wonder what equipment that other bakers are using because I would say that if anything, my cake has been really moist. This cake totally rocks! While I am sure that it is not low in calories, if you are going to eat dessert, who cares? I can't imagine using anything but my stand mixer to make this cake. I use one teaspoon of almond extract because the first cake I made was a little tto almondy for my taste and instead of the milk, I used buttermilk because I had some that I wanted to use up. Also the poster who said that there was too much icing is right. I am making half this time to see what happens with it. If you follow the directions in the creaming of the butter and the additions of ingrediants though, I just can't imagine why the end product would be dry. It's an amazing cake and as always, it just makes me want to visit with Ina and having a cooking afternoon! :)
Good cake but...
04/23/2007 at 03:43pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
It tastes good, looks good outside but...a little too brown along the edage...
Excellent results!
04/22/2007 at 09:48am
User: JEANNE from Brook Park, OH User Rating:
Let me first say that those who gave a low rating on this cake were probably expecting the "fluffy white cake" version. This one was a lot more dense, which is my favorite type of cake. I wanted something quick and easy to take to my mom's for dinner/dessert so I only made half a recipe using 3 large eggs (vs the 2 1/2 extra-large size). I added 1 cup of coconut to the half recipe which was a little more than it called for but I love coconut! I did notice the cake browned quite a bit on the top but it was still very moist. It's possible those whose cakes turned out dry may have overbaked them. The recipe shows 45-55 minutes for 2 9" layer pans but I baked mine in a 9" square pan for only 30-35 minutes. With baked goods, I rarely follow the times given on a recipe because ovens are all different. I'll definitely make this one again. Thanks, Ina!
Excellent
04/20/2007 at 01:04pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I do believe this was the very best coconut cake I have ever tasted!
...better than Grandma's...
04/17/2007 at 06:17pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
My grandmother made a cake similar to this when we were kids, and hers was definitely hard to beat. That is, until now! This cake is wonderful: moist, dense and flavorful...and the crowning glory is definitely the frosting. I did not add the coconut to the cake, only to the frosting. I made this at my sister's for Easter, and Grandma definitely would have approved :)
Great
04/14/2007 at 12:32pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This cake is very easy, and tastes great!
YUMMY!
04/11/2007 at 10:40am
User: Julie from Methuen, MA User Rating:
I made this cake for Easter and it was a huge hit. The cake is so dense and delicious, the frosting was simple to make. I left the almond extract out of the frosting to make it not too almond-y and it was fantastic. Took a little prior planning but was worth every minute and was easy to make.
Earned raves from the in-laws
04/11/2007 at 10:00am
User: Karen from Glen Rock, NJ User Rating:
I made this cake for Easter and it was fantastic!! After reading some of the others I had to separate fact from fiction. Unfortunately I think some non-cooks (i.e. box cake lovers)were not used to a made from scratch cake. The texture was perfect, moist and dense (just like homemade should be). The frosting was the perfect complement (not too sweet). Unfortunately if Betty Crocker is your thing, this is not the cake for you. As for putting the coconut on, my 6 year old helped me do it, it was fun!
coconut "crumbly" cake
04/11/2007 at 08:37am
User: Heather from Pembroke Pines, FL User Rating:
Just want to give warning, where warning is due. This is not the "Coconut Cake" I was dreaming of in my head. I made it for Easter this year because my mom loves Ina. I was not impressed with this recipe at all. I cook a lot and and very familiar with how cakes should turn out. I followed the directions and I had all the same issues as the others who rated this recipe the way I did. It was crumbly, very, very dry and just not what I was expecting. If you're wanting a light, sweet, dreamy coconut cake, then this is NOT the cake for you. If you want a heavy, dry cake, then by all means, use this recipe. I probably would not use one of her recipes again.
Super Delicious
04/10/2007 at 03:48pm
User: Janelle from Homestead, FL User Rating:
This cake is awesome i made this cake three time this week the very first time i made this cake,It was so moist and it just melted in my mouth.The second time i made the cake for someone else it they loved it .The third time i made the cake it was gone in 1 day this is a must try cake you will love it. Thanks for this great recipe
Coconut Cake
04/10/2007 at 12:24pm
User: niKKI from St. Charles, MO User Rating:
The flavor of the cake was very good, but the texture was very poor. I followed the directons, but the cake still tured out with a very heavy texture. I would make the icing again!!
Picture Perfect
04/10/2007 at 11:15am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
Easy to prepare and glorious results; moist, rich and flowing with the vanilla and almond flavors. Makes a really pretty table topper!
Coconut Cake Disaster
04/09/2007 at 11:29am
User: Monica from Canton, OH User Rating:
I can't believe I'm writing this but have to. I was so excited to make Ina's Coconut Cake for Easter. Followed the show and receipe to the tee and actually it looked wonderful. However, when I picked it up to transport it I noticed it was over the top heavy to carry. The cake was extremely dry, heavy and the edges actually seemed hard. I will compliment the icing but, the cake was terrible. I was used so many of my favorite Barefoot's receips but must advise, don't use this one. It's not worth the time, ingredients and was actually embarassing. Sorry Ina. Monica Lytle
most divine Easter cake ever!
04/08/2007 at 06:50pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
i made this cake for easter; it was the most heavenly concoction i've ever made. it's a dense, moist, HUGE cake. i did add more powdered sugar to firm up the icing (maybe 1/2 or more cups)and used almost all of it, had about 1 cup left over, and i could have used more between the layers. be careful not to overbake; that will eliminate the dryness (but how could a cake with this much butter be dry???) my family is a pie family but they went nuts over this cake. thank you, ina!
I should have read the reviews first.
04/08/2007 at 11:44am
User: Anne from Guilford, CT User Rating:
I wondered why there was so much frosting for a two-layer cake. Right now, the cake is sitting in the fridge to firm up before I transport it to Easter dinner at my daughter's, Food Network should do an errata slip for the cream cheese and I suspect the butter, too. Did anyone else have trouble patting coconut on the sides of the cake? I gave up. Next time, I will keep out a glob or two of frosting with coconut mixed in for the sides. I'm going to try a 3-layer cake next time. Same proportions.
fabulous....even in pink!!!!
04/08/2007 at 11:19am
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I made two of these cakes his week. This cake is moist and rich and perfect for any coconut lover...like myself and my family. I made one for a desert for my family and a few guests I had over for desert and coffee. I also made one for my daughter's school easter parade party...but she demanded it be pink ! ...a few drops of red food color here and there, and pooof ! I had me a pink coconut cake !
it was a hit!!!
04/07/2007 at 11:29pm
User: venetrise from mobile, AL User Rating:
My mom and aunts always talked about this homemade coconut cake they had we they were younger. I made this cake and it was a hit!!!! there weren't any leftovers. I've never had a coconut cake before and i loved it as well. the frosting is amazing!
recipe needs reworking
04/07/2007 at 07:47pm
User: GISELA from keller, TX User Rating:
Let me say first, I taped this show and watched Ina make this cake several times before I made it. I followed her recipe to the tea using the very best ingredients and it came out dense and dry. I brought it to a party without trying it out first, it was a BIG disappointment. It is not a light and moist cake at all, it probably weighed in at 5 lbs. I dont know why it was rated so high? Does everyone have such low expectations???
GOPRESS2
04/07/2007 at 05:12pm
User: HOLLY from LONG BEACH, CA User Rating:
wow great flavor and really moist !!!
Barefoot Contessa Coconut Cake
04/07/2007 at 02:33pm
User: Shirley from Kent, NY User Rating:
This recipe was much easier to prepare than it looked to be--delicious but the calorie count is really high 773-- Beautiful for Easter
very good!
04/05/2007 at 03:58pm
User: julie from wenatchee, WA User Rating:
My husband and mother are coconut cake fans and this is their favorite!
Wonderful cake
04/03/2007 at 04:57pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
Thanks Barefoot Contessa! I made this cake for my in-laws and I looked like a cooking professional. The cake was moist, tasty and fluffy. I would highly reccomend this recipe.
The ultimate coconut cake!
04/02/2007 at 12:08pm
User: Tom from East Jewett, NY User Rating:
For a throw-the-diet out the window experience, nothing will beat this! Dense, moist and completely delicious......
The best ever!
04/01/2007 at 05:00pm
User: julee from rochester hills, MI User Rating:
I made this recipe exactly as written for a friend's birthday. He requested a coconut cake. When he ate it he said "finally someone who knows how to make a REAL coconut cake!" It was fabulous! This recipe is a keeper, very easy to make. Simple baking at its best.
Fantastic Cake
03/30/2007 at 02:41pm
User: Lauren from Amissville, VA User Rating:
Great cake! The almost extract adds just a touch of fantastic amaretto-esque flavor which really compliments the coconut and vanilla flavors of the cake! My only recommendation is to keep an eye on baking times. Mine was done before the recommended baking time in the recipe.
Sometimes I wonder about reviewers...
03/29/2007 at 05:04pm
User: JANE from Coeur d, ID User Rating:
...that said, this is a totally wonderful cake! It's extremely rare that one of Ina's is not stellar.
Excellent
03/28/2007 at 02:26pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
Served this at a dinner party. Everyone loved it.....said it was delicious, especially the frosting. Made a wonderful presentation.
Very good
03/28/2007 at 02:20pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This is a really good recipe. It is a heavy cake like a pound cake. I stored in the fridge and it keeps getting yummier and yummier! When I make it again I will make a day or two ahead because it is definately better now. It is really pretty I would make for a shower. Also, as other reviews have said--for goodness sakes, cut the frosting recipe in half or else you'll go into a sugar coma. Half the frosting was plenty!
Deliciously Simple & Impressive presentation.
03/27/2007 at 12:55pm
User: Rosalia from Lakewood, CA User Rating:
Straight forward directions and great ingredients will lead you to the delicious destination of this luscious and moist coconut cake. The fragrant hints of almond and vanilla alone are worth the time of making this special treat for friends. This was easy to make and even easier to eat! Go for it!
coconut cake
03/25/2007 at 09:28pm
User: Noella from N. Fort Myers, FL User Rating:
fabulous
excellant
03/25/2007 at 03:47pm
User: arleen from huntington beach, CA User Rating:
Wow! what a great tasting cake. I am not much of a coconut fan however this cake has such a good taste and the coconut is not overwhelming. And easy to make.
This cake is sinful!
03/22/2007 at 07:46pm
User: katy from troy, OH User Rating:
I only use a tsp almond flavoring and made the cake in 3 8" pans and baked 35 minutes at 325. We only like cream cheese frosting on carrot cake so I frosted the cake with a white chocolate butter cream. Topped the cake with coconut and shaved white chocolate. This is the first cake to go at our holiday open house!
tasty and rich
03/22/2007 at 07:08pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This cake is good, but entirely too rich. I have made several coconut cakes that did not require so much fat, and that tasted very good.
Bad cake
03/22/2007 at 01:14pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
This is the second cake of Ina's that I have made. The first was ok, not great, but this one is awful. I was extra-careful to measure everything perfectly. The layers rose far above the sides of the pans and they were too brown by the time the layers were done. The icing has too much butter or not enough powdered sugar but did not want to stick to the cooled cake. I refrigerated the icing and it stuck better afterward. Then, the cake itself was very dry and had very little taste, the icing tasted ok....but the only taste was the cream cheese frosting, not really coconut. Overall, this was a tragedy.
BESTEST COCONUT CAKE EVER MADE
03/21/2007 at 09:37pm
User: Martee-Jo from West River, MD User Rating:
THIS COCONUT CAKE WAS THE RAVE OF MY OFFICE FOR TWO DAYS. IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE WEBSITE. NOW I HAVE AN ORDER FOR ONE OF THE CO-WORKERS BIRTHDAY. REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I DID GET THREE LAYERS OUT OF THE RECIPE, MADE ONE TWO LAYER CAKE FOR WORK AND A ONE LAYER CAKE FOR MY HUBBY AND ME.
Easy, good taste, but very dry
03/20/2007 at 12:34pm
User: tonjha from puyallup, WA User Rating:
This was a very easy recipe, but my family didn't like how dry the cake was. The taste was okay, kinda bland, but the frosting made up for it. I won't be making this again. If you toast the coconut for the frosting it helps.
YUMMMM!!
03/18/2007 at 07:48pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
It is the best coconut cake I will ever make in my life time, and the easiest one to.
Coconut Cake
03/18/2007 at 05:15pm
User: be from lithonia, GA User Rating:
For those not having great results, remember the altitude of the area you live in effects the baking time. Some common sense is used when cooking anything. This is a great cake. Cream Cheese icing recipe is incorrect.
K from Erie,PA
03/16/2007 at 06:38pm
User: K from Fairview, PA User Rating:
This cake is fabulous. It's moist and a perfect balance of sweetness with the frosting. I used vanilla and lemon flavoring for both the cake & frosting, delicious. BEWARE bakers, the baking time is about 35 minutes and the recipe for the frsting should read - 1 (8oz.)pkg cream cheese, NOT 1 lb.
WOW
03/15/2007 at 08:11pm
User: KATIE from Gales Ferry, CT User Rating:
This cake is absolutely amazing! The cake is dense and sweet and the frosting is incredible! If you love coconut you have to try this cake!!
Outrageous
03/10/2007 at 08:21pm
User: J from Reisterstown, MD User Rating:
This cake was delicious. I used fresh coconut, not sweetened, which we love. The frosting was delicious, but I'll try it with just one block of cream cheese next time. A new favorite!!Thanks Ina.
Milk vs.Buttermilk
03/07/2007 at 10:49am
User: Laura from Marmora, NJ User Rating:
I have made Ina's coconut cupcakes numerous times, and love them. I'm wondering about the differences in recipes. I use the cupcake recipe that was published in one of my magazines a couple years ago. I know Ina said she tweaked the recipe for the cake, but why switch plain milk for the buttermilk? The web recipe also uses twice as much butter as the magazine recipe-is there a need?
heaven
03/05/2007 at 06:30pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
the cake was moist and heavenly tasteing. Makes a great presentation.
Coconut Cake
03/04/2007 at 12:23pm
User: Ruthie from Aldie, VA User Rating:
Usually, I love all of Ina's recipes. I made her coconut cupcakes and they were amazing; however, the cake fell short. The almond extract over-powered the taste of coconut. If I'm going to the trouble to make a coconute cake I want to tase coconut and not almonds.
YUMMMMM!!!
03/04/2007 at 10:57am
User: CARA from Fairburn, GA User Rating:
I DON'T LIKE COCONUT, HOWEVER THIS CAKE IS REALLY GOOD. I HAVE JUST FINISHED MAKING IT FOR MY MOTHER'S 50TH BIRTHDAY. I HAD TO TRIM THE TOPS SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TASTING IT, AND I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS REALLY MOIST AND DIDN'T SPILL OVER LIKE ANOTHER REVIEW SAID. IT DID MAKE ALOT OF FROSTING HOWEVER I USED EVERY BIT OF IT AND I TOASTED TO COCONUT BEFORE PUTTING IT ON THE CAKE. I WILL BE MAKING THIS ONE AGAIN FOR MY MOM. THANK YOU INA I HAVEN'T FOUND A RECIPE OF YOURS THAT I HAVEN'T LIKED YET!!!
Coconut cake
03/03/2007 at 12:42pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
i love coconut cake and this is an oppurturnity to say this on here.Coconut Cake is mouth watering,is a southern dessert an d it is delious!
Great Cake
03/01/2007 at 03:58am
User: Hannah from Seattle, WA User Rating:
I found this cake to be extremely moist, flavorful and delicious. The cakes were done only after 35 mins in my oven, so I would recommend checking on them after 30 mins. After reading some reviews I used Emeril's recipe for cream cheese frosting and it was delicious. However, I saw this episode of Barefoot on TV today, and I believe this posted recipe is incorrect. Ina only used 1 package of cream cheese for her frosting.
best *&^$# cake ever
02/28/2007 at 06:31pm
User: pat from cincinnati, OH User Rating:
I loved it! I have made from scratch cakes before and not a huge fan, except for this one. It was wonderful and the icing perfect.
Amazing
02/28/2007 at 03:53pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I want to be a pastry chef and this cake...well took the cake, it was amazing sweet, but not too sweet and rich. A new favorite for sure
Crowd Pleaser
02/28/2007 at 02:48pm
User: Pat from Waukesha, WI User Rating:
I made this cake to take to dinner at a friend's house. While everyone raved over it, I personally thought it was a little on the dry side. I think next time, and there will be a next time I might decrease the baking time a little. The frosting was awesome. I have made quite a few of Ina's desserts and have never been disappointed. The woman sure can bake!
disapointment
02/26/2007 at 03:48pm
User: Jennifer from Milton, PA User Rating:
This cake was so much work! I followed the recipe to the letter and even though I am positive I used 9" pans it cooked over making a huge mess in my oven. The cake was soooo flakey that it was really hard to turn out, stack and icin. After all the work was said and done I felt the cake itself just didn't have that much flavor but the icing was delicious.
Disappointing
02/22/2007 at 07:42pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I usually love Ina's recipes however, this cake was disappointing. Very bland and I also had to tweak the frosting.
mixed results
02/19/2007 at 10:53pm
User: Nancy from Brandon, FL User Rating:
This recipe said to bake the cake for 45-55 minutes. At the 45 minute mark the cake was over-cooked and scorched. The frosting was not as thick as I thought it should be, so I kept adding more conf. sugar until it was the consistancy I wanted. Then I added a touch more vanilla and almond extract. The end product was a cake that IS rather bland like the another reviewer said. I expected it to be rich with all that butter. It has a dense texture and is not fluffy. The frosting turned out great with my tweaking. It would be good on carrot cake or red velvet cake but without the almond extract. The next time I want coconut cake I'll use a boxed white cake mix. This was too much work for a disappointing result.
wrong amount
02/19/2007 at 05:31pm
User: JESSIKA from miami, FL User Rating:
I saw the show today and she only used one stick of butter and 1 bar of cream cheese {1/2 pound} so, maybe something is wrong.
Incorrect amount of powdered sugar
02/19/2007 at 04:24pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I love coconut cake. This cake is very good. HOWEVER, I believe the cream cheese frosting recipe given is incorrect. With the amount of butter and cream cheese, ONE POUND OF POWDERED SUGAR is only half the amount needed. Using one pound, the frosting is entirely too runny and runs off the cake.
WASTED INGREDIENTS
02/19/2007 at 06:31am
User: JACQUELINE from Buffalo, NY User Rating:
THE BATTER WAS DELICIOUS, SO I FIGURED THE THE CAKE WOULD BE GREAT.....NO SUCH LUCK. THIS MADE A DRY AS WELL AS BLAND CAKE.........AND WITH ALL THAT BUTTER & EXTRACT IN IT TOO! THREE CUPS OF FLOUR SEEMED LIKE A LOT & MAYBE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I'LL STICK WITH INA'S LEMON CAKE INSTEAD. THIS WAS SUCH A WASTE. MAYBE HER CUSTOMERS LOVED THE CUPCAKES BUT IT SURE DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO THE CAKE.
Quite a treat
02/18/2007 at 03:44pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
not to difficult and tastes quite special
EASY!
02/18/2007 at 03:36pm
User: HEATHER from san diego, CA User Rating:
Thanks=) this cake is awesome!
absolutely delicious
02/17/2007 at 04:42pm
User: Debbie from Whittier, CA User Rating:
this cake is light and heavenly and absolutely delicious!!!