This Easy Easter Coconut Cake has been in my family since before I was born. It uses a boxed cake mix and Snow Peak Frosting with lots of sweetened coconut flakes.
When you're already preparing so many things for a major holiday like Easter, it's nice to have a dessert that doesn't take hours and hours to make.
As much as I like a homemade cake, some boxed cake mixes are very good and can save time when you have so many other things to do.
This is a cake my grandma used to make every Easter, and then my aunt took over making it. While I associate it with spring, it is good any time of year.
This cake is frosted with Snow Peak Frosting, which is a fluffy, marshmallow-like frosting. It is similar to 7 Minute Frosting but is easier to make because you don't have to worry about the sugar crystallizing or becoming grainy.
The entire cake is covered in sweetened coconut flakes. We do not toast the coconut; it's just straight out of the bag. I have seen lamb and bunny cakes made like this as well.
If you like toasted coconut, consider this Toasted Coconut Layer Cake, Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes, Samoa Cupcakes, or Samoa Bundt Cake.
I also love these Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Toasted Coconut, Spring Chick Cupcakes, Baby Bluebird Cupcakes, and Bird's Nest Cupcakes.
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Bake the Cake
To prepare the cake, use a white boxed cake mix (I like Duncan Hines brand) and make it according the package directions, except use whole eggs instead of just egg whites.
For example, if your mix calls for 3 large egg whites, use 2 large eggs including the yolks. This will give the cake a slightly yellow color but not as much as yellow cake.
You can bake the cake in a 9x13-inch cake pan, but I prefer to do a two-layer round cake with either 8-inch or 9-inch round pans.
Remove the cakes from the oven, cool for 10 minutes, then unmold the cakes from the pans and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
Make the Snow Peak Frosting
To make the frosting, beat the egg whites on high speed with the wire whisk attachment of a stand mixer. Once the eggs get to soft peaks, add the salt and mix for a few more seconds to incorporate.
While the eggs are beating, heat the corn syrup in a small saucepan on the stove until boiling.
With the mixer still running on high, slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the stiffened egg whites and beat until fluffy, marshmallow-like peaks form. Mix in the vanilla.
Frost the Cake and Add Coconut
Frost the cake as you would any cake. I like to use a large offset spatula to smooth the frosting as much as possible.
Because this is a very sticky, marshmallow frosting, it won't be as smooth as a buttercream.
Once the cake is completely covered in the frosting, take small handfuls of sweetened coconut and press into the frosting all over the cake. Repeat until the entire cake is covered in sweetened coconut.
We do not put coconut in between the cake layers, but you certainly could if you really love coconut. We have a few coconut haters in the family, so it's easier for them to avoid the coconut if it's only on the outside.
Decoration
We typically leave this cake plain, but I have also made a little toasted coconut nest on top and placed candy coated chocolate eggs in the nest.
Variation
This cake is great made with a chocolate boxed cake mix.
Gluten Free Option
Use a gluten free cake mix for an entirely gluten free recipe.
📖 Recipe
Easy Easter Coconut Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (prepared according to package directions but with whole eggs, see note)
Snow Peak Frosting
- 2 egg whites
- 1 pinch salt
- 1¼ cups light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- shredded sweetened coconut (Baker's Angel Flake recommended)
Instructions
Bake the Cakes:
- Preheat the oven.
- Prepare two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans or a 9x13-inch cake pan by spraying with non stick baking spray. Add cake strips to the outside of the pan to avoid doming.
- To prepare the cake, use a white boxed cake mix and make it according the package directions except use whole eggs instead of just egg whites (see note).
- Bake the cakes according to package directions for your pan shape, size, and material.
- Remove the cakes from the oven, cool for 10 minutes, then unmold the cakes from the pans and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
Make the Snow Peak Frosting:
- Beat the egg whites on high speed with the wire whisk attachment of a stand mixer. Once the eggs get to soft peaks, add the salt and mix for a few more seconds to incorporate.2 egg whites, 1 pinch salt
- While the eggs are beating, heat the corn syrup in a small saucepan on the stove until boiling.1¼ cups light corn syrup
- With the mixer still running on high, slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the stiffened egg whites and beat until fluffy, marshmallow-like peaks form. Mix in the vanilla.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frost the Cake and Add Coconut:
- Frost the cake using a large offset spatula.
- Once the cake is completely covered in the frosting, take small handfuls of sweetened coconut and press into the frosting all over the cake. Repeat until the entire cake is covered in sweetened coconut.
Maddy says
I made this recipe for Easter this year and it went over very well! With how many desserts I was making, it was nice to have a "shortcut" recipe like this with the boxed cake mix. It saved me time and no one noticed it wasn't 100% homemade. I also really liked the frosting. I've never made anything like it and I'm so happy I learned it. I can see myself using this marshmallow-y frosting on a lot of other things.
I opted for making the cute nest on top. Unfortunately my grocery store was sold out of any adequate egg-shaped candy for inside the nest, so I had to get a little creative. I put 3 Peeps in the middle, and then I made a border around the bottom edge of the cake out of Easter (pastel-colored) peanut M&Ms. It looked cute! I don't see an option to add a photo on here unfortunately, so you'll just have to believe me that it was cute. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe!
Meghan says
Your cake sounds adorable!! Thank you so much for sharing your results with me! Unfortunately I don't think there's an add photo feature for the comment section of my website, but I think you can add a photo to the pin on Pinterest. Hope you had a wonderful Easter!