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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published by Melissa on January 25, 2020 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 57 Comments

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    This Layered Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting is the best carrot cake I've ever tasted.  It's sweet but not too sweet; moist but not too dense or heavy. via @barbarabakesThis Layered Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting is the best carrot cake I've ever tasted.  It's sweet but not too sweet; moist but not too dense or heavy. via @barbarabakes

    If you’re looking for a fabulous carrot cake recipe, look no more. This Layered Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting is the best carrot cake I’ve ever tasted.  It’s sweet but not too sweet; moist but not too dense or heavy. The frosting was a perfect match for the cake – light and creamy.

    Two layer Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese frosting on a cake stand

    This cake has become one of my daughter’s favorite cakes. She’s not a cooked carrot lover, but the carrots in this cake just add sweetness and moisture.

    Tropical Carrot Cake Details

    1. Two layers of moist, flavorful carrot cake loaded with pineapple, macadamia nuts,  and coconut. Spiced just right with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.
    2. Two layers of rich and delicious coconut cream cheese frosting. The cream cheese does a wonderful job of balancing all the sweet.
    3. When the above are eaten together they melt in your mouth.

    It’s a tropical version of Cook’s Illustrated’s Simple Carrot cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. I added shredded coconut, crushed pineapple and macadamia nuts, topped with a Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting. I also reduced the spices so the tropical flavors would shine through.

    Collage of ingredients and mixing a tropical carrot cake

    The method for mixing the cake is a little unusual. You use the food processor to emulsify the oil with the sugar and the eggs before incorporating the rest of the ingredients. You could use an immersion blender, a mixer, or even a wire whisk.

    Tips For A Great Tropical Carrot Cake

    1. All ingredients should be at room temperature, this will ensure even baking temperature so your edges are not over baked while your center is under baked.
    2. Clean your carrots well prior to shredding, remove the ends and any little wispy roots that are still hanging on. Using a food processor to shred your carrots will save you a lot of time and energy.
    3. When mixing the sugars, eggs, oil in the food processor this is emulsifying (combining) these ingredients into one. Be certain to process them well according to the recipe so they become completely emulsified together.
    4. When mixing in your additions (carrots, pineapple, nuts, etc) make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter so each bite gets all that flavor.
    5. When adding in your flour mixture make sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of your bowl so everything gets mixed in completely.
    6. The frosting is a wonderfully rich and creamy and melts into each bite of cake. Due to its decadent nature and the cream cheese, it has a softer consistency.
    7. When toasting your coconut for garnish, do so on a parchment/Silpat lined baking sheet in a thin layer at 350 degrees F. Do not walk away to work on something else, the coconut can burn quickly. I suggest setting a timer for 2 minutes at time and keep an eye on it. Ideally, it will toast within 5 minutes. Let cool before adding to your cake.
    8. This cake is best served at room temperature.
    collage of before and after baking carrot cake layers

    Here’s a before and after baking picture of the carrot cake layers. I love that they bake up so nice and level and the color of the baked cakes is beautiful and there’s no need to ice the sides of the cake.

    Can I bake this Tropical Carrot Cake in a 13 x 9-inch pan?

    Yes, you can bake this cake in a 13 x 9-inch pan. Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes. I think it would make a great bundt cake too. Just make the frosting a little thinner so you can drizzle it over the bundt and then sprinkle with toasted coconut. Sally, Sally’s Baking Addiction, has a Cheesecake Swirl Carrot Bundt Cake and she cooks it for 55-75 minutes, or when the Internal Temperature Reads 210°F.

    Two layer Tropical Carrot Cake with Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese frosting on a cake stand

    This Layered Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting is easy to make and everyone who’s tried it loves it. I’m sure your family will love it too.

    Two layer Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese frosting on a cake stand
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    Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time55 mins
    Course: Cakes
    Servings: 12 -16 servings
    Calories: 417kcal
    Author: Barbara Schieving
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    Equipment

    • KitchenAid KFP1133WH 11-Cup Food Processor with Exact Slice System - White
    • USA Pan Bakeware Round Cake Pan, 9 inch

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour**
    • 1 teaspoons baking powder *
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups peeled shredded carrots, (6 to 7 medium)
    • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar*
    • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 cup melted [Earth Balance Coconut Spread] or vegetable oil
    • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
    • 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
    • 1 can 8 oz. crushed pineapple, undrained

    Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • ¼ cup [Earth Balance Coconut Spread] room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon sour cream
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ¼ cups confectioners' sugar
    • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut toasted

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350º. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan or 2 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in medium bowl; set aside.
    • Shred carrots in food processor fitted with large shredding disk; transfer carrots to bowl and set aside.
    • Wipe out food processor bowl and fit with metal blade. Process granulated and brown sugars and eggs until frothy and thoroughly combined, about 20 seconds. With machine running, add oil through feed tube in steady stream. Process until mixture is light in color and well emulsified, about 20 seconds longer.
    • Pour mixture into large bowl. Stir in carrots, coconut, nuts, and pineapple. Mix in dry ingredients until incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.
    • Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time.
    • Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours. For 9-inch rounds Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. *I reduced the amount of baking powder and sugar for high altitude baking. Original recipe calls for 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder and 1 ½ cups sugar. **How to Measure Flour Note: Substitute ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon plus ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves for 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.

    Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • When cake is cool, beat together cream cheese, coconut spread, sour cream, and vanilla until combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.
    • Frost cake and sprinkle toasted coconut on top. Store in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 39g
    More Cakes You Might Like:

    The Best Ever Coconut Bundt Cake, Barbara Bakes
    Carrot Raisin Coffee Cake, Barbara Bakes
    Triple Layer Chocolate Cake with a Coconut Cream Cheese Filling, Barbara Bakes
    Carrot Cake Cheesecake, Easy Dessert Recipes

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    Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting on a marble cake stand
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    about us

    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. chris

      September 11, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      Hello,

      I just wanted to let you know that I made the cake for the annual tennis tournament (two 9 by 13 layers stacked). It was an enormous hit. I used fresh pineapple puree (6 ounce strained plus 1/4 cup juice) per cake and ground toasted pecans in lieu of macadamia nuts (since the bulk raw macadamia nuts are not big sellers and tend to be stale ). I also used a blender to create the emulsion (I do not have a big food processor). I have a pic to send you, but I can’t seem to figure out how to post it here in the comments. Oh, well, it was lovely with a tennis net, cake topper tennis players (Big Bird versus Kool Aid Man), and nuts all around the sides.
      Thanks again. Your blog is wonderful. Your responses to my questions were helpful. Still loving the USA Pan.
      Chris

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        September 11, 2014 at 9:00 pm

        Thanks for the update! The cake sounds spectacular. You can’t share photos in the comments sections, but you can share it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBakes. I’d love to see it.

        Reply
    2. Chris

      August 28, 2014 at 8:21 am

      Hi Barbara,

      I plan to make this cake for a large gathering. My plan is to make two 13 by 9 inch cakes and stack them. Do you foresee any problems with cracking as I transfer one cake on top of the other? Some cakes are very fragile and do not tolerate transfer very well. One other question I have is whether you used salted and roasted macadamia nuts or raw nuts. And still one more question is whether the coconut is a pronounced texture in the cake. My husband does not care for the texture of coconut, for example, in a Mounds Bar. My prediction is that the coconut will be no more of a texture element than the carrots, but I’d love to hear your views. Thanks for your blog. It’s wonderful.

      PS: I did buy the USA sheet pan that you recommended in the comments section of a different post. Thanks for that recommendation. Wonderful pan with straight sides.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        August 28, 2014 at 8:44 am

        Hi Chris – so glad you’re enjoying the pan and my blog! Yes, I think this cake is sturdy enough to stack two 13 x 9 inch cakes. Yes, the macadamia nuts are raw nuts. No the coconut in the cake is not pronounced. You could even roughly chop your coconut so it hides in the cake even more. I hope your crowd enjoys the cake as much as we did.

        Reply
    3. Janie Avila

      March 04, 2012 at 7:59 am

      You have won me over to try that Earth Balance spread – I’m adding it to my grocery list today and just praying I can find it here in central Oklahoma. I love the twists on this carrot cake. You know how to pick ‘em Barbara!

      Reply
    4. Sheri Chen

      December 06, 2011 at 12:38 am

      Can i subsitute the same amount of butter for the Earth Balance? looks yummy and something different. I love all these cake recipes you’re posting!

      Reply
      • Barbara

        December 06, 2011 at 6:08 am

        Hi Sheri – I would recommend substituting canola or vegetable oil in the cake and butter in the frosting. You could try melted butter in the cake, but since butter has less fat and I haven’t tried it with butter, I can’t recommend it. Let me know if you try it. Thanks!

        Reply
    5. Mary Jones

      October 14, 2011 at 3:48 am

      wow if it tastes as good as it looks then its going to be fantastic.
      I have friends coming over this weekend so i’m gonna make it for them.

      i’ll let you know how they like this carrot cake recipe compared to theirs.

      Reply
      • Barbara

        October 15, 2011 at 7:37 am

        Thanks Mary Jane! Hope you like it as much as we did.

        Reply
    6. Yuri

      September 13, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Carrot cake is one of my favorites, this one looks delicious and so pretty! I need to try this recipe 🙂

      Reply
    7. Joy

      August 30, 2011 at 3:03 pm

      That looks so good. OMG i am loving this.

      Reply
    8. Lisa

      August 29, 2011 at 11:19 am

      The funeral potatoes look awesome, but I have a sweet tooth today. I use Earth Balance on a daily basis, toast, and anything ‘I eat’ that calls for butter. Of course, I use real butter in all my baking and cooking for the blog and others, so I love that you used EB in this cake. If I had in mine, maybe I would have had more than one piece. It looks gorgeous, Barb – love how you stacked and topped it.

      Reply
    9. Sue

      August 28, 2011 at 11:34 pm

      I’m always game to try a new carrot cake recipe. The coconut added is a good call. You know how to pick ’em Barbara!

      Reply
    10. Frances

      August 28, 2011 at 8:06 pm

      I want to make this for my son’s birthday. Can i subsitute the same amount of butter for the Earth Balance?

      Reply
      • Barbara

        August 28, 2011 at 8:22 pm

        Hi Frances – I would recommend substituting canola or vegetable oil in the cake and butter in the frosting. Hope he enjoys it!

        Reply
    11. pavithra

      August 27, 2011 at 6:23 am

      utterly delicious.. i am fan of carrot cake and this is heavenly

      Reply
    12. Megan

      August 26, 2011 at 7:48 am

      And I’ve had carrot cake on my mind lately! I’d take a slice of both too, I wouldn’t want to miss out.

      Reply
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