Coconut Sheet Cake

This cake seems to be one of my mom's favorites. In the few times I've visited home over the past two years, this cake has made an appearance twice, this past weekend being the second, and I was the one to make it. The cake is ultra moist, and topped with a thick slab of coconut-cream cheese frosting. Be warned, there is a lot of frosting. Some people are frosting people, but I am not one of them. Though this frosting is exquisite, I will probably half the amount next time. My mom also adds a little coconut extract to the cake batter for extra coconut goodness. I'll have to add some next time as well! Mom knows best.

From start to finish, this cake comes together in no time, so there's no excuse for not making it immediately. Enjoy this southern classic!

 

Coconut Sheet Cake

Ingredients

3 large eggs

1 (8-ounce) container sour cream

1/3 cup water

1 (8.5 ounce) can cream of coconut

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (18.5-ounce) package white cake mix

Coconut-cream cheese frosting (recipe below)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325F. Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.

Beat eggs on high speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Add sour cream, water, and next two ingredients, beating well after each addition. Add cake mix, beating at low speed just until blended. Beat at high speed for two minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool cake in a pan on a wire rack. Cover pan with plastic wrap, and freeze 30 minutes. Remove cake from freezer.

Spread coconut-cream cheese frosting on top of chilled cake. Cover and store in the refrigerator.

Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting   

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted

1 (7-ounce) package sweetened flaked coconut

Directions

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixture until creamy. Add milk and vanilla, beating well. Gradually add sugar, beating until smooth. Stir in coconut. 

This frosting is very thick and rich.

Recipe Source: adapted from Southern Living: Our Readers Top-Rated Recipes