This Easy Coconut Sheet Cake with a coconut cream cheese frosting is nothing short of decadent. It starts with a boxed mix and ends with a moist, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth coconut cake!
If you’ve ever wanted homemade coconut cake but with less hassle – THIS IS IT. By doctoring up a boxed mix with sour cream, pudding mix and coconut extract, you’ll have a moist and spongy coconut cake. Slather it with my easy cream cheese frosting for the ultimate dessert for coconut lovers!
Every week for a month or so now, I’ve been getting a slice of coconut sheet cake from my local grocery store’s bakery while grocery shopping. The other day they were sold out, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I went to my Cranberry Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe for inspiration because it also uses a boxed mix (and is incredibly delicious!). I changed a few things up and was extremely happy with the outcome.
Your Simple Ingredients
As you can see, there’s nothing fancy here… most of the ingredients are basic that you probably already have on-hand!
Using Egg Whites vs. Whole Eggs
White cake mixes call for egg whites because using the yolks gives the cake a yellow color. Since this recipe uses coconut cream pudding, the cake will still have a slight yellow color despite using egg whites.
I tested this recipe using three whole eggs in one cake and four egg whites in another. The result was that the cake with whole eggs tasted the same but had a slightly darker yellow color.
I used egg whites on the cake in the photos shown in this post. Basically, it really doesn’t matter if you decide to use whole eggs or egg whites – it’s delicious either way!
This bakes up beautifully in about 35 minutes in a 9×13 glass baking dish. If you use a 9×13 metal pan, check it sooner because typically metal pans bake quicker (I haven’t tested this cake in a metal pan so I can’t say with 100% certainty).
Enjoy!
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Easy Coconut Sheet Cake
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices
Description
This easy dessert starts with a boxed mix and ends with a moist, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth coconut cake!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box white cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
- 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant coconut cream pudding mix
- 4 large egg whites *
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoons coconut extract
For the frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or liberally spray a 13×9 pan with cooking spray.
- Beat together cake mix, pudding mix, egg whites, sour cream, vegetable oil, water and 2 teaspoons coconut extract with a hand mixer on medium speed (or with a stand mixer using the paddle attachment). Beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).
- Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (my cake was ready in 35 minutes using a glass pan), or until a toothpick inserted in the center is removed clean.
- Allow cake to cool. While cake is cooling, prepare the frosting by beating cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer (or a stand mixer) until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar, while continuing to beat until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon coconut extract and mix until combined.
- Spread frosting over cooled cake and sprinkle evenly with coconut flakes.
Notes
- *3 large eggs can be used in place of the 4 egg whites
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: coconut sheet cake with cake mix
Trying for the first time looks delish
Thank you Tina, I hope you enjoy it!
I couldn’t find any coconut cream pudding so I substituted chocolate pudding instead. Tastes like a Mounds bar. This is my 2nd Easter making this cake. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe.
★★★★★
Wow that sounds amazing, Susan! Thank you for sharing… I hope you had a wonderful Easter! 🙂
Does the two teaspoons of coconut extract go in the cake batter as well? I’ve read the directions a couple of times and didn’t see it in that step. Thank you
Hi Sharon, thank you for catching that! Yes, the 2 teaspoons of extract do go into the cake batter and 1 teaspoon in the frosting. I have updated the instructions. I hope you enjoy the cake!
This cake was wonderful! And so easy to make. I followed the recipe as is, and everyone loved it! This will be my go to coconut cake!
★★★★★
Thank you, Abigail – so glad to hear you enjoyed the cake!
Are the egg whites beaten before mixing with other ingredients?
Hi Mary, no – the egg whites will get beaten in with the batter using your hand mixer. I hope you enjoy the cake!
I can’t find pudding mix. Suggestion for substitution – coconut milk and vanilla pudding?
Hi Peggy, I’d try vanilla pudding mix and extra coconut extract for more coconut flavor. I can’t say for certain how it will turn out but I’d definitely be willing to give that a try. Let us know how it turns out for you if you try it, and I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Made this cake yesterday. It was a big hit! So good and love that it’s easy , and fast. Will definitely make it again. Thanks for a terrific recipe!
Thank you – So happy to hear everyone enjoyed it!
Can this be made as a layer cake?
Hi Tammy, I’ve only tested this recipe as a sheet cake, so I can’t give detailed directions (bake time, size of pans) on making this as a layered cake. I wouldn’t hesitate to try it, though! I’m sure 2 round cake pans would take less time to bake. Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
I love cocnut, but is it overpowering in the cake?
Hi Michael, I didn’t think so at all! You can always omit or reduce the amount of coconut extract if you’re concerned about it. Hope you enjoy it if you make it! 🙂
I love how this is so easy to make and bake by reading this recipe. I love coconuts. And this sounds quick, easy and delicious down right delicious! I am looking forward to making this coconut cake recipe soon. Thank you for this recipe. 🙂
★★★★★
Thanks Alfred, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂