Coconut Lemon Raspberry Cake – creamy coconut cake layers with lemon curd, raspberry cream filling and coconut buttercream.
Coconut Lemon Raspberry Cake
Are you officially ready for summer? With school out in just a couple weeks, summer is the only thing on our mind over here! I love the pool days, the BBQs and all the summer-inspired cake flavors. Another one to add to your summer must-make list: my new Coconut Lemon Raspberry Cake. This one is made up of tender and fluffy coconut cake layers, a tart lemon curd, a sweet raspberry filling and a silky, smooth coconut buttercream. These flavors together are truly magical!
Coconut Cake
The coconut cake layers aren’t new to the blog but are definitely worth keeping in your cake arsenal. They are so tender and moist and pair so well with so many different flavors.
More Coconut Cakes
It’s important to note that these cake layers only rise to about one to one and a quarter inches tall. If you want really thick cake layers, you have a few options:
- 1.5x the cake batter
- Use two 8-inch cake pans, instead of three
- Use three 6-inch cake pans
Lemon Curd
I love making homemade lemon curd! The flavor is 100x better than store bought and the homemade version is so simple. Plan on making the curd a day or two before you assemble your cake so it has time to set in the refrigerator.
Raspberry Filling
This whipped raspberry filling only has three ingredients and is super easy to make. It’s best done in the food processor, but can also be made in a blender. You want the high-speed to help whip the cream.
Coconut Buttercream
I love this coconut buttercream so much! It’s incredibly creamy and smooth, and the flavor is just out of this world. Make sure to refer to the ingredient list below to get the link for the specific cream of coconut to use in the buttercream.
Ingredients You Need for This Cake
- Canned coconut milk – I like Thai Kitchen brand – just be sure to mix the cream and liquid first, then measure
- Cream of coconut – this is different from the canned coconut we use in the cake. Look for the Coco Real brand.
- Cake flour
- Eggs
- Butter
- Coconut emulsion or extract
- Lemons
- Granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Freeze-dried raspberries – I usually find these at Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s or Amazon
- Heavy whipping cream (fat % above 35) – my favorite brand is Darigold 40% from Costco
- Baking powder
- Salt
How to Pipe Buttercream
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUTTERCREAM
To get a light and fluffy, silky smooth buttercream, make sure you follow my tips: HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUTTERCREAM
- Sift your powdered sugar
- Use slightly cold butter
- Use heavy whipping cream
- Beat for 5 minutes
- Stir by hand
You’ll want to check out the post linked above for more details on each step.
CAKE MAKING TIPS
Don’t forget to follow my go-to tips for getting your cakes to rise and bake well:
- Preheat your oven for 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Use good quality pans like Fat Daddio.
- Spray your pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
- Don’t overmix your cake batter once you add the dry ingredients.
- Use room temperature wet ingredients.
- Use fresh baking powder.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs on it
How to Assemble a Cake
I’ve included assembly instructions for how to assemble this cake below, but be sure to watch this quick video for extra help.
Enjoy!
P.S. If you’re looking for some baking equipment to make your life easier, here are some of my favorites!
Coconut Lemon Raspberry Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE COCONUT CAKE
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 6 egg whites at room temperature
- 2 whole eggs at room temperature
- 1 tbsp (16 g) coconut emulsion
- 1 tsp (4.2 g) vanilla extract
- 3 cups (345 g) cake flour
- 1 tbsp (10 g) baking powder
- 1 tsp (6 g) salt
- 1 cup (231 g) canned coconut milk the canned coconut milk usually separates, so be sure to mix the cream and the liquid really well before measuring.
FOR THE LEMON CURD
- 1 cup (230 g) lemon juice I used fresh
- zest of one lemon
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 4 tbsp (56.5 g) unsalted butter
FOR THE COCONUT BUTTERCREAM
- 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter slightly cold
- 1/4 cup (57.7 g) cream of coconut this is from the bottle, not the can
- 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
- 1 tbsp (16 g) coconut emulsion
- pinch of salt
- *This buttercream recipe will make enough to fill and cover your cake. If you want to add additional piping, you'll want to make an extra ¼ to ½ batch
FOR THE WHIPPED RASPERRY FILLING
- 1/2 cup (15 g) freeze dried raspberries
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (455 g) heavy whipping cream
Instructions
FOR THE COCONUT CAKE
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Spray three 8-inch with nonstick spray, line the bottom with parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and the sugar together on medium-high speed for three minutes. The mixture should be light in color and fluffy in texture.
- Gradually add the egg whites and whole eggs, making sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl between additions. Mix on medium-high for another 2 to 3 minutes after all the eggs are added and the mixture is light and fluffy. You'll notice the volume increase too!
- Add the coconut emulsion and vanilla extract.
- Turn the mixer on low speed and alternately add the flour mixture and the coconut milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until combined.
- Evenly distribute the batter in your pans.
- Bake for about 23-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs on it. Remember, the cake continues to bake in the pan for about 5 minutes while it's cooling.
- Let cool in pans for 15 minutes and then invert onto cooling racks to cool completely.NOTE: these cake layers rise to 1 – 1.25-inches tall. If you want thicker layers, you can do 1.5x the recipe.
FOR THE LEMON CURD
- The curd is best made a day ahead of time.
- Whisk the sugar, the lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk in the whole eggs and yolks in a small bowl and then whisk them into the lemon mixture.
- Cook the mixture over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until it's thick like pudding, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter a few pieces at a time until incorporated.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pushing it through with a rubber spatula. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until completely set, at least 4 hours and up to 5 days.
FOR THE COCONUT BUTTERCREAM
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter and cream of coconut. Beat on medium-high speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, followed by the coconut emulsion and pinch of salt.
- Turn the mixer to medium-high speed and beat the frosting until it is light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir out air bubbles.
FOR THE WHIPPED RASPBERRY FILLING
- In a food processor, pulse the freeze dried raspberries until they resemble powder.
- Add the sugar and the cream and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to incorporate the freeze dried fruit.
- Pulse the food processor for 1 to 2 minutes. The texture should thicken like Greek yogurt. Keep chilled until ready to use.
ASSEMBLY
- Place your first cake layer, top-side up, on a cake plate or cake board. Cover the cake layer with about ½ cup coconut buttercream and then pipe a rim around the edge of the cake with more coconut buttercream.
- Spread about ½ cup of the raspberry cream filling over the cake layer, followed by about a ¼ cup lemon curd.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the second layer, and then place the final cake layer on top, bottom-side up.
- Lightly coat the cake with a thin layer of frosting to lock in the crumbs. Freeze the cake for about 10 to 15 minutes to set the buttercream.
- Finish frosting and decorating the cake with the remaining frosting.
This cake has all of my favorite flavors but I have to eat gluten free. Will it work to substitute an equal amount by weight of the Cup4Cup GF flour you recommend for the cake flour in the recipe?
Yes!
First cake I have made from your repertoire and I definitely didn’t disappoint! My 8 year old requested it for her baptism/birthday cake and not only was it delicious but absolutely beautiful! I topped it with a little more lemon curd (because it was amazing) and raspberries. The coconut cake was perfectly flavored and moist and the raspberry cream is absolutely to die for! Can’t wait to try the next flavor. Do you have a FAVORITE of any of your creations?
So happy you loved it! I also love my Biscoff Cake, my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake and my Olive Oil Ricotta Cake with strawberry basil filling.
Hi Courtney,
I love your recipes! I was wondering if I could make this cake ahead of time? Would the cake layers be okay in the fridge/freezer 3 days before I need to assemble the cake? Can I also make the lemon curd and the raspberry filling a few days ahead?
Hi Laura! Yes you can make the layers ahead of time, let them cool completely, wrap with plastic wrap and then freeze the layers. Remove them from the freezer about 30 to 60 minutes before you want to assemble. The curd and filling can also be made ahead of time and stored in airtight containers in the fridge.
I’m in Australia and unable to get the Cream of Coconut for the frosting. Should I use a small amount of tinned coconut cream, or stick to the coconut emulsion only? Thanks!
Just Do the emulsion!
Would absolutely love to make this for my fiancé’s birthday!! Do you think it could be made into cupcakes instead? That way it’s easy distribution for friends! I’m thinking a filling with the lemon curd and raspberry filling, topped with the coconut buttercream! But how long to bake for… hmmmm
Bake about 18-20 minutes. Keep your eye on them!