Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake

12 servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake is the perfect summer dessert! Rich pound cake full of tropical flavor is dense and flavorful! Try this today!

A buttery, rich Vanilla Pound Cake is a classic Cake Recipe for any occasion, just like the Classic Coconut Cake and Classic Carrot Cake. This tropical twist on traditional dessert is the best new recipe for your next summer cookout or holiday brunch.

This tasty sweet bundt cake has all the flavor of Pineapple Coconut Bread baked into a buttery pound cake. It’s big enough to feed a crowd and fancy enough for special occasions. You can easily have a slice for breakfast with coffee or serve as a decadent dessert, especially with a frosting or glaze.

Sabrina’s Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake Recipe

My Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake is a rich cake full of all your favorite tropical flavors. The crushed pineapple and sweetened shredded coconut make the cake so incredibly moist it practically melts in your mouth. It’s topped with even more sweetened shredded coconut that turns golden brown for a sweet, chewy, crispy coconut topping!

Chef’s Note: Picking the Right Baking Pan

While this cake is called a Bundt cake, I actually baked it in an angel food cake pan instead of a Bundt pan. I wanted to add shredded coconut to the top of the batter for a crunchy, golden coconut topping. If it were baked in a standard bundt pan, you’d end up with that topping on the bottom of the cake, since the cake remains flipped over when you take it out of the pan. Angel food cake pans on the other hand, you invert the cake to remove it from the pan, then flip it back again so the coconut ends up on top.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Flour: All-purpose flour works best for this recipe, but you can use cake flour which will give a lighter texture.
  • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda: This helps the cake rise by reacting with acidic ingredients like pineapple.
  • ½ teaspoon Baking Powder: This acts as a leavening agent to further assist in rising and lightening the cake.
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt: Salt is needed to help enhance the flavors.
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter: This adds richness and moistness to the cake. Softened the butter to room temperature and use unsalted butter since you are adding salt.
  • 2 cups Sugar: Sugar sweetens the cake and helps with browning and structure.
  • 4 large Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together. Bring the eggs to room temperature.
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is needed to bring it all together. Use real vanilla extract for better flavor.
  • 1 cup Sour Cream: This is the secret ingredient that brings moisture and helps make this cake amazing! Be sure to not skip out on this one!
  • 20-ounces Crushed Pineapple: The tropical flavor of pineapple goes really well with the coconut. Make sure to drain out excess liquid to prevent the cake batter from becoming too liquidy.
  • 2 cups Sweetened Shredded Coconut: Coconut pairs well with the pineapple for an amazing flavor. You can use equal parts unsweetened shredded coconut if you prefer a less sweet cake.

How to Make

Time needed: 1 hour and 35 minutes.

  1. Preparation

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and generously coat an angel food cake pan with baking spray or (butter and flour) to prevent sticking.

  2. Mix Dry Ingredients

    In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt.

  3. Cream Butter and Sugar

    Using a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.

  4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients

    Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one. Then, add in the vanilla extract and let it blend.

  5. Alternate Adding

    Alternate flour and sour cream until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.

  6. Fold in Pineapple and Coconut

    Gently fold in the drained crushed pineapple and 1 ½ cups of shredded coconut into the batter.

  7. Prepare Pan and Bake

    Pour the batter into the prepared angel food cake pan. Make sure it’s spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded coconut over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  8. Cool and Serve

    Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before carefully removing it from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice and serve your Pineapple Coconut Cake. Enjoy!

Recipe Card

Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake

Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake is the perfect summer dessert! Rich pound cake full of tropical flavor is dense and flavorful! Try this today!
Yield 12 servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 20 ounces crushed pineapple , drained well and squeezed dry
  • 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut , divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray an angel food pan with baking spray.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • To your stand mixer add the butter and sugar on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Add in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
  • Alternate flour and sour cream until just combined.
  • Stir in the pineapple and 1 ½ cups of coconut and pour batter into angel food cake pan.
  • Sprinkle remaining coconut shreds on top of the batter and bake 50-55 minutes.
  • Let cake cool 20 minutes before removing from pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 706IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg

Can This Be Made Ahead?

Yes, you can make this Pineapple Coconut Cake ahead of time. It stores well at room temperature for up to two days. Be sure it’s tightly covered in an airtight container. You can store it up to a week in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature before serving for the best taste.

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 545 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 114mg38%
Sodium 233mg10%
Potassium 196mg6%
Carbohydrates 73g24%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 47g52%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 706IU14%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 58mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Baking Tips for Bundt Cakes

If this is your first time cooking a bundt cake, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, you need to grease your angel food cake pan well so it doesn’t stick! Use baking spray or use oil then lightly dust it with flour. This cake is going to smell amazing so you may be tempted to remove it right away but you need to let it cool for at least 20 minutes. Cakes have trapped hot steam so if you try to remove it while hot, the steam will rapidly release and cause your cake to crumble.

Topping Ideas

Top your Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake with a sticky pineapple glaze (easy recipe below), dust with powdered sugar, or drizzle with warmed Buttercream Frosting. Make a tropical sundae by serving a slice of Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

Pineapple Glaze

Combine 4 tablespoons 100% pineapple juice with 2 cups confectioner’s sugar, adding more juice as needed to get a glaze consistency. Don’t use the syrup from the canned pineapple, it will make your glaze super sweet without enough pineapple flavor. Pour glaze over your cooled cake and top with more shredded coconut.

How to Store

  • Store: Serve at room temperature for best taste. Cover your Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake with plastic wrap and store it in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to 2 days. This cake can be refrigerated in an airtight container or wrapped tightly for up to 1 week.
  • Freeze: Freeze your Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake for up to 6 months wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container.

Frequent Questions

Can I use a regular bundt cake pan instead?

Yes, but you’ll want to add the coconut shreds to the bottom of the pan before you pour in the batter so they will still be on top when you flip the cake. I would use unsweetened coconut for this method so they don’t stick and burn.

How do I know the cake is done?

There are two ways to tell when your Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake is done baking. The first is the tried and true toothpick method. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake and if it comes out clean, with some moist crumbs, it should be good. The other thing you want to check is that your cake is golden brown and slightly pulling away from the sides of the pan.

Is it better to the the cake out of a hot pan or a cooled pan?

It’s typically better to cool the cake in the pan for about 20 minutes after baking to allow the cake to set slightly making it easier to remove from the pan without the risk of it breaking apart.

What’s the difference between a Bundt cake pan and the Angel Food Pan used here?

The Bundt cake pans usually have fancy designs and an angled round shape at the bottom which gives the cake a rounded top when you flip it out of the pan. The angel food cake pan is taller with straight sides and a tube in the middle that goes to the top. Removing the cake is the real difference, an angel food cake is inverted to remove it, then you flip it one more time to the top is righted. Bundt cake pans, you only flip the cake once and the “bottom” becomes the top of the cake.

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Variations

  • Cherries: Add a ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries or fresh cherries to your cake batter with the coconut and pineapple. Toss cherries with a tablespoon of flour so they don’t sink all the way to the bottom.
  • Upside Down Bundt Cake: Melt 3 tablespoons butter and ½ cup brown sugar. Pour into the bottom of the bundt pan and place 6 pineapple rings with a maraschino cherry in each on top of the glaze. Add cake batter and bake as usual.
  • White Chocolate: Drizzle your baked cake with melted white chocolate or mix in ½ cup white chocolate chips.
  • Pina Colada Cake: Give your Pineapple Coconut Bundt Cake a tropical cocktail flavor by adding 2 teaspoons of dark rum (or rum flavoring) to your batter.
  • Buttermilk: You can substitute ¾ cup buttermilk in this recipe for the sour cream or a cup of plain Greek yogurt. Both will give the cake the same tangy richness.
  • Cupcakes: Fill a 12-cup muffin tin lined with cupcake liners 2/3 full of cake batter. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until golden brown and the toothpick comes out clean. This recipe will make 24 regular-sized cupcakes.

More Summertime Treats

Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake baked cake on a cake stand. Recipe name across top in white banner.

Photos used in previous versions of this post.

Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake collage
Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake
Coconut Pineapple Bundt Cake

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. I am about to bake this cake, but I have a question. Can I put a glaze on and then sprinkle the 1/2 cup of coconut on top of the glaze? Or if I, do it your way with the 1/2 cup of coconut baked on top of the cake, can I put a glaze on top. Confused when I look at the picture of the cake. Can you send a picture of the whole cake? It makes the cake look dry with the baked coconut….

  2. Hi Sabrina! I want to make this but I’m a little nervous of using a tube pan. (Maybe that’s silly ?) I do want to give it a try though. ( I usually use a Bundt pan.) I’ve seen people remove angel food cake from a tube pan, is it the same process for this cake? Or can I just turn it like a Bundt pan?

  3. Just making this for a 2nd time. This cake turned out amazing the 1st time. I love the flavors. A dense but very moist cake! Love it

  4. On the pineapple coconut cake out of 2 cops of coconut how much do I add to the Akers batter and how much dinispinkle on top

  5. Step 7 says ” Sprinkle remaining coconut shreds on top”. Can you please tell me how much of the 2 cups of coconut goes into the cake?

  6. Oh my gosh. Made this tonight for myself & my bf and its a LOT! I dont know how we will eat this ourselves but i am NOT complaining. This is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!! I added more coconut because I love coconut but otherwise followed this recipe to a T and it worked perfectly. Def worth a try.

  7. It looks like the coconut is supposed to be divided. How much do I stir into the batter so there is enough to sprinkle on top? Thanks!