This loaf is perfect as a snacking cake or for a brunch table. Sweet but not overly so, with a wonderful crunch of the pecans, it has a great caramel flavor and can be made ahead and frozen.
About this recipe
My love of coconut and pecans led to this wonderfully moist and flavorful coconut pecan loaf cake. And I'm sure these ingredients have a large following elsewhere too.
Though I usually favor cakes with chocolate (like the chocolate coconut bundt cake recipe) I have to admit that this loaf is made often and eaten quickly.
I love loaf cakes, probably because they are never huge and only require a dusting of powdered sugar or a simple glaze. I'm a lazy baker most of the time. Rustic baker is what I call myself.
Once in a while, I go the extra mile and make tall layer cakes, but they are still lacking in the finishing/decoration department. Big time.
Caramel flavor
The caramel flavor was a surprise.
I usually use brown sugar or muscovado sugar because of its caramel undertone.
Just like brown butter, I believe it adds a different dimension to most cakes (one of my favorite cakes ever combines the two, Brown Butter Cake) without overpowering. In this coconut pecan loaf cake it is highly encouraged. It makes the final flavor stand out.
Not a fan of pecans? Use walnuts or macadamias. The latter pair very well, as proven by the coconut macadamia buns.
Not having enough time to eat even a fraction, I unload most of the baked goodies at the office, where we have our unofficial Cake Mondays since I bake mostly during the weekend.
This coconut pecan cake was a huge hit.
And if they say so, it must be true. They're not the easiest crowd to please, so I take their compliments very seriously. Or not, haha, after all, it's free cake, how bad can it be?
Seriously, this is a fabulous snacking cake with a caramel flavor that made my day.
Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
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Coconut Pecan Cake
This loaf is perfect as a snacking cake or for a brunch table. Sweet but not overly so, with a wonderful crunch of the pecans, it has a great caramel flavor and can be made ahead and frozen.
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices
Ingredients
- ¾ cup 170g unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup (110g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar
- ½ cup (100g) dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups 200g all-purpose or cake flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup 60g pecans or walnuts, chopped
- ½ cup 25g unsweetened grated coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF / 180ªC.
- Butter and line the bottom and two narrow sides of a 10x4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. This will make it easier to lift after it’s baked.
- In a large bowl beat butter and cream cheese until creamy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.
- Add both sugars gradually and beat for 3 more minutes, until light.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix.
- Add the sifted dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) in 2 additions, mixing each time just until smooth. Don’t overmix.
- Add pecans and coconut and mix with spatula.
- Pour into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, until a tester comes out clean and the top is cracked and golden.
- Let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar before eating.
- Keep wrapped in plastic.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: coconut pecan loaf
Karen says
Hi Paula, I like to think of myself as a "rustic" baker too, and I take just about everything to the office so I don't eat it all. This cake sounds delicious! You can't go wrong with loaf cakes!
Paula Montenegro says
Completely agree Karen!
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
The simplicity of this recipe is captivating, and only matched by the fabulous flavor. A wonderful cake to share over coffee or tea.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I too love coconut and pecans! This loaf cake looks really moist and perfect to go with coffee or tea. Thought 1 cup of coconut is about 90 grams...what kind of coconut flake did you use here? Freshly grated coconut or the desiccated flakes?