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    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Cupcakes

    Published: Oct 20, 2017 · Modified: Apr 8, 2019 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Coconut Pecan Cake

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    Table of Contents Open
    About this recipe
    Caramel flavor
    Coconut Pecan Cake
    Coconut pecan loaf cake on a hot pink and mint green cloth.


    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.

    Coconut pecan loaf cake batter in a white bowl with a red spatula.

    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.

    Metal loaf pan with coconut pecan cake batter.

    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.

    Slice and half loaf of coconut pecan cake on a minty green and bright pink kitchen towel.

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    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.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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    Bright pink and mint green kitchen towel with coconut pecan loaf, some is sliced. White background.

    Coconut Pecan Cake

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    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

    Units
    • 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

    1. Preheat oven to 350ºF / 180ªC.
    2. 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.
    3. In a large bowl beat butter and cream cheese until creamy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.
    4. Add both sugars gradually and beat for 3 more minutes, until light.
    5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix.
    6. Add the sifted dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) in 2 additions, mixing each time just until smooth. Don’t overmix.
    7. Add pecans and coconut and mix with spatula.
    8. Pour into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, until a tester comes out clean and the top is cracked and golden.
    9. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
    10. Dust with powdered sugar before eating.
    11. Keep wrapped in plastic.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 45 minutes
    • Category: Cakes
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: International

    Keywords: coconut pecan loaf

    Did you make this recipe?

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. Karen says

      October 22, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        October 22, 2017 at 10:15 pm

        Completely agree Karen!

        Reply
    2. Deb|EastofEdenCooking says

      October 20, 2017 at 8:44 pm

      The simplicity of this recipe is captivating, and only matched by the fabulous flavor. A wonderful cake to share over coffee or tea.

      Reply
    3. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      October 20, 2017 at 8:09 am

      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?

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for over 30 years, I'm your designated recipe tester, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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