Best Pinapple and Coconut Cake recipe?

[texmati]

I'm looking for a really good pinapple coconut cake recipe. I started making cakes for the family (mostly white cakes with coconut sprinkles to cover up icing imperfections), and my dad requested a pinapple coconut cake.

He's a great dad, and is going to be 'promoted' to grandpa this summer-- he deserves a great cake! I've been trolling the internet, but I havent found one that has a bunch of great reviews.

Does anyone have any 'to die for' pinapple coconut cake recipes?

[Lynn08]

Oooh, ooh, I know this one! I kinda played around with a yellow cake recipe and came up with this (it is vegan, but no one will know the difference, it is that yummy!)

CAKE:
2c All Purpose Flour
3/4c Sugar
1/2c Canola Oil
1c Pineapple Puree [I used a little more than this b/c the batter seemed dry, but the cake came out too wet, so use your best judgement.] OR:
1c Pineapple Juice and 1c Pineapple Pieces*
1T Vinegar
1t Baking Soda
1t Vanilla Extract
(Toasted) Coconut - optional

- Preheat oven to 350 deg. Lightly grease cake pan.
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil, and pineapple puree/juice. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add vinegar and vanilla.
- In a small bowl, mix together flour and baking soda. Gradually add dry ingredients to sugar & oil mixture, mixing until smooth. *Add pineapple pieces (if not using puree).
- Bake for 30 minutes or until done. Let cool completely before frosting. Sprinkle with (toasted) coconut,


FROSTING:
1/2c Shortening (non-hydrogenated, preferably)
2c Confection (10x) Sugar, sifted
1t Coconut Extract
2T Coconut Milk (or any type of milk, as needed)

- With an electric hand mixer, cream the shortening until smooth.
- Gradually add the sugar, mixing at low speed until smooth. (Add milk as needed)
- Add coconut extract. Beat on high speed for a few minutes until light and fluffy.
- Store unused portion in an airtight container.


I made this version for a family bbq this past Monday, and EVERYONE loved it (well, except dh, but he hates coconut so he doesn't count ) - I was told that I have to make it for every family gathering from here on out, fwiw.

[texmati]

Thanks so much Lynn! We are vegetarian, but some of my family avoids eggs as well, so a vegan cake is an added bonus.

[texmati]

how did you puree the pineapple? did you just blend canned pineapples?

[Lynn08]

yep - and I only did that because dh and I didn't like the big chunks of pineapple (plus, the next day, the cake was soggy around the chunks), but the puree gave the cake a more pineapple-y flavor overall. it was a nice balance with the icing.