I haven’t been able to do much baking this holiday season. It’s something that I miss but have just been too busy to fit into my schedule. One of my favorite holiday cookies are the peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kiss in the center. I eat half of the cookie, the kiss, then the remainder of the cookie. Do you have a favorite holiday cookie to bake? I may not have had much time to bake cookies but I did make time last weekend to fit in this Coconut Almond Cake.
In my book, cake is just as good as cookies. Especially when it features layers of dense almond cake with rich chocolate frosting. Today’s post is in partnership with my friends over at Rodelle, the makers of gourmet vanilla and baking products. I used their pure vanilla extract and gourmet baking cocoa as the inspiration for this cake. In my opinion, high quality baking products will turn out some of the best baked goods and for all of my baking needs I turn to Rodelle.
This cake is a bit time consuming but is the perfect dessert to bring to any holiday gathering. You also have the option to add a little rum or rum extract to the frosting for an extra kick of flavor. Be sure that the cake is cooled completely before frosting so that you don’t end up with a runny mess.
So let’s chat about this giveaway! My friends over at Rodelle are offering up a gourmet baking and spice package to one of my lucky readers! This winner will receive: Pure Vanilla Extract, Gourmet Dutch-Processed Baking Cocoa, Gourmet Vanilla Extract, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Chocolate Extract, Almond Extract, Vanilla Paste, Wassail Mulling Spice, Herbes De Provence, Organic Dutch-Processed Baking Cocoa, A Rodelle canvas tote bag. Get the recipe for the cake below and enter for your chance to win this package!
- For the cake:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pans
- 2 cups cake flour, plus more for the pans
- ¾ cup almond flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- ¾ cup milk
- For the frosting:
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3½ cups confectioners' sugar
- ⅓ cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons dark rum (optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Sweetened shredded coconut, for topping
- Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with cake flour, tapping out the excess; set aside.
- Whisk the cake flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt in a separate large bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until just combined.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans. Run a thin knife around the edges of the cakes and gently turn out onto the rack; remove the parchment and let cool completely.
- Make the frosting: Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted and smooth; let cool slightly. Combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, milk, rum and vanilla in a food processor. Pulse until smooth.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate and spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with the second cake layer, then frost the top and side of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with the coconut.

I love chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, so that is what I would make first!
I’ll be baking Aloha Brownies – my favorite! Vanilla in the batter and the frosting.
Lazy Daisy cake. It’s been years!
this cake
The first thing I’d bake would be this Coconut Almond Cake. It looks YUMMY!
Maybe some baklava or brownies
I would make THIS cake first!!!
If I won I would first make a pumpkin roll!! Yum. I would be baking up a storm if I win this amazing prize pack from Rodelle.
I would bake vanilla cupcakes with vanilla icing on top.
I would make my grandma’s banana German chocolate cake. Thanks!
I would make a cake
i would make a chocolate cake! 🙂
With this prize, I could bake a variety of things. With vanilla, I think I would make this pastry filling that I just found a good recipe for. With the almond extract, I would bake another cherry pie.
I would bake a vanilla cake for my son and find a recipe for a vanilla bean cheesecake! Yum!
I would try making this cake! It looks super delish – I love the combo of almond with coconut.
I would make vanill whipped cream
My grandmother’s Walnut Sour Cream Bundt Cake!
I would bake a vanilla pound cake.
I make some awesome sour cream cutout sugar cookies with icing for Valentine’s Day. This basket of goodies would be perfect for that occasion!
I’m thinking probably some brownies or cupcakes 🙂
ii would make this recipe yummmm
I would bake cookies, cake or brownies
I bake a chocolate cake.
id bake a cake or a pie if i wonthis
Wth all that cocoa, it would have to be brownies first. Actually, “Brownies First”! is pretty much my go-to baking slogan.
I would make a big batch of Christmas Cookies.
If I win, I will definitely have to try the recipe you posted above! Also, I will bake vanilla muffins!
I would bake brownies…I’m in the mood for some.
cookies
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans sound amazing! Vanilla Bean Cupcakes would be first, I think!
I would make some chocolate cookies.
I’d make a German Chocolate cake.
This cake sounds wonderful. The first thing I would make are brownies with the Dutch processed cocoa.
Hummingbird Cake.
I would make a pound cake
I would bake a cake
i would make brownies!
I would bake vanilla bean scones.
sugar cookies
I would make chocolate chip cookies
I would bake a chocolate cake
Cocoa Vanilla Scones with a Raspberry Vanilla Jam
I would make my Grandma’ KY Jam Cake, then I would love to try this Coconut Almond Cake. It would be great for a party or just a family dessert!
Oh my for sure from the prize pack..the awesome gourmet Dutch cocoa..the best.
And, to make her famous George pecan chocolate fudge..it’s delicious even with regular cocoa..this will make it phenomenonal..
A treat we have every Christmas!
I would bake a fresh coconut cake first if I won!
Maybe some vanilla bean ice cream!
A simple vanilla ice cream!
I would make my favorite brownies first!
I would bake some brownies and some cookies
I would bake some cookies and brownies.
I would make a pound cake. Great vanilla is crucial!
I would bake a marble cheeecake.
I’d make vanilla brulees
I think I would make a New orleans style Doberge Cake, like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hCxm1hZgUQ though probably not as perfect as Miss Beulah’s; I’m from New Orleans so mine are pretty good.
OMG this cake looks amazing! I want to make it right now, pinned to save!
I would bake a vanilla bean cheesecake.
I would use the vanilla bean to make creme brulee! My son has requested it for Christmas.
Probably a red velvet cake – Mark’s favorite!
i would make a chocolate rasperry pudding cake .
since almond and coconut are two of my favorite flavors, I would definitely make this cake, as well as my glazed vanilla scones.
What’s not to like about thiscake! Almond Joy all the way!
I would try an old family cake recipe!
I would make a cake from scratch.
I would bake choco flan.
I’d bake buttermilk cake with a cannoli filling
pineapple upside down cake
I would bake a cheesecake.
I would make brownies and a Danish Puff Pastry
I would bake some chewy sugar cookies.
I would make Molten Hot Lava Cakes with that prize Rodale Chocolate!
I would concoct an original pastry and possibly uniquely shaped cookies.
I would concoct an original pastry.
I would bake a spice cake with cream cheese frosting.
I’d so like to make a Texas sheet cake with chocolate frosting.
I’d make a complete creative dinner using all the items…but especially the fantastic cake! Then I’d invite Shawn and April for dinner!
This cake looks delicious! I’d make this cake, or a similar cake, or chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!
I would make some cookies.
I’ve been promising my husband his favorite sugar cookies, I’d have to make those first!