This Sinful Coconut Cake recipe is made in a slow cooker so it does not need any kind of babysitting at all. Perfect dessert for a busy celebration. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Coconut Cake Recipe
I love dessert. Sometimes I wish I could just skip the boring part of the app and entree and dive straight into the good part..Perks of having a sweet tooth ;). This Slow Cooker Coconut Cake is sinfully delicious, silky and exotic.
If you’ve never baked in your slow cooker, it’s a great recipe to start. The perk of this cooking method is that it does not need babysitting. Dump the batter into the machine and go on about your day. Which is exactly what I did yesterday.
My oldest daughter had a playdate, the other one had an early release and we had to do evening errands while my cake was baking.
For those of you who do not own a crock pot, this Coconut Cake Recipe can also be baked in the oven. I decided to slow cook mine because I wanted to show off this alternative technique.
My mother sent in this recipe last week. Her note read: “This cake is called Atrapa Marido or Husband Catcher in English. Please make this recipe and send a piece to your sister”
I just laughed! You may notice I have a very Jewish Mother. Anyways, the name of this cake is given due to its great flavor and texture. It’s not cakey-like but has the texture of a Cheesecake.
I would say it’s a mix between a flan and cheesecake because it’s not crumbly, it’s smooth and soft but firmer than a flan. I know it sounds weird, so you have to try it and then you’ll see.
Making this Slow Cooker Coconut Cake it’s similar to making 3 leches. Simply bake, make the “milk” part and just dump it right on the warm cake.
Then enjoy. Here’s a visual step-by-step process using the slow cooker. The same would apply if you’re making it in the oven. Keep in mind that I have a small slow cooker (4 quarts) so you may have to adjust the cooking time to yours.
The best way to bake in your slow cooker is to spray it with nonstick spray and then line it with parchment paper. Spray the paper as well and dump it in the cake batter.
Cover with 2-3 paper towels and place the lid. The paper towels will keep the condensation that forms on the lid from falling back of the cake. Yuck! Nobody likes a mushy top. Hope you enjoy this Coconut Cake Recipe!
Slow Cooker Coconut Cake
Ingredients
For Cake
- 3 eggs
- 1 can Condensed Milk 14 oz
- 1 can Evaporated Milk 14 oz
- 1 can Coconut Milk 14 oz
- 2 1/2 cups All purpose Flour
- 3 tablespoons Butter softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
For Topping
- 1 can Coconut Milk 14 oz
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 cups Coconut shredded
Instructions
For Cake
- Mix all cake ingredients together
- Spray the inside of a crock pot with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper and spray the paper as well
- Dump the cake batter inside the crock pot
- Place 3-4 sheets of Paper towels on top of the crock pot and place the lid tightly on top.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours
For Topping
- Place all ingredients into a saucepan. Mix and let the mixture boil on medium heat
Assembly
- Dump the topping all over the warm cake inside the slow cooker
- Let it absorb all the liquid
- Serve warm or cool
Notes
- Cake can also be baked at 350 Degrees F on a baking pan for about 30-40 minutes.
- I use a 4 qt cooker for this recipe so if you have a bigger one you may want to reduce the cooking time.
Nutrition
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Thank you for this recipe Tiffany. It looks delicious! I am a coconut “nut” so I will definitely be trying it. My slowcooker is huge, like 6 quarts and I’m wondering how big yours is. I’m afraid this cake would spread out and be too thin in mine. In your photos, the cake looks pretty small, or maybe your cake platter is just HUGE.
Hi Sue thanks for commenting! My slow cooker is actually not that big (feeds 4-5 people). If yours is huge you can use a disposable aluminum loaf pan or a cake pan (if it fits). Also you can make it in the oven as well!
Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I will definitely try to put a smaller aluminum pan inside my slow cooker. I’ve never “baked” sweets in a slow cooker so I really want to try this! My mouth is watering just looking at your pictures again 🙂
Thanks Sue! You are going to love baking in it! There’s not going to be worries are burning the cake. Let me know how it comes out!
Wow, just WOW. This sounds amazing, from the method of cooking to the ingredients. I love flan and Tres Leches cake, so I know I will love this. Thank you for sharing this with us at Treasure box Tuesday- pinned! 🙂
I am glad you liked it Joy!! Thanks so much for hosting a great party and for stopping by!
OMG, where has this cake been all my life? Wow!
lol Heather!!
We loved this recipe at Munching Mondays and are featuring this week as a FAVORITE!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again 🙂 Warmest, Nic
Thanks so much Nic!! I am so glad that you liked it! Thanks for hosting such a great party!
Oh, wow! I love all things coconut and this cake looks fantastic! Have never made a cake in my slow cooker, will have to try this! Visiting from Say G’Day Saturday 🙂
Thanks so much Joy!! Great party!
A cake in a slow cooker! HOW COOL! Thanks for sharing! I think it would be great for my new linky party starting this Saturday at 8pm called “Found & Foraged” Can’t wait to party with you at http://www.houseofhipsters.com
I will be there!! Thanks for stopping by Kyla!
What are the sizes of the “milks” you used? How many ounces for each?
Hi Tamy:
Condensed Milk 14 oz
Coconut Milk 14 oz
Evaporated Milk 12 oz
Evaporated milk is condensed milk. Do you mean sweetened condensed milk?
Hi Sandy! Condensed Milk and evaporated milk are 2 different things. Both come in cans, evaporated milk has a slight different flavor and is liquid. Sweetened condensed milk is thicker and richer.
Sounds soooo rico!
Do you use the coconut milk you would use to make Pina Colada (like Coco Lopez)?
Coco Lopez is coconut cream which is denser. This recipe calls for coconut MILK – usually found near the canned milk area in your supermarket. 🙂
Up North here in NJ the coconut milk (full or lower fat; sweetened or unsweetened) is also found in the store’s international aisle mostly in the Thai (Asian) section. I make a number of Thai mains & soups. I’m not into the heat but it makes her happy.
Also make a number of baked oatmeal recipes where I sub coconut milk for regular milk. Can bake a couple pans at once & put in freezer for my niece since she’s stretched for time with 10 month old twins. She’d flip for this coconut cake. Lovely recipes.
Oh that’s right Leslie of course, near the Thai section as well!
Thanks for the great info.. I’ve never substituted coconut milk with regular ones.. I will definitely give it a try!
How do you get the cake out of the slow cooker? I’m afraid mine would crumble into pieces. For my family, we’ll just dig it out but if I want to put it on a cake stand? Thank you!
lol Nancy! I used parchment paper so when the cake cools up a bit, I carefully pull the parchment paper up and the cake comes off easily and then with some spatulas I transfer into a cake plate.
Thinking of making this as a take along for a Church luncheon …
About how many would you say this serves?
Hi Wanda! My slow cooker is on the smaller side but since it’s cake I would say around 10-12 people (depending on their appetites) 🙂 Hope that helps!
I bake it in crockpot for four hours on high the bottom burned poured topping and it was all over cake poked like it was to much topping where did I go wrong
Hi Sue 2 things:
1) Did you use parchment paper to line the crock pot? That may have been a factor with the burning
2) Is your crock pot big? Because if yours is big then the cake would’ve baked up wider and faster.
We live on a boat and therefore I would have to bake this in the oven. What temperature and for how long would you bake it? Also, I am assuming you are using unsweetened coconut milk because of all the sugar in the recipe, but you know what happens when one assumes!! 😉
Since we live in the Caribbean in the winter, this would be a great cake to make! I have a coconut pie recipe that my husband loves, but this looks yummy, too!
Thanks for posting this recipe! It looks wonderful!
Hi Linda!! Yes! Unsweetened coconut milk (the one that comes in a can)
Bake it at 350 for around 45-60 minutes or until the center isn’t jiggly. When you take it out of the oven, make some holes and add the topping
Yes the coconut flakes are the sweetened one.
Let me know how it turns out! Have fun on the boat
Hi there, just a bit confused with the directions where it says put the paper towels and top on . Is the topping meant to go on before doing so? Thanks a million, this sounds AMAZING! I love everything coconut!
Yes Emily! The topping goes after the cake is cooked.
One more thing….. I am also assuming that the coconut is the sweetened, flaked coconut found in bags.. but again… here I go assuming again!! 😉
One more thing….. I am also assuming that the coconut is the sweetened, flaked coconut found in bags.. but again… here I go assuming again!! 😉
Hi. I have a 2.4 quart slow cooker. Will that size be too small for this recipe ? Thank you
Not at all Lisi, that size works fine!
IT LOOKS GREAT, EASY AND RELEVANT METHOD OF BAKING A CAKE I AM SURELY GOING TO TRY THIS RECEIPE .
Awesome! let me know how it comes out!
The cake looks great! Just wondering about storing it – does it need to be refrigerated?
Thank you Derrick! Yes, great question, the cake does need to stay refrigerated before serving.
I really enjoyed this! Thanks for the recipe.
you’re very welcome Andi.
This might seem like a ridiculous question but I’m not sure what you mean when you say cover with paper towels. Should we cover the cake mix with towels or put paper towels between the crockpot and the lid? Thanks. I’m so excited to make this.
Hi Jessie! Put the paper towels between the crockpot and the lid. I do this to prevent the condensation from the lid to get to the cake and make it all watery.
Let me know what you think!
The cake was very firm, not like tres leches cake, not what I what I was expecting. The topping was yummy, the cake not so much
I am so sorry you didn’t like it Molly. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi! This looks so awesome. I have one of the new 9 x 13 casserole crockpots. Do you suggest that I double the recipe for this size?
Hi Jodie! yes! either double the recipe or insert a smaller disposable baking pan into your slow cooker and use the same measurements. Happy Baking!
What do you think of trying this in the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooler? What would you suggest for time?
Lisa, I have never baked in my instant pot – But it would be a good experiment. 😉
I just made this in my 13×9 slow cooker. Although tempted to double the recipie I decided not to at the last minute. It turned out great. Not as thick as yours and I did add an extra 1/2cup coconut to the topping but really good. Thanks for a great cake to make on a hot day and not heat up my oven!
That’s great mlg!! I’m glad you liked it! Have a great weekend!
I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CAKE,COCONUT IS MY FAVORITE.I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED.WITHIN AN HOUR I COULD SMELL IT BURNING,I TURNED IT DOWN TO LOW TO FINISH COOKING BUT IT WAS BURNED OVER AN INCH INTO THE SIDES.IT WAS VERY CHEWY AND BLAND,NO FLAVOR AT ALL.THIS ONE WILL BE TRASHED.
JUST TO CLARIFY [ DID USE PARCHMENT PAPER.
Oh I am so sorry it didn’t work out for you. Maybe the temperature and size of the slow cooker was a factor.
The recipe sounds good, but 2 questions. First, you say to boil the coconut milk and coconut on stove, but does not say how long. Second, you said when you bake cake in oven, to poke holes before adding frosting, do you do the same if making in crock pot? This is not specified. I hope you respond, as I want to make this cake tomorrow.
Thanks, Cathy
Hi Cathy!
To answer your questions:
1) just remove the coconut milk from the heat after if boils
2) Yes, I do exactly the same in the crockpot. After being in the slow cooker for 3-4 hours, I open the lid, poke holes and dump the hot coconut milk mixture and let it absorb.
Let me know how it comes out!
Hi I was just a little confused about one thing and wanted to clarify. The recipe calls for condensed mild. Do you mean “sweetened condensed” or just plain “condensed milk? Cake looks wonderful can”t wait to try it!
*milk not mild
Hi Jennifer, it’s sweetened condensed milk
Hi, can I substitute whole milk for the evaporated milk?
Of course, just add 2 tb more sugar
Just put this on, it will be done at 4:00. It looks so good, I too am crazy for coconut. Just realized a mistake, only used 1 can coconut milk. We’ll see what happens, it can’t be bad. Thank you for the recipe.
Let me know how it comes out Sharon.
It took 6 hours to bake, could tell it was scorching, but still undone. Finally finished, made topping, put holes in cake using chop stick, slowly spooned topping over, let sit about an hour and removed.. Not as good as expected, but not really a fair assessment. May try again.
Wow Sharon! 6 hours! I am so sorry it didn’t work out for you.
Can you use lite Coconut milk.
Yes Lori
I made this in my 8 quaet instant pot. I used a spring form pan covered with foil folded under pan, then I cut 4 vent holes in foil down the sides of pan. To keep steam off cake. Used 1 cup of water underneath fir steam pressure. Used trivet handles folded down pan on top. Cooking time 1hour 45 minutes. On high pressure. Did quck release. Turned out perfect.
WOW Sheila!! you’re my hero!!! Thanks for the instant pot conversion! I’ll definitely make it that way!
I have a small crockpot and it cooks really fast. I checked the cake after 2 1/2 hours and it was almost done. I turned it to low , then I fell asleep. When I woke up it had been in the crock pot a total of 6 hours and totally my fault and totally burnt. I’ll try again because I never got to the icing part and it looks like a great cake. I thought of cutting the baked cake in half lengthwise and making 2 igloos.
Wow I love your ugloo idea! My crockpot is oval shape, yours must be round.