This Bounty Cake recipe turns my favorite chocolate into a gorgeous layer cake, and from now on, I know exactly what cake I want for my birthday!
![Image showing the cake on a cake plate, a few slices have been cut so you can see the contrast between the chocolate frosting and vanilla cake.](https://www.withlovekitty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bounty-Cake-1-9.jpg)
This Bounty cake recipe is for a two-layer vanilla and coconut sponge cake sandwiched together with a layer of coconut filling and covered in a milk chocolate buttercream that is so addictive you’ll be eating it by the spoonful!
If you love trying out new cake recipes, have a look at this Strawberry Vanilla Cake or this recipe for an Apple Tea Cake.
Jump to:
Ingredients
You will need the simple ingredients listed below to make this chocolate coconut bounty cake. Remember always to use fresh room temperature ingredients when baking.
- Granulated white sugar
- Sunflower oil
- Unsalted butter
- Extra-large eggs
- Self-raising flour
- Salt
- Coconut milk
- Vanilla extract
- Desiccated coconut
- Condensed milk
- Powdered sugar
- Milk and dark chocolate
- Golden syrup
- Sour cream
- Whipping cream
- Bounty chocolate candy bars
Extra-large eggs – out of their shell, the eggs I use weigh 56 grams, if you aren’t sure if you have the same eggs – weigh the eggs you have and adjust accordingly.
Sunflower oil – This cake uses oil instead of butter for extra moistness! Use neutral-tasting vegetable oil for this recipe like sunflower or canola oil.
Self-raising flour - If you can't find self-raising flour, you can use cake flour or all-purpose flour mixed with baking powder. Check the recommendations on the packaging of your baking powder to decide how much should be added.
Vanilla extract – choose a quality vanilla extract rather than essence to give this recipe a great vanilla flavor. You can also use vanilla bean paste.
Unsalted butter – use unsalted butter rather than salted butter for this recipe. It is also essential that you use room-temperature butter.
Coconut milk – this is added to the cake batter for extra moistness and coconut flavor. If you can't find any you can use regular milk but I recommend trying to track a tin down.
Desiccated coconut – I use unsweetened fine desiccated coconut in the cake batter and the coconut filling.
Milk and dark chocolate – I love using a combination of dark and milk chocolate for the frosting, Cadbury milk chocolate, and Lindt 70% are my favorites. You can do the same or use semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Whipping cream - i love adding cream to my frosting for extra fluffiness but if you don't have any open, whole milk will also work.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
To make this chocolate coconut layer cake, follow the simple instructions below. First, you will make the coconut cake layers, then the coconut filling, and finally the chocolate frosting. Once the cake layers have cooled the cake can be assembled.
Instructions for cake
STEP 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line 2 x 22cm (9 inches) round cake tins with oil and parchment paper.
STEP 2: Beat butter, sugar, and oil. Add the oil, butter, and sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat at medium to high speed until light and fluffy, for about 4 minutes.
STEP 3: Add the whole eggs. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time. Beat well between each addition and scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
STEP 4: Add dry ingredients. Sift together the salt and self-raising flour then add the flour mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Beat at low speed until just combined.
STEP 5: Add wet ingredients. Combine the coconut milk and vanilla extract in a jug, and slowly pour this into the cake mixture with the mixer's motor running at low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, making sure it is lump-free.
STEP 6: Add the coconut. Add the desiccated coconut to the cake batter and mix it through using a rubber spatula.
STEP 7: Bake. Divide the cake batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake in a preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their tins for 30 minutes, before turning them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Instructions for filling
STEP 1: Combine coconut and condensed milk. Add the desiccated coconut and condensed milk to a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside until you are ready to assemble the cake.
Instructions for frosting
STEP 1: Melt chocolate and butter. In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. Set aside to cool slightly then add the melted chocolate mixture to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
STEP 2: Add the vanilla and syrup. Add the golden syrup and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and mix briefly.
STEP 3: Add icing sugar. Sift the icing sugar over the frosting mixture and whisk to combine.
STEP 4: Add sour cream. Add the sour cream and beat until the frosting is well combined and homogeneous.
STEP 5: Add remaining icing sugar. Sift over the remaining icing sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the frosting is fluffy.
STEP 6: Add cream. With the mixer's motor running at medium-high speed, add the cream and beat until fluffy. Add the frosting to a piping bag.
Instructions for assembly
STEP 1: Level cake layers. Use a sharp knife to trim the domed tops off the cake layers if necessary.
STEP 2: Layer with frosting. Secure the first cake layer onto a cake plate with some frosting. Pipe a layer of frosting over the surface of the cake and smooth this out with an off-set spatula.
STEP 3: Add coconut mixture. Pipe a ring of frosting around the circumference of the bottom cake layer and fill this with the coconut filling.
STEP 4: Secure the top cake layer. Place the second layer of cake onto the first layer with the cut side facing down.
STEP 5: Cover the cake with frosting. Pipe the frosting over the tops and sides of the cake and use a knife to create swirls in the frosting.
STEP 6: Decorate. Slice up the bounty bars and arrange these on top of the cake. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Hint: Never frost warm cakes, otherwise the buttercream will melt and you will have a decorating disaster to deal with!
Variations
I love combining a vanilla cake with a chocolatey frosting, but you can make chocolate cake layers instead of this vanilla coconut cake. Use this Chocolate Cake recipe if this is something you would prefer!
Equipment
For this delicious cake recipe, you will need x2 22cm cake tins, a wire rack for cooling, a disposable piping bag, and an electric mixer, either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer.
I always use a stand mixer or electric whisk to make the buttercream as they help ensure a fluffy frosting. I also always use an accurate kitchen scale when baking.
Storage
Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If it is very hot then store this cake in the fridge.
To freeze this cake, cut the frosted cake into individual slices and wrap each slice of cake in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the cake in the fridge overnight, then bring the slices to room temperature before consuming.
Top Tip
For the perfect cake, follow my top baking tips below
- For a fluffy buttercream ensure you have whisked the frosting sufficiently.
- Check the true temperature of your oven with an oven thermometer before baking the cakes.
- Melt the chocolate and butter gently otherwise the mixture could burn or seize and you will have to start again with fresh ingredients.
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a cooling rack before decorating.
FAQ
The eggs I have used weigh about 56 grams out of their shell. Weigh the eggs you have and adjust accordingly.
You can bake this cake in different-sized cake pans, you will just need to adjust the baking time. Larger tins will need less time and smaller tins, more time to bake.
You can make this cake using a combination of baking powder and cake flour. It is best to check the packing of your baking powder to determine how much should be added. Remember to sift the two together before using them.
You may have measured incorrectly, add a tablespoon extra of sour cream and whisk again. Keep going until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
This cake is special and worth a try! It is the perfect cake to make for someone’s birthday who is a little bit of a coconut addict like me! But it’s also great to bring along to a lazy lunch or make for a special occasion as this unusual flavour will definitely get the crowds chatting.
If you give this recipe a go, please leave a star review and comment below – I love hearing about your kitchen stories!
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter and follow along @with_love_kitty to make sure you never miss a recipe!
Happy Baking
With Love,
Kitty
📖 Recipe
Bounty Cake
Equipment
- 2x 22cm round cake pans (9 inches)
Ingredients
Vanilla Coconut Cake
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 100 ml sunflower oil
- 340 g sugar white granulated
- 4 eggs extra large
- 300 g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 50 g desiccated coconut
Coconut Filling
- ¼ cup condensed milk
- 90 g desiccated coconut
Chocolate Frosting
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 100 g milk chocolate
- 90 g unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 450 g powdered sugar
- 90 g sour cream
- 2 tablespoon whipping cream
Instructions
Vanilla Coconut Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line 2 x 22cm (9 inches) round cake tins with oil and parchment paper.
- Add the oil, butter, and sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat at medium to high speed until light and fluffy, for about 4 minutes.
- Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time. Beat well between each addition and scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
- Sift together the salt and self-raising flour then add the flour mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Beat at low speed until just combined.
- Combine the coconut milk and vanilla extract in a jug, and slowly pour this into the cake mixture with the mixer's motor running at low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, making sure it is lump-free.
- Add the desiccated coconut to the cake batter and mix this through using a rubber spatula.
- Divide the cake batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their tins for 30 minutes, before turning them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Coconut Filling
- Combine coconut and condensed milk. Add the desiccated coconut and condensed milk to a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside until you are ready to assemble to cake.
Chocolate Frosting
- In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. Set aside to cool slightly then add the melted chocolate mixture to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
- Add the golden syrup and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and mix briefly.
- Sift the icing sugar over the frosting mixture and whisk to combine.
- Add the sour cream and beat until the frosting is well combined and homogeneous.
- Sift over the remaining icing sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the frosting is fluffy.
- With the mixer's motor running at medium-high speed, add the cream and beat until fluffy. Add the frosting to a piping bag.
Assembly
- Use a sharp knife to trim the domed tops of the cake layers if necessary.
- Secure the first cake layer onto a cake plate with a bit of frosting. Pipe a layer of frosting over the surface of the cake and smooth this out with a spatula.
- Pipe a ring of frosting around the circumference of the bottom cake layer and fill this with the coconut filling.
- Place the second layer of cake onto the first layer with the cut side facing down.
- Pipe the frosting over the tops and sides of the cake and use a knife to create swirls in the frosting.
- Slice up the bounty bars and arrange these on top of the cake. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Leave a Reply