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If you're a carrot cake lover like us, you'll meet your new favorite version: Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut (Pastel de Zanahoria) in Spanish. This isn't your typical old-fashioned carrot cake (though those are delicious, too!). This version takes the classic, adds a tropical twist, and takes it to a new level with juicy pineapple and shredded coconut. Think of it as the best carrot cake recipe you've ever tried but with a beach vacation baked right in.

The Best Carrot Cake recipe with Pineapple and Coconut? You bet!
Let's dive in, and I'll show you how to create the ultimate carrot cake with pineapple that's moist, flavorful, and topped with the creamiest frosting you've ever tasted!

Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut on white cake dish

Our Family's Carrot Cake Story

In our family, we don't just like carrot cake – we're obsessed with it! This cake is my daughter Isabel's absolute favorite recipe, and I'm dedicating today's recipe to her.

When she visited last weekend, I surprised her with this carrot, pineapple, and coconut cake. (we try to spoil her with good homemade food when she visits 😉). And let's say there were zero leftovers at the house after her departure!

This version is a twist on the classic Torta de Zanahoria from Venezuela or Bizcocho de Zanahoria y Piña, bringing that extra tropical touch with pineapple and coconut. This post has everything you need to make the best carrot bundt cake recipe ever. let's make sure you nail it on the first try!

This was inspired by my Coconut and Passion Fruit Curd Layer Cake on this site and my Chocolate Cake with Dulce de Leche, and it pairs well with our Latin-style Pavochon Turkey Recipe.

What makes this Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut special?

What sets this recipe apart from the original recipe? It’s the tropical ingredients!
Our Pineapple Carrot Coconut Cake starts with the same foundation as an old-fashioned carrot cake recipe. Still, we’re kicking it up with moist, juicy pineapple and sweet coconut for an indulgent twist. It still has that nostalgic flavor but with an island vacation baked right in. So, if you love a moist, spiced cake, this carrot coconut cake will become your go-to!

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❤️Why you will love this Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut recipe
🍽 Equipment You’ll Need
📝Ingredients
🥣How to Make This Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut
💡Cook's Tip for How to decorate a beautiful Carrot Cake with Pinneapple and Coconut
🧑‍🍳Recipe Variations
🥡Storage
🍰Other Latin Cake Recipes you might like
🍽️Pairing ideas for your Carrot Cake
📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️

❤️Why you will love this Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut recipe

Easy: This is the kind of easy carrot cake recipe anyone can master. With detailed instructions and simple steps, even a beginner will have success. Plus, it’s baked in a bundt pan, so it cooks faster and is a breeze to decorate.
Indulgent but Not-Too-Sweet: The Pineapple and Coconut ingredients add sweetness and a tropical flair to the classic. Because of this, we add less sugar to this recipe. We also use less sugar in our creamy frosting than the typical cream cheese frosting in the classic carrot cake recipe, still without compromising flavor. This cake hits all the right notes of sweetness and spice.
Moist Texture: This moist cake stays delicious for days thanks to the pineapple and coconut.

🍽 Equipment You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to make this carrot pineapple coconut cake:
Mixing bowl (large and medium), Wooden spoon or rubber spatula, electric mixer such as a hand mixer or stand mixer. Bundt pan, and food processor or box shredder for shredding the carrots.

📝Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need for your Homemade Carrot Cake recipe.

Cake Batter Ingredients

Ingredients for Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut

See the Printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities

All-purpose flour - Cake Flour can be used as a substitute for all-purpose flour. If you use cake flour, add an extra 2 tablespoons.
White sugar - Brown Sugar can be a suitable substitute. it has a deeper, more caramel-like flavor due to its molasses content, which can add a richer taste to the cake.
Baking Soda
Salt
Cinnamon - Warm spices like Cinnamon add a unique flavor to carrot cake and is not not to be skipped!
Vegetable oil - Canola o Avocado oil are good options.
Vanilla Extract
Eggs at room temperature
Shredded fresh carrots - we recommend shredding your own carrots for the best flavor, texture, and moisture. If you must use store-bought pre-shredded carrots, chop them slightly if they are too thick and moisten them by rinsing and patting them dry for best results.
Sweetened shredded coconut
Pineapple diced - I like to use fresh but Canned Pineapple (drained) works great.

Frosting Ingredient

Heavy Whipping Cream
Cream Cheese
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla Extract
Orange Zest (optional but recommended) - You may substitute with Lemon Zest in a pinch.

🥣How to Make This Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut

Cake Batter Instructions

instructions for Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease your bundt pan with nonstick spray.

Step 2: In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Step 3: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla.

Step 4: Wet ingredients mix.

Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients

Step 1: Add this to the dry ingredients.

Step 2: Fold in the shredded carrots, coconut, and pineapple.

Let's bake the Cake! 🕒🍰

Step 3: Be gentle here – you want to keep the batter light and fluffy.

Step 4: Pour the cake batter into your prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Alternatively, you can split the batter into 2x8" cake pans.

Step 5: Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean (a few crumbs are ok).

Step 6: Let it cool on a wire rack before frosting.

Frosting Instructions

Whip the cream at medium speed until soft peaks form, then set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest until smooth and creamy.
Mix the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture at low speed until incorporated (1-2 minutes).

Assembling and Decorating

Steps for assembling a delicious layer cake

Slice the cooled cake in half horizontally.

Spread a layer of frosting between the cake layers.

Place the top back on and frost the entire cake.

Until is all covered and the frosting has been used up. Garnish with pineapple slices, toasted coconut, and carrot curls if you’re feeling fancy!

💡Cook's Tip for How to decorate a beautiful Carrot Cake with Pinneapple and Coconut

This recipe features pineapple slices, toasted coconut, and thin slices of carrot curled into the shape of flowers as decoration for the top of the cake.
I made the carrot curls by cutting thin slices through the entire length of a wide carrot with a potato peeler. Then, I curled them into flowers. I also toasted the coconut on a frying pan at low heat to create that beautiful, light, brown-toasted color.

This Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut is the perfect fusion of classic flavor and tropical fun! So, the next time you're craving a slice of comfort with a tropical twist, try this Pineapple Carrot Cake Recipe! (or, as we say, Torta de Zanahoria y Piña).

It's hands down the best cake you'll ever bake. Enjoy! Daughter-approved! 😉

🧑‍🍳Recipe Variations

You can convert this recipe to muffins or bars by using a different pan and changing the baking time:

Make carrot cake muffins with pineapple - Divide the batter into a muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes.
For carrot cake bars - Use a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.
Additional Texture - Other typical ingredients in carrot cake are golden raisins for extra texture and sweeteness.
Lower-Fat Version - You may use unsweetened applesauce instead of the oil for a lower-fat version.

🥡Storage

Store refrigerated. This cake stays nice for 2-3 days. You can freeze the cake for up to 2-3 months. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut (Pastel de Zanahoria)

❤️Why you will love this Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut recipe

🍽 Equipment You’ll Need