Fruit Cocktail Cake Delight (Printable)

Tender cake filled with sweet fruit cocktail and smooth coconut frosting for a delightful treat.

# What Goes In:

→ Cake

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 can (15 oz) fruit cocktail in juice, undrained
05 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Coconut Frosting

08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/2 cup whole milk
10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
11 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
12 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
03 - Mix in eggs, undrained fruit cocktail, and vanilla extract until just combined without overmixing.
04 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
05 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - While the cake bakes, combine sugar, milk, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
07 - Remove from heat and stir in shredded coconut, nuts if using, and vanilla extract.
08 - Immediately after removing the cake from the oven, poke holes all over its surface with a fork or skewer. Pour the hot coconut frosting evenly over the cake.
09 - Allow the cake to cool in the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The fruit juice keeps the cake impossibly tender without any dry edges, no matter how long you bake it.
  • Hot frosting poured over a warm cake creates pockets of caramel-like sweetness that make every bite feel a little bit special.
  • It comes together in under an hour, so you can go from craving cake to actually eating it without the usual fussing.
02 -
  • Don't drain the fruit cocktail, no matter what; that juice is irreplaceable and keeps the cake moist for days.
  • Pour the frosting on while both the cake and frosting are hot, because that's when they marry together and create those pockets of sweetness that make this cake different from any other.
03 -
  • Make the frosting while the cake bakes so everything happens at the right temperature; timing is everything in this recipe.
  • If you forget to poke holes before the frosting goes on, do it gently after; the frosting will still soak in and it won't hurt anything.
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