This recipe for Coconut Milk Chocolate Chip Pound Cake has been adapted for ultimate coconut flavor and long shelf life. Using coconut milk and coconut oil helps this loaf cake retain moisture and flavor for a full week!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Coconut milk adds a layer of coconut flavor and a boost of moisture to this lovely loaf cake. Made with coconut oil, this quick bread stays moist and fresh for twice as long as those made with dairy!
This recipe can make one standard sized loaf cake, but I prefer mini-loaves. Mini-loaves are just the right size for mailing, gifting, or nibbling.
Eat one, mail one, and freeze the rest for whenever the craving hits for tropical coconut flavor.
The optional glaze using coconut milk is both pretty and delicious for cakes that will not be shipped. I recommend skipping the glaze for care package use.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and shredded coconut. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the coconut oil and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts.
- Alternate adding the coconut milk and the dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into a greased and floured pan, smoothing the top of the loaves with a spatula. For the topping, combine the shredded coconut and chocolate chips in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the top of the loaf.
- Bake mini-loaves for 40 minutes (regular single loaf bakes for 1 hour and 15 minutes), or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out with no batter and few crumbs.
More coconut milk recipes
Coconut Milk Cookies are soft and tender with mild coconut flavor. Add chocolate chips or chocolate nibs for crunch.
Coconut Milk Snack Cake is the best way ever to use up left over coconut milk! A quick and easy one layer cake with no topping needed.
If you loved this Coconut Loaf Cake recipe, next time try Coconut Blondies , full of white chocolate and toffee flavor.
My experience with this recipe
When I first started writing The Monday Box, I honestly had no idea why one baked good stayed fresh longer than another. Without any baking chemistry knowledge, I had to learn through research and practice.
Five years and hundreds of recipes later, I can tell you that there are certain ingredients that are a big help when you need a care package recipe that will be still be delicious once it arrives at its destination.
Crunchy, butter based cookies like shortbread and butter cookies, are great for care packages. Butter not only tastes great, but keeps the cookies crunchy for a long time. Plain shortbread keeps for months and the flavor improves over time.
Though butter is great for crunchy things, it’s not the fat of choice for keeping cakes moist. I’ve had some success with sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk, but oils are my number one choice.
Olive oil makes lovely moist cookies and cakes with longer than average freshness. For this chocolate chip loaf cake, I used coconut oil for additional coconut flavor.
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Coconut Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake
Ingredients
Cake batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- ¾ cup coconut oil
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla paste or extract
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- ¾ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips I use Whole Foods 365 Brand, Fair Trade
Topping
- ¼ cup chocolate chips, mini or regular I use Whole Foods 365 Brand, Fair Trade
- ¼ cup shredded coconut sweetened or unsweetened, or coconut flakes
- Glaze optional and not recommended for shipping
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
- 3 tablespoons coconut milk
- ¼ teaspoon coconut extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325° F. Grease and flour the 4 mini loaf pans (or 1 regular loaf pan).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and shredded coconut. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the coconut oil and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts.
- Alternate adding the coconut milk and the flour mixture just until combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top of the loaves with a spatula.
- For the topping, combine the shredded coconut and chocolate chips in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the top of each loaf.
- Bake mini-loaves for 40 minutes (regular single loaf bakes for 1 hour and 15 minutes), or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of a loaf comes out with no batter and few crumbs. If the loaf (and coconut topping) is brown but requires more baking, lay a sheet of foil on top of the loaves to prevent burning.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- If using the coconut glaze (not recommended for shipping), in a small bowl mix together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the loaves while they are still warm. Be sure the glaze has set completely before storing.
- This quick bread loaf can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
Notes
- Wrap each loaf of coconut pound cake in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag.
- I suggest skipping the chocolate chips in the topping during warm weather, and skipping the glaze at all times for shipping.
Nutrition
First Published: March 27, 2017. Last Updated: October 30, 2021. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Laurel
I have never used coconut oil before. Do I melt the oil before adding to recipe and use a liquid measuring cup, or spoon it out into a dry measuring 3/4 measuring cup? Thanks
Wendy Sondov
Working with coconut oil is just like using vegetable shortening (Crisco), if you have ever baked with that. Generally, if the recipe requires melting before using, it should tell you to do that. Otherwise, like in this recipe, pack the coconut oil (usually solid at room temperature) into a dry measuring cup. Whipping the coconut oil as a solid, incorporates more air into the mixture giving a lighter texture to the pound cake. Enjoy!