This old-fashioned Cajun cake is a southern favorite infused with plenty of pineapple flavor and topped with a delicious coconut and pecan glaze.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time35 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cajun Cake Recipe
Servings: 15
Calories: 412kcal
Ingredients
Cake
2¼cupsall-purpose flour,spooned and leveled
1⅔cupsgranulated sugar
2¼teaspoonsbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
20ouncescrushed pineapple in natural pineapple juice, undrained
2largeeggs,at room temperature and beaten
½teaspoonpure vanilla extract
Glaze
1cupgranulated sugar
¾cupevaporated milk
½cupsweet cream butter,salted
1½teaspoonspure vanilla extract
1½cupscoconut flakes,sweetened
1¼cupschopped pecans
Instructions
Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Set it aside.
Add the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine the dry ingredients.
Add the undrained pineapple, beaten eggs, and vanilla. Stir for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until all the ingredients are completely incorporated.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes away clean. While the cake is baking, begin making the glaze.
Glaze
Using a 3 to 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, add the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and vanilla extract, stirring often. Heat until the mixture reaches a low gentle boil, usually about 6 to 8 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium. Add in the chopped pecans and coconut flakes. Continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. Remove from the heat.
Once the cake has finished baking, pour the glaze over the cake, spreading the coconut and pecans evenly. Allow the cake to completely cool before slicing into fifteen 2½-inch x 3-inch slices and serving.
Notes
Make sure to add the pineapple juice along with the pineapple. This will add to the moist texture of the cake.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cake at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
Make sure to pour the glaze over top of the cake while it is still warm to allow it plenty of time to soak in while the cake cools.