The Perfect Louisiana Crunch Cake Recipe: Sweet & Buttery Bliss

Louisiana crunch cake tantalizes taste buds with its irresistible combination of soft cake and crispy topping.

Bakers craft this Southern delicacy by layering rich, velvety batter with a crunchy coconut coating that adds unexpected texture.

Sweet and buttery notes dance across the palate, creating a sensory experience that feels both nostalgic and exciting.

The glaze glistens, promising a delectable journey through traditional Southern baking techniques.

Homemade comfort meets culinary artistry in this remarkable dessert that enhances ordinary moments into something extraordinary.

Each slice tells a story of culinary heritage and passionate home cooking.

Grab your fork and prepare for a delightful adventure that will make your taste buds sing.

Why Louisiana Crunch Cake Is a Southern Sweetheart

• Crack Open Tropical Sweetness: Bursting with coconut and almond flavors, this Louisiana Crunch Cake delivers a delightful tropical escape in every bite, transporting your taste buds to a sunny paradise.
• Master Easy Baking Magic: Perfect for beginners, this recipe offers simple step-by-step instructions that transform basic ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dessert without requiring advanced baking skills.
• Indulge in Luxurious Texture Contrast: Experience a delightful crunch from caramelized sugar and coconut flakes that perfectly complements the cake's incredibly moist and tender interior, creating a sensational mouthfeel.
• Wow Guests with Minimal Effort: This show-stopping dessert looks incredibly impressive but takes just over an hour to prepare, making it an ideal choice for gatherings, potlucks, or weekend family treats.

Everything You’ll Need for a Cake That Cracks and Crunches

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure and texture for the cake, with a fine, soft consistency.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cake.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and create a light, fluffy texture.

• Butter: Adds richness and creates a tender crumb with its creamy fat content.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with caramelization and texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to the cakes structure and moisture.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and helps create a moist, tender cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides a classic, aromatic flavor to the cake.
• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and helps activate the leavening agents.

• Coconut Flakes: Adds a tropical flavor and crunchy texture to the cake.
• Powdered Sugar: Used for creating a smooth, sweet glaze.
• Melted Butter: Helps create a rich, glossy glaze.
• Milk: Adjusts the consistency of the glaze.
• Shredded Coconut: Provides additional coconut flavor and decorative texture.
• Sliced Almonds: Adds a nutty crunch and visual appeal to the cake.

How to Bake Louisiana Crunch Cake with That Signature Texture

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease and flour a tube or bundt pan, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Baking powder
• Baking soda

Set the mixture aside for later use.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

Beat butter at medium speed for 2 minutes until fluffy and light. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat for 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and airy.

Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract

Mix until ingredients are fully combined.

Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures

Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk in three stages:

• Add 1/3 of dry ingredients
• Add 1/2 of buttermilk
• Repeat the process
• Finish with remaining dry ingredients

Blend carefully to avoid over-mixing.

Step 6: Prepare Pan Coating

Sprinkle of sugar in the bottom of the pan, tilting to coat sides 2-3 inches high. Scatter coconut flakes on top of the sugar layer.

Step 7: Bake the Cake

Transfer batter into the prepared pan, ensuring even distribution. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Step 8: Cool the Cake

Allow cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully flip onto a serving dish and let cool completely.

Step 9: Create Glaze

• Powdered sugar
• Melted butter
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Adjust consistency by adding more milk if needed.

Step 10: Finish and Decorate

• Shredded coconut
• Sliced almonds

Serve and enjoy your Louisiana Crunch Cake!

Tips for a Crisp Crust and Buttery Center

• Butter Softening Secret: Leave butter at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before baking to ensure smooth, even mixing and optimal cake texture.
• Prevent Dry Cake: Do not overmix the batter; stir just until ingredients are combined to maintain moisture and tender crumb.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Generously coat the pan with sugar and coconut flakes for a delightful caramelized crust that adds extra flavor and crunch.
• Moisture Check: Test cake doneness by inserting a skewer into the center; it should come out with just a few moist crumbs, not completely clean.
• Glaze Perfection: Adjust glaze consistency by adding milk or powdered sugar gradually, creating a smooth, pourable topping that drips beautifully down the cake's sides.

Best Way to Keep Crunch Cake Fresh & Flavorful

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Louisiana Crunch Cake in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying out and preserve its moist texture.
• Room Temperature: Keep cake at room temperature for 1-2 days if serving within a short period. Place it on a cake stand with a protective dome to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss.
• Reheating: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power. Alternatively, place a slice in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore its original soft and tender consistency. Avoid overheating to prevent the cake from becoming tough or rubbery.

What Drinks and Desserts Go With This Southern Treat

• Brew Creamy Coffee Companions: Pair this sweet Louisiana Crunch Cake with a rich, medium-roast coffee that has smooth caramel or vanilla undertones to complement the cake's sweet coconut flavor.
• Sip Tropical Beverage Matches: Enjoy a chilled coconut water or a light rum-based piña colada that echoes the cake's tropical coconut notes and provides a refreshing contrast.
• Serve Nutty Flavor Enhancers: Accompany the cake with toasted almond biscotti or a small plate of candied pecans to amplify the cake's nutty almond and coconut textures.
• Create Dessert Wine Delights: Select a sweet dessert wine like moscato or a late-harvest riesling that balances the cake's richness and enhances its delicate coconut and vanilla flavors.

Bold Variations for Your Next Crunch Cake Creation

• Tropical Coconut Blast: Enhance the cake's flavor by adding crushed pineapple to the batter and replacing some coconut with toasted macadamia nuts for a Hawaiian-inspired version.
• Citrus Coconut Refresh: Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the batter and glaze, creating a bright, tangy profile that complements the coconut's sweetness.
• Chocolate Coconut Dream: Mix in dark chocolate chips to the batter and drizzle a chocolate ganache over the glaze, transforming the classic cake into a rich, decadent dessert.
• Spiced Coconut Warmth: Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cardamom to the dry ingredients, giving the cake a warm, aromatic complexity that pairs beautifully with the coconut.

Louisiana Crunch Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Creamy Louisiana Crunch Cake brings Southern charm to dessert tables with its buttery coconut layers and irresistible crackly topping. Crumbled coconut and sweet glaze create a nostalgic treat that connects memories of homestyle baking with pure indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups (710 ml) cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1 cup (226 g) butter (at room temperature)
• 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (for sprinkling in pan)
• ¼ cup (20 g) coconut flakes
• ¼ cup (30 g) coconut flakes (for glaze)
• ¼ cup (25 g) sliced almonds

Liquid and Creamy Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups (240 g) confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ cup (57 g) melted butter
• 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) heavy cream or whole milk (as needed)
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and thoroughly coat a tube or bundt pan with butter and flour, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Sift dry ingredients – all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda – into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter at medium speed for approximately 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Gradually incorporate sugar into the butter, continuing to mix for an additional 3 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and airy.
5. Introduce eggs individually at low speed, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
6. Blend in sour cream and vanilla extract until smoothly combined.
7. Alternate adding dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk in three stages, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently to prevent overmixing.
8. Generously sprinkle of granulated sugar across the bottom and sides of the pan, creating a caramelized coating.
9. Distribute coconut flakes evenly over the sugar layer.
10. Carefully pour batter into prepared pan, spreading it uniformly.
11. Bake for 55-65 minutes, rotating midway, until a testing skewer emerges clean.
12. Allow cake to rest in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate.
13. Prepare glaze by whisking powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla until achieving a smooth, pourable consistency.
14. Create small perforations across cake surface using a fork or skewer.
15. Drizzle glaze generously over cake, allowing it to seep into holes.
16. Garnish with additional shredded coconut and sliced almonds for visual appeal and texture.

Notes

• Capture the essence of Southern baking with this nostalgic Louisiana Crunch Cake that transforms simple ingredients into a show-stopping dessert.
• Coconut flakes create a delightful crispy texture when caramelized against the pan’s sugared sides, giving this cake its signature crunch.
• Precise mixing technique ensures a tender crumb, with alternating dry and wet ingredients preventing over-mixing and maintaining the cake’s delicate structure.
• Buttermilk adds subtle tanginess while keeping the cake incredibly moist, complementing the rich butter and sweet coconut notes.
• Glazing the cake with a vanilla-infused topping and sprinkling extra coconut and almonds elevates this dessert from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Room temperature ingredients guarantee smoother batter and more consistent baking, making the preparation process more predictable and successful.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 610 kcal
• Sugar: 56g
• Sodium: 260mg
• Fat: 34g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 1.5g
• Carbohydrates: 69g
• Fiber: <1g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 115mg