Texas Tornado Cake Pineapple Coconut (Printable)
Moist Southern cake layered with pineapple, coconut, pecans and creamy butter topping
# What You Need:
→ Cake Components
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice
08 - 1 cup chopped pecans
09 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
→ Buttery Sauce Topping
10 - 1 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
12 - 1 cup evaporated milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly blended.
03 - Add eggs, vanilla extract, and the entire can of crushed pineapple including the juice. Stir gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix the batter.
04 - Gently fold in the chopped pecans and sweetened shredded coconut until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
05 - Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
06 - While the cake bakes, combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil while stirring constantly. Continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture slightly thickens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
07 - Immediately after removing the cake from the oven, poke holes across the surface using a fork or skewer. Pour the hot sauce topping evenly over the hot cake.
08 - Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares and serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- One bowl means less cleanup and more time enjoying the moments that matter
- The hot topping creates an almost custard-like texture that keeps the cake incredibly moist for days
02 -
- Timing is everything, that sauce needs to hit the hot cake while both are still piping hot
- The cake will continue soaking up the sauce as it cools, so dont worry if it looks like too much liquid at first
03 -
- A wooden skewer creates better holes than a fork, allowing more sauce to penetrate deep into the cake
- Pour the sauce slowly and let it soak in before adding more, rather than dumping it all at once