Pineapple Coconut Streusel Cake (a.k.a. Buckle Cake)

This pineapple coconut cake is less fussy and demanding than others out there. There’s no layers, no curd or filling, no crumb coats or involved frosting. In other words, it’s easy. That’s because this piña colada inspired cake that’s loaded with fresh pineapple and two types of coconut is more of a streusel cake, or buckle. It makes a perfect coffeecake for weekend brunch or a fab after school snack.

This post has been updated for photos and content since it’s original publication in 2016. The recipe is the same.

Why you’ll love this pineapple coconut cake

Honestly, I just don’t have the patience for multi-tiered cakes with multiple fillings, frostings and decorations. I’m not saying I won’t eat them… or appreciate the effort that goes into making them, but for me, brevity and ease are reward enough. That’s why I love simple, tasty streusel cakes (or buckles) like this.

My pineapple coconut cake uses a basic cake batter, augmented with both cream of coconut and the sweetened flaked variety, layered with chunks of fresh pineapple. Top it off with a little more batter and an insane amount of coconut streusel topping and bake. OMG.

This straight forward style of this fruity pineapple coconut cake recipe is kind of my baking mantra… Witness this Mixed Berry Buckle, Lemon Strawberry Crumb Cake, and these Mini Berry Streusel Coffeecakes. Yeah, I’m kind of obsessed.

If you can bake, but don’t consider yourself to be a “baker” then this easy pineapple coconut cake is for you.

Ingredients for pineapple coconut streusel cake

What’s a buckle cake?

I mentioned that this recipe is also known as a buckle. So, what’s THAT? Essentially a buckle is a cake that’s so overloaded with fruit and streusel that it buckles, or falls, creating divots, or uneven crags because it’s being weighed down by so many good things… Yeah, it’s a damn shame.

How to make pineapple coconut streusel cake

1. Cream together the butter and sugar, add the egg, salt, baking powder and extracts.
2. Alternate adding flour, with the buttermilk and cream of coconut.
3. Stir in the flaked coconut and spread half of the batter into a prepared round cake pan.
4. Add some of the chopped pineapple to the remaining cake batter and set aside.
5. Top the coconut batter in the cake pan with fresh pineapple chunks.
6. Spoon dollops of the remaining cake batter over the pineapple layer.
7. Liberally pile on the coconut streusel topping and bake.

Pineapple Pro Tip:

I like to use fresh pineapple for this cake, but you can also use canned. Whichever style you choose, be sure to cut the pineapple into small 1/4″ dice instead of big chunks of fruit. You want the pineapple to be enveloped in the coconut cake batter and not sink to the bottom.

Coconut streusel ingredients:

• Butter (slightly softened)
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• All Purpose Flour
• Oatmeal
• Sweetened Flaked Coconut

This simple streusel topping is one of my favorites because I usually have all the ingredients on hand, it only takes a few minutes to assemble and it adds a sweet, crunchiness that takes everything to the next level. If you don’t want to add the streusel, that’s up to you, but I’m here to tell you… it’s GOOD!

Making streusel for the cake topping

1. Combine the butter with brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and use the tines of a fork to mash them together, so they’re well mixed.
2. Add the flour and stir to combine.
3. Add the coconut and oatmeal, stir with the fork, or (pro-tip) I’ve found my hands do a better job of mixing the streusel together.

This recipe makes a large amount of streusel — but that’s really the point. Just count on this streusel cake buckling — set that as the goal. It’s not supposed to be “pretty”.

Pro Tip: I usually make the streusel first thing and set it aside to add just before baking. You’ll see that in the video.

Streusel cake FAQ’s

What does the coconut pineapple crumb cake taste like?

The cake itself is soft and moist with a little chew from the flaked coconut and pops and puddles of sweet pineapple scattered throughout. The coconut streusel topping is crumbly and a bit crisp adding a great texture to the softness of the crumb.

I made this tropical streusel cake for my parents the last time we visited for the weekend and it didn’t last ’til Sunday afternoon. Between having some as a coffeecake each morning and the little swipes and slices that disappeared as if we had a family of mice living with us… it didn’t stand a chance.

More tropical desserts you might like: 

• Pineapple Sorbet
• Upside Down Pineapple Rum Cake
• Mango Pineapple Sorbet
• Carrot Walnut Cake with Pineapple
• Ultimate Zucchini Bread with Pineapple and Walnuts
• Mango Lime Cake

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5 from 2 votes

Pineapple Coconut Streusel Cake (a.k.a. Buckle)

This tropical pineapple coconut streusel cake is one of our favorites for it's simple, no fuss prep and well as the avalanche of fruit and streusel it contains. Sometime called a buckle, this recipe can be served as a coffeecake for weekend brunch or tasty crumb cake anytime.

Author: Lisa

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cake, coconut, coffee cake, pineapple

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 10

INGREDIENTS:

for batter

• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon coconut extract
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup cream of coconut such as Coco Lopez
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple cut in 1/4″ dice
• ⅓ cup flaked coconut

for topping

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup oatmeal
• ⅓ cup flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9″ cake pan.

for the crumble

• In a medium bowl combine the butter, sugar, cinnamon, flour and salt and using the tines of a fork cream the mixture together. Add the oatmeal and coconut and work them into the crumble mixture until well combined.

for the batter

• In a large bowl beat together the sugar and butter. Add the egg and beat until smooth. Add the extracts, baking powder and one cup of all purpose flour and beat until just combined. Beat in the buttermilk and cream of coconut. Add the remaining flour and beat until just incorporated.
• Spread half of the batter evenly in the prepared pan and sprinkle two cups of the pineapple bits over the batter.
• Stir the remaining pineapple into the other half of the batter. Drop by teaspoonfuls over the pineapple, leaving some spots uncovered by the batter. Sprinkle the crumble topping.
• Bake for 55-60 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool to room temperature and turn out the buckle onto a serving plate.

RECIPE VIDEO:

NUTRITION:

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 15.8mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2.3mg

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