Pumpkin Pecan Coconut Cake

Pumpkin. Pecan. Coconut. It might seem like an unlikely trio, but once you’ve tasted it, you’ll wonder why you never thought to put them together before. The pumpkin keeps things moist, while the coconut adds a tender chewiness that’s backed by the pecan’s nutty crunch. It makes for an easy sheet cake that’s unassuming but satisfying in every way, both sweet and subtly spiced.

If you’re not into the whole ‘pumpkin spice’ deal, we can promise that this cake is a departure from your typical pumpkin spice style dessert. It’s a little more nuanced, with a combination of flavors that’s almost unexpected but not so heavily spiced that the other seasonings drown out the pumpkin. Instead, the coconut plays off the pumpkin in texture and flavor beautifully.

And it’s not the type of cake that warrants a frosting. It’s flavorful enough that it just plain doesn’t need it, and it’s so easy to throw together that gussying it up with frosting just takes away from the beautiful simplicity of it. It’s a cake that’s easy to make and easy to serve, and so good that it makes you look good too.