“I first discovered in a church cookbook years ago and there was no way

Step 2: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and pour in the batter. Bake for about 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top should be golden brown with a light crust.

Step 3: Prepare the Topping

While the cake is baking, make the luscious topping. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar, evaporated milk, and coconut. Cook until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken slightly, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4: Glaze While Warm

As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, poke a few small holes across the surface with a fork. Pour the warm coconut topping evenly over the hot cake, letting it seep in. This step makes the cake incredibly rich and gives it that signature church cookbook charm.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

Allow the cake to cool at room temperature. It can be sliced into squares and served warm or chilled. Either way, it’s moist, sweet, and utterly irresistible.

Why This Recipe Stands the Test of Time

This cake isn’t about perfection or elaborate technique—it’s about warmth, community, and simplicity. Recipes like this survive for decades because they are affordable, easy to make, and universally loved. The combination of pineapple and coconut makes it tropical yet familiar, and the topping gives it a gooey, melt-in-your-mouth finish that keeps people coming back for seconds.

So, the next time you stumble upon an old cookbook tucked away on a shelf, don’t overlook it. You might just find a recipe, like this one, that becomes part of your family’s traditions for generations to come.

✨ Would you like me to write a variation of this recipe as a savory dish (like a casserole) instead of a dessert—still framed around the “church cookbook discovery” story? That way you’ll have both sweet and savory versions from the same theme.