Coconut Cupcakes
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 14
 
Ingredients
  • 1½ sticks butter at room temp
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs at room temp
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1½ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch kosher salt
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 package sweetened coconut (about 7oz)
  • For frosting:
  • 8oz cream cheese at room temp
  • 1½ sticks butter at room temp
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 3½ cups sifted powdered sugar
  • ½ cup M&M’S® Pastel Peanut Chocolate Candy
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy- about 3 minutes on high speed.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition.
  4. Add vanilla and almond and mix well.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients and sift.
  6. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the cupcake mixture- starting and ending with dry ingredients.
  7. Gently fold in about 3-4 oz of coconut. Do not overmix.
  8. Place cupcake liners into a muffin pan and fill each about ¾ of the way with the mixture.
  9. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a fork inserted into your largest cupcake comes out clean.
  10. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
  11. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.
  12. Spread remaining 3 oz or so of coconut in a thin layer on top of a parchment lined baking sheet.
  13. Bake for about 5-7 minutes until toasted- keep an eye on it so it isn't burned.
  14. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  15. To make the frosting:
  16. Add sugar and butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low.
  17. Add the extracts and slowly add the confectioners sugar ½ cup at a time.
  18. Add slightly more sugar if frosting seems a little too thin or buttery.
  19. Frost cupcakes, top with toasted coconut and a few M&M’S® candies to serve as the eggs.
Recipe by My Frugal Adventures at https://myfrugaladventures.com/2018/02/birds-nest-coconut-cupcakes/