Toasted Coconut Cupcakes

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These sweet toasted coconut cupcakes will be the perfect addition to your Easter celebration and are topped off with a swirl of cream cheese icing and a toasted coconut crunch.

There’s something about spring and the spring holidays that makes my brain fill with coconut. Whether it’s coconut macaroons or coconut topped matzo brittle for Passover, or coconut rice pudding topped with crunchy brittle, coconut represents springtime to me.

I’ve been making coconut cake for years. It was dad’s favorite for his birthday and my grandma always whipped up the classic topped with 7 minute icing and sweetened flakes. Well, today you reap the reward of my coconut love with these toasted coconut cupcakes which are perfect for your Easter celebration.

I’ve settled on a combination of sweetened and unsweetened coconut, both toasted and untoasted for these beauties. I’ve also skipped the seven-minute icing and replaced it with cream cheese icing. This is actually because my coconut-loving son (apparently there’s a familial coconut gene) prefers cream cheese icing and asked me to give it a go. Well, the kid’s got taste and ding ding ding I think we’ve got ourselves a winner!

These pretty little cupcakes are Easter-ready and extra adorable garnished with a bright, fondant flower, or candy speckled egg. They are definitely easier than a layer cake and perfectly portable if you’re not hosting and tasked with dessert. So, let’s give spring a big coconuty welcome shall we? 

And just in case you need one more recipe…check out this coconut rice pudding with coconut caramel brittle. I’m thinking that brittle could pull double duty as a cupcake garnish….just sayin.

Tips for success

• Don’t overmix the batter, beat just until combined! Overbeating develops the gluten in the flour and instead of a light, airy cupcake, you’ll have a dense cupcake with too much chew.
• Why unsweetened and sweetened coconut? We really want to taste the coconut flavor without it becoming too sweet and cloying. The addition of unsweetened coconut amps up the flavor without adding too much sweet.
• Keep an eye on that coconut as it toasts. It can go from white to burnt in minutes!
• Think out of the box with garnishes. Not feeling the added work from fondant flowers? Think speckled eggs, chocolate eggs, mini bunnies, or pastel sprinkles for Easter fun!

5 from 1 vote

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Toasted Coconut Cupcakes

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

These sweet toasted coconut cupcakes will be the perfect addition to your Easter celebration and are are topped off with a swirl of cream cheese icing and a toasted coconut crunch.

Course: Cupcakes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: coconut cupcakes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Calories: 560 kcal

Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…

Ingredients

Coconut Cupcakes

• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 8 oz unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 egg whites, room temperature
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup whole milk
• 2½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Cream Cheese Icing

• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 8 oz unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 2 lbs confectioners sugar
• 4 tsp vanilla extract

Assemble the Cupcakes

• 1 1/2 cups flaked or shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
• *optional fondant flowers for decoration

Instructions

Coconut Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 – 12 cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. Beat the butter with an electric mixture or in your stand mixer on high. Gradually add in sugar and beat until fluffy, about 2 mins.

4. Add the egg whites and beat until well blended, about 2 mins, then add in the sour cream and beat until combined.
5. Add in one third of the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
6. Add one half of the milk, mix until combined. Continue with the flour, milk and finish with the flour. Don’t overmix.

7. Stir in the vanilla, toasted coconut, and unsweetened coconut.

8. Divide the batter between the lined cups (using an ice cream scoop) and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Rotate the pans once while baking.

9. Cool the cupcakes in the pans for about 5 minutes, then remove them from the pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.

Cream Cheese Icing

1. Beat the butter and cream cheese together. Slowly add in the confectioners sugar and beat until fluffy. Mix in the vanilla.

Assemble the Cupcakes

1. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip about ⅔ full with icing (refill as needed). Pipe the icing in concentric circles on top of the cupcakes, creating a slight peak.  Alternatively, spread the icing on the cupcakes with an offset spatula. 

2. Combine the toasted coconuts together. Sprinkle a handful over the top of each cupcake, pressing lightly to adhere. Garnish with fondant flowers or the decoration of your choosing if desired.
   

Recipe Notes

• Don’t overmix the batter, beat just until combined! Overbeating develops the gluten in the flour and instead of a light, airy cupcake, you’ll have a dense cupcake with too much chew.
• Why unsweetened and sweetened coconut? We really want to taste the coconut flavor without it becoming too sweet and cloying. The addition of unsweetened coconut amps up the flavor without adding too much sweet.
• Keep an eye on that coconut as it toasts. It can go from white to burnt in minutes!
• Think out of the box with garnishes. Not feeling the added work from fondant flowers? Think speckled eggs, chocolate eggs, mini bunnies, or pastel sprinkles for Easter fun!

Nutrition Facts

Toasted Coconut Cupcakes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 560 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Fat 29g45%

Saturated Fat 19g119%

Cholesterol 64mg21%

Sodium 200mg9%

Potassium 173mg5%

Carbohydrates 71g24%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 57g63%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 770IU15%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 60mg6%

Iron 0.6mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2017 but was republished with tips in April 2019.