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unwrapped cupcake with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut on a white cupcake stand

Coconut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Kara
Tender, buttery cupcakes loaded with coconut and topped with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut. Dreamy!
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 48 minutes
Course Dessert: Cakes and Cupcakes
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cupcakes
Calories 343 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cupcakes:

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 1 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • ½ tsp coconut flavoring
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 6 oz soft cream cheese
  • cup butter softened
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups powdered sugar approximately
  • tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp toasted coconut for sprinkling on top

Instructions
 

  • Let your butter and cream soften at room temperature for a few hours.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  • Beat the butter, oil, and sugar in a large bowl on high speed until creamy.
  • Add the eggs, yogurt, vanilla, almond, and coconut extracts and mix well.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients just until flour is moistened. Fold in the 1 cup of coconut.
  • Line muffin pans with 16 paper liners. Fill each liner about 1/2- 2/3 full.
  • Bake at 400°for just 5 minutes.
  • Turn the oven temperature down to 350° and bake for another 11-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
  • Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.
  • While cupcakes cool, toast the 2 tablespoons of coconut. Spread it in a pie tin or small baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
  • Pipe or spread cooled cupcakes with frosting and sprinkle with toasted coconut.
  • For frosting: Beat soft cream cheese and butter in a bowl until fluffy. Beat in remaining ingredients and add powdered sugar till it is the consistency you need. If you are spreading on the frosting, you may not need all the powdered sugar. If piping it on, you may need to add a bit more.

Notes

  • Depending on the temperature of your butter and cream cheese, your frosting may not be thick enough to pipe. If it isn't, just cover it and pop it in the fridge until it thickens.
  • A blend of vanilla, almond, and coconut extracts really does taste the best, but you can just use 1 1/2 tsp vanilla. You can also use 1 tsp coconut extract instead of using the almond.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 204mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 476IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
Keyword coconut cupcakes
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