Photo: Quickie Coconut Cupcakes Recipe
Note: Make a kid's cupcake party even easier on yourself: Go to your favorite bakery and ask for undecorated vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. Then, all you have to do is whip up some icing and put out the toppings!
Ingredients
- 1 box classic white or vanilla cake mix (recommended: Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe)
- 1 1/3 cups water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons coconut extract (found on the baking aisle of the supermarket)
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 cups Cupcake Icing, recipe follows, colored with your favorite color
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12 portion) muffin tins with paper cupcake liners and set aside.
In a bowl, using an electric mixer, mix the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and coconut extract on medium speed until moistened and smooth. Stir in the chopped coconut. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin tins. The batter will nearly fill each liner to the top. Bake until the muffins spring back when lightly touched, or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
When cool, put the icing out with spoons or small spatulas along with bowls of the cupcake toppings for the kids to decorate their own cupcakes.
Cupcake Icing for a Crowd:
- 1 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 pounds confectioners' sugar (3 boxes)
- 1/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring, such as yellow, blue, and red, or your favorite
In the bowl of a large electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, whip the butter on high speed until very soft. Meanwhile, place a large sheet of parchment paper on a work surface. Using a large sifter, sift a pound of confectioners' sugar onto the parchment. This helps prevent clumping, and makes the mixing easier. Lower the speed of the mixer, and, using the parchment as a funnel, pour the sugar into the bowl and mix slowly until combined. Add the milk and mix until combined. Sift the second pound of sugar onto the parchment sheet. Again at low speed, add the sugar and mix well. Once combined, sift the remaining sugar and add it with the vanilla and mix. Once it is combined, turn the mixer speed up and beat the icing until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
If desired, divide the icing into smaller batches and color with food coloring.
Spread the icing on cooled cupcakes while at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftover icing, but be sure to let it come back to room temperature before using. Re-whip the icing to make it fluffy again.
Yield: about 8 cups, enough for at least 6 dozen cupcakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy
Cupcake toppings:
- Licorice whips
- Crushed peppermint candies
- Crushed lemon drops
- Multi-colored jimmies or nonpareils
- Mini white and dark chocolate chips
- Small chocolate candies
- Colored decorating sugars
- Cereals such as corn pops, fruit rings, or graham cracker cereal squares
- or graham cracker cereal squares
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By HEALTHY-CECE!!
Birmingham, AL
on March 16, 2012
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Ok..I did make some changes...added coconut instant pudding and 1 tsp vanilla extract instead of coconut extract and used applesause instead of oil! Other than that everything was the same! Taste Wonderful! Was very moist!!
By ItsFoodieCutie
Coral Springs, FL
on December 31, 2009
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I made this tonight for new years eve. Instead of cupcakes I made it into a bundt cake. I think the amount of coconut extract listed in the recipe is way too little, i had to add more and it still wasnt enough. I used the classic white cake mix and the taste of the vanilla over-powered the taste of the coconut. I wish it had more of a "coconut" taste. I didnt make frosting I made a glaze from a paula deen cinnamon roll recipe, and topped it with toasted coconuts it was good but the glaze was a bit sweet. Overall the cake came out decent, my family liked it.
By rvalinzia_11392014
Glen Burnie, MD
on November 29, 2008
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as many times as Racheal Ray has said that she can not bake she is baking cupcakes!!!!!!!!!!!!Even boxed!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I CAN'T BELIVE MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY LIFE RACHAEL RAY IS BAKING SUCH DELICIOUS AND MOIST BOXED CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOOK AT HER COOKING DIFFERENT NOW!!!!!!!!IF RACHAEL RAY CAN BAKE ANY BODY CAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Read all 11 reviews