Pina Colada Cupcakes

  • Level: Intermediate
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes
  • Total: 2 hr
  • Active: 1 hr 10 min
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Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or 1/4 cup each vegetable oil and coconut oil)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

1 tablespoon dark rum

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

For the frosting:

1 cup pineapple juice

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon coconut extract

1 tablespoon dark rum

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Maraschino cherries and cocktail umbrellas, for decorating

Directions

  1. Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, coconut milk, vegetable oil and vanilla and coconut extracts in a large bowl. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
  2. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters of the way. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes are golden and spring back when gently pressed, 18 to 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, combine the rum, lime juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. When the cupcakes are done, poke them all over with a toothpick and brush with the rum syrup while still warm. Let cool 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
  4. Meanwhile, make the frosting: Bring the pineapple juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until syrupy and reduced to 2 to 3 tablespoons, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate until completely cool. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the confectioners' sugar and salt. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts and beat 1 minute, then add the rum and the reduced pineapple juice and beat to combine. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes and top with the shredded coconut. Decorate with maraschino cherries and cocktail umbrellas.

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Anonymous

You need to make sure to not add to much pineapple juice. I thought it need more pineapple flavor in the frosting but by adding to much it made a really weird consistency.

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