Sunday 29 March 2009

Fluffy coconut cupcakes



I’ve been waiting to make these for some weeks and have finally got around to it! They had me at the title – fluffy coconut cupcakes – what’s not to love?

We all have flavours that grab our attention if they appear in the description of a cake or dessert and coconut is certainly one of mine. Others would be vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, apple, pear, custard...ok, so there are quite a few!


The cupcake recipe is different to others I’ve made as it has less egg but uses buttermilk. This gave a light, crumbly texture and it suited the coconut very well. Because of the low butter and egg content the cupcakes are pale, so I recommend using the skewer test for ‘done-ness’.

I love the colour of these; they are so clean and wholesome looking. Yes, I know...I need to get out more. But at least some of you must see what I mean? Anyone?


The buttercream, the observant among you will have noticed, is not smooth. This is because it contains desiccated coconut. It struck me as a halfway house between buttercream and coconut ice, the unashamedly sugary sweet.


Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:

125g self raising flour
25g desiccated coconut
115g caster sugar
125ml buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon coconut extract
65g unsalted butter, melted

For the coconut icing:

280g icing sugar
70g desiccated coconut
100g unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1-3 tablespoons hot water


How to make:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
- Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases.
- Combine the flour, coconut and sugar in a bowl and make a well in the centre.
- Into the well pour the buttermilk, egg, coconut extract and melted butter and mix until all the ingredients are combined.
- Spoon the mixture evenly into the paper cases.
- Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean. Mine took 18 minutes.
- Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing the cupcakes and leaving to cool completely on a wire rack.
- You can make the cupcakes a day in advance if you store them in an airtight tin. Make the icing on the day though.
- Now make the icing: place all the ingredients, except the hot water, in a bowl and mix together.
- Add just enough hot water to make a spreadable consistency.
- Spread the icing over each cupcake and decorate according to taste – I used wafer roses.
- Bask in glory at the wonderful thing you have made.
- Eat.

22 comments:

silverpebble said...

Love the ricepaper roses on top - they look delectable! Hmm, do you have any spare?

April said...

so pretty!!!

April xx

Maggie said...

Mmm these are pretty and must be very moist considering that you used buttermilk in the mixture.

trash said...

you had me right up until the mention of buttercream. Why? Why do people insist upon ruining perfectly lovely cake with that vile blend of marg/butter and icing sugar???

;-)

Foodiewife said...

These are lovely. I love coconut and butterceam. I can't help myself.

The buttercream, I'll bet, made these moist and very tasty.

I'm itching to make these...just as soon as I'm fully recovered from my cold.

Debby

Lisa said...

Oh my, that first pic has such a sexy film noir aspect to it. If Lauren Bacall were a cupcake...you nailed it, Crusading one. :-)

A_and_N said...

Ooh, my husband loves this. Must do.

Sara said...

What beautiful looking cupcakes! The frosting looks so light and airy.

Anne said...

You had me at coconut ice!

They look beautiful and very delicious!

Coleens Recipes said...

Totally delicious looking!

Jude said...

Love the name of your blog. Can't remember how I stumbled onto it but I'll definitely be back. Great stuff!

Elyse said...

Wow, these cupcakes look fantastic. I love what buttermilk does for a cake recipe. They're so light and tender looking. Plus, coconut butter cream sounds like a true delight. I'd have to keep myself from eating it by the spoonful.

Premyscakes said...

too pretty.

Emily said...

These cupcakes look very cute and yummy. Coconut is one of my favorite flavors.

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

My husband would love these. He adores coconut!

Maria♥ said...

Oh these are simply adorable and definitely a must try!

Maria
x

J.L. Danger said...

I love coconut in the summer time! THese will be perfect!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Woppee! I want one of those, heck I will have half a dozen! Hmmmmmm :P

♥Rosie♥ said...

How beautiful C.C. perfection in cupcake form.

Rosie x

glamah16 said...

I love white cakes . Did you make the roses?

Anonymous said...

1000g butter for the icing?!!!

The Caked Crusader said...

Good spot Anonymous - it should be 100g. I'll correct it
Thanks