Coconut Cupcakes
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These old-fashioned coconut cupcakes are packed with rich coconut flavor in both the cake and frosting—truly a family favorite!
They say that traits usually skip a generation, but in my case, they skipped two. My great grandmother, who was called “Honey” by everyone who knew her, was a baker and caterer. She baked cakes for the whole city of Buffalo, New York, and was especially well known for her coconut cake and cupcakes. Once I became the family baker, I took it upon myself to recreate Honey’s famous coconut cupcakes. It was a challenge to get it as “coconut-y” as the original, but I eventually nailed it. The trick was adding coconut milk and shredded coconut to both the cake and the frosting.
“Outstanding cupcakes…an 11 on a scale of 10 — on both flavor and texture.”
What You’ll Need To Make Coconut Cupcakes
- Coconut Milk: Adds rich coconut flavor and keeps the cupcakes moist; also used to thin and flavor the frosting.
- Lemon Juice: Reacts with baking soda to help the cupcakes rise.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure; measure using the spoon-and-level method to ensure accuracy.
- Cornstarch: Added to the flour which results in a lighter, more tender cake.
- Baking Soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cupcakes rise
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cake and contributes to the frosting’s smooth texture and richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the cupcakes and balances the tang of the frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the coconut flavor in both the cupcakes and frosting.
- Eggs: Bind the batter and contribute to a tender crumb.
- Sweetened Flaked Coconut: Adds texture and extra coconut flavor; also used for topping the cupcakes.
- Cream Cheese: Provides a tangy, creamy base for the frosting.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Mix the coconut milk and lemon juice in a small bowl or measuring cup; set aside.
Whisk the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in another bowl.
In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, and beat to combine.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and coconut milk mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
Stir in the shredded coconut just until combined.
Fill the cupcake liners about three-fourths full and bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer until creamy, then gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar.
Add the vanilla, coconut milk, and a pinch of salt and beat until combined.
Frost the cooled cupcakes.
Top with shredded coconut, and enjoy!
Video Tutorial
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Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, from 1 lemon
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
For the Frosting
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 6 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
- Pinch salt
- 1½ cups sweetened shredded coconut, for topping
Instructions
For the Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Lightly spray the top of the pans with a nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy or Pam Baking Spray with Flour, just incase the cupcake tops stick to the pan (don’t worry if the spray gets in the liners).
- In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut milk and lemon juice. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Turn the speed down to low and beat in one-third of the flour mixture, followed by half of the coconut milk–lemon juice mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add another one-third of the flour mixture, followed by the remaining coconut milk–lemon juice mixture. Beat in the remaining flour mixture, then scrape down the bowl and beat again until the batter is just combined. Quickly mix in the shredded coconut; do not overmix.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake pans, filling each cup about three-fourths full. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until the cupcakes are set, lightly golden, and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean (note that one pan may finish baking before the other). Let cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy and well combined. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar, and then beat in the vanilla, coconut milk, and salt.
- When the cupcakes are completely cooled, use a butter knife or small offset spatula to swirl the frosting lavishly over the top. Sprinkle with the shredded coconut, pressing it gently so it adheres, and serve.
Notes
- Adding cornstarch to the flour mimics cake flour, which makes a lighter and more delicate cake.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The cupcakes can be made and frosted up to 1 day ahead of time. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I made these for a family get together with my sister in law who has celiacs and my mom who can’t have eggs, so I went with gluten free flour and egg replacer powder. I also only had unsweetened shredded coconut so used that…they were the best cupcakes any of us ever had. Even the coconut hater of the group gobbled them up. I actually found the recipe in the cookbook but had to review it when I saw it on the website because it’s just amazing.
These cupcakes taste like heaven— light, airy and tropical heaven! 🏝
Is it ok to use a container of refrigerated coconut milk instead of canned? If so should it be room temperature like the butter and eggs?? Thank you!
Hi Annette, Unfortunately canned and refrigerated coconut milk are not interchangeable here. Sorry!
Love your recipes and careful tips and explanations! Do you have proper baking times for maki g these cupcakes as a layer cake (8 or 9”)?
Hi Lisa, The bake time for the cake layers will be 30 to 35 min. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn, I’ve made these cupcakes twice and they are delicious – absolutely perfect as is! A couple of years ago, I had a slice of lemon-coconut cake at a restaurant that I still remember. Do you think that some lemon flavor could be added to your cupcakes? Maybe some juice/zest in the frosting? I love the coconut flavor and don’t want to dilute that, so I’m not sure if it’s possible. Maybe I should make a layer cake with the recipe and fill with lemon curd? I’m open to any suggestions you may have, thanks so much 🙂
Hi Donna, So glad you like these! You could definitely add lemon zest to both the batter and the frosting to give it a hint of lemony flavor.
These cupcakes are a hit every time I make them for a church supper! It’s good only 18 fit in my Tupperware carrier because that leaves 6 for me!
Hi Jenn – these look amazing. I’d like to try them, but I can only find unsweetened shredded coconut. Do you think this could work? Would I need to adjust any of the other ingredients? Thanks so much in advance!
Hi Rachel, Unfortunately, I don’t think these would work with unsweetened coconut – I’d be concerned they’d be too dry. Sorry!
Love it! Love it! Love it! Especially my girl, she doesn’t like coconut but she said this cupcake is good. 🥰 and I’m happy, it turns out moist and delicious… thank you🥰
Could this recipe be made into a layer cake using two 8″ round pans or one cake using a 13×9 pan?
Sure, Nan, I think either will work. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
Love your recipes! Can I use light coconut milk?
Hi Joy, I always recommend full-fat coconut milk, but if you have light on hand, it should work here. Hope you enjoy!
I had to adjust a bit — since I did not shop my pantry before starting this recipe — I used cake flour in place of the AP and cornstarch – since I was out of cornstarch — and baked in a 9×13 pan – since I was out of baking cups. The result was a lovely cake — excellent crumb and flavor — and the frosting complemented it perfectly. This was one of those “I just keep evening it out in the pan” problems for my husband, anytime he passed this in the kitchen. You know — where there’s a fork left in the pan under the saran wrap 🙂 🙂