Coconut

Perfect Coconut Cupcakes

by:
March 21, 2021
5
6 Ratings
Perfect Coconut Cupcakes
  • Makes 21 to 24 cupcakes
Author Notes

This is a white coconut cupcake that's moist and not too sweet, with just the perfect amount of coconut flavor. There's a nice textural contrast with the shredded coconut in the cake. The lime juice and/or zest is a great pairing with the coconut, and makes it feel a little more summery and tropical, but I like the clean coconut flavor myself. It's a hit even with people who aren't big fans of coconut -- it's that delicate of a flavor!

Note: If you don't have cake flour, you can make some yourself with all-purpose flour and cornstarch. For every cup of flour, take out two tablespoons and replace with cornstarch. Sift together very well - at least 4 to 5 times! You want the cornstarch to be well incorporated and the flour to be very well aerated. —smarshtastic

Test Kitchen Notes

These coconut cupcakes are truly perfect for anyone who loves the subtle taste of coconut. I also omitted the lime juice and lime zest, and didn't find the coconut overwhelming at all -- if anything, I would add more coconut! The incredibly light and fluffy cupcake is topped with a lusciously smooth swiss meringue buttercream that is not overly sweet and complements the cupcake amazingly. To give it an extra textural element and nuttiness, I topped these cupcakes with some toasted coconut. —Foodie First Student Later

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • White Coconut Cupcakes
  • 2 1/4 cups cake flour (see note)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes
  • 1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut
  • 6 egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (optional)
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • Coconut Swiss Meringue Buttercream
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 6 egg whites
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2/3 cup coconut milk
  • Zest of one lime (optional)
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
  2. Sift the cake flour into a large bowl (or into the bowl of a stand mixer, if you have one). Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir gently to combine. With the mixer on low, add butter cubes a few at a time and beat until you have a sandy, coarse texture.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, coconut milk, shredded coconut, and vanilla (and lime juice, if using). Add half of the mixture to the dry ingredients and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about a minute. Add the remaining wet mixture and then beat until the batter is light and fluffy, about 30 seconds.
  4. Scoop batter evenly into the liners so they're about 2/3 full (I use a quarter cup measuring cup and that's usually about right). Bake for 18 minutes, or until they spring under your fingertips when pressed lightly. Allow to cool in the pans slightly before transferring baked cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
  5. To make the frosting, add egg whites and sugar into a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer if you have one) and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved -- about 6 to 8 minutes. If you rub a little bit between your fingers, it shouldn't feel grainy to the touch.
  6. Transfer the bowl to a stand mixer (with a whisk attachment) if you have one, or else set on a towel on your counter, and start whipping. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is a fluffy meringue and the bowl is cool to the touch (6 to 8 minutes if using a stand mixer, 10 to 15 if using a hand mixer).
  7. With the mixer on low, start adding butter cubes one at a time until they've all been added to the meringue. Increase the speed back to medium-high and continue beating until butter is fully incorporated, smooth, and fluffy (don't worry if it looks curdled - more beating will bring it together!).
  8. Slowly add the coconut milk, vanilla and salt to the meringue and beat on medium-high speed until the coconut milk is incorporated and the mixture is once again fluffy and smooth. It'll take some time to reconstitute itself, so be patient!
  9. To frost, transfer frosting to a piping bag with a decorative tip (or a ziplock with the corner cut out; or smear some on with a knife) and pipe onto each cupcake. You can store these at room temp for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
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17 Reviews

JstJff2022
JstJff2022 April 1, 2022
The recipe must be right now because these are OUTSTANDING cupcakes. I followed the directions to the letter (with lime, which becomes a background flavor) except for at the end I added toasted coconut on top. Keep whipping the frosting, it comes together like magic at the end. Please make these cupcakes. You’ll love them as much as I do.
 
Caitlin
Caitlin June 15, 2016
The coconut milk still hasn't mixed in. Any ideas?
 
Jenny
Jenny June 21, 2016
The Coconut milk goes in last. However, the cream slightly curdled initially but after awhile of beating it smoothes again.
 
pattyrat
pattyrat August 21, 2014
Well, this is annoying, this recipe has been on here for over a year apparently and still hasn't been corrected. I'd really like to make it - was going to make it right now - but there is still no instruction about when to add the remaining ingredients to the frosting. The directions for the frosting only go so far as the egg whites, sugar and butter - what about the salt, vanilla, coconut milk and lime zest???
 
pattyrat
pattyrat September 5, 2014
Ok, I looked up a similar frosting recipe and decided to add the salt, vanilla, coconut milk and lime zest after mixing in the butter. I made these cupcakes for a family gathering and got many compliments, they were the BEST coconut cake/cupcakes I've ever had - not too sweet or heavy, very light and moist, and not too heavy on the coconut flavor. However, the next time I would either omit the lime altogether or add more of it, the lime flavor was hardly detectable.
 
Aimee O.
Aimee O. May 8, 2014
how would this come out with out the shredded coconut? I'm not a fan of the crunchy/chewiness of it!
 
adeola
adeola April 21, 2014
I just finished baking this cupcakes and they are amazing! I did not try the frosting though because the cakes went to8 fast and no one even waited for the frosting. I also did not use the lime. I made 21 cupcakes and I have only 6 left...my friends just cleared them all! Fabulous recipe!
 
tracy R.
tracy R. February 1, 2014
When do you add the last three ingredients to the frosting recipe? Or do you stop at the butter and don't add the coconut milk/Salt and Vanilla? Please fix
 
Foodie F.
Foodie F. May 29, 2013
Hi, you never indicated when to add the coconut milk in the meringue frosting
 
sjmiller
sjmiller May 24, 2013
There still seems to be one step missing between 4 and 5 - I agree with the previous commenter, this recipe sounds delicious and I'd love to try it!
 
smarshtastic
smarshtastic May 24, 2013
Hi there! I'm not sure where that step disappeared to - I'll add it here in a comment because I can't seem to edit the recipe right now. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Step 4B: To make the frosting, add egg whites and sugar into a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer if you have one) and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved - about 6-8 minutes. If you rub a little bit between your fingers, it shouldn't feel grainy to the touch.
 
sjmiller
sjmiller May 24, 2013
Thanks a bunch!
 
smarshtastic
smarshtastic May 24, 2013
No problem at all! Glad I could clear that up!
 
pattyrat
pattyrat August 21, 2014
please add directions for the rest of the frosting ingredients - when to add the vanilla, salt, coconut milk and lime zest?
 
jkinney417
jkinney417 May 14, 2013
This recipe is very confusing. Please correct the ingredients list and re-print. It sounds wonderful.
 
smarshtastic
smarshtastic May 14, 2013
I'm so sorry of that! It looks like some of my ingredients didn't save when I published the recipe. It should be fixed now! Let me know if you have any other issues.
 
jkinney417
jkinney417 May 14, 2013
This recipe is very confusing. Please correct and re-print. It sounds wonderful!