When I'm not working, I have lots of time for things like desserts, and dinners...and more desserts. Anything carb-a-licious usually gets an solid "10" from Husband in my post-dinner rating, and I don't think we have yet encountered a dessert we don't love.
So.
Last night I stumbled was craving something coconut. I found this recipe on The Food Network, changed up a couple things according to what I did/didn't have in my cupboards, and PRESTO! Yummy Coconut Cupcakes, with Buttercream frosting! Here's my slightly altered, but I'm sure equally tasty, version!
Ingredients
3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter @ room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs @ room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract (I ran out of almond last week ;) )
3 cups flour (I whisk mine before measuring)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk (I had no buttermilk, so I mix slightly less than 1 cup low fat milk with 1 TBSP distilled white vinegar. Because I'm THAT much of a risk-taker.)
Sweetened shredded coconut for topping on frosting
Preheat oven to 350 F
With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar till COMPLETELY mixed, and nice 'n fluffy. Dip your finger (or a spoon, if you're a more sanitary person than I) and taste, just for fun. YUM. Add the eggs one at a time, mixer on low. Mix in the vanilla and coconut extracts.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk/vinegar mixture to the batter. Mix until just combined.
Line 2 muffin pans with paper liners. Fill each liner about 3/4 full (should make 24 cupcakes). Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, and then remove to a baking rack and cool completely.
The Food Network recipe calls for homemade buttercream frosting, and that's great for people who have time to make from-scratch frosting. I'm just proud of my from-scratch CUPCAKES, so I used a store-bought can of Duncan Hines "Cream Homestyle" Buttercream frosting. It's yummy, it's easy, it's full of artificial ingredients...what's not to love? ;) Once cupcakes are completely cooled, spoon on a whole mess of frosting, and then sprinkle on some sweetened shredded coconut. Now EAT THEM ALL!!!