The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes

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Topped with cream cheese frosting, these Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes are a delicious homemade dessert recipe everyone will love. Coconut is baked into the batter and sprinkled on top for the perfect finishing touch.

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

Of all the cupcakes in the world, coconut ones are easily my favorite. No question about it. And as you might guess, whenever the craving for one strikes, I turn to my go-to recipe. In this case, it’s The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes.

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

During the past few weeks, I have been whipping up a lot of things with coconut. I made Macaroon Nests, a Cottontail (Coconut) Martini, and now these cupcakes. It’s coconut heaven at my house. I’m not complaining.

How to Make Coconut Cupcakes:

The recipe for these cupcakes comes from Ina Garten. I’ve made a few tweaks to her recipe (no offense, Ina), but all of the credit goes to her. She featured these on her show way back in the day, and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since.

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm
The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

The recipe below is just for the cupcakes themselves.

You’re going to need some cream cheese frosting (obviously) to go with them. Homemade is best, so be sure to grab My Favorite Cream Cheese frosting recipe here.

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

If you like coconut, it truly doesn’t get much better than this.

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

While these cupcakes are delicious in the spring and summer, I could think of an excuse to make them anytime of the year. I’m sure you could, too. Enjoy!

Want unique more Easter dessert ideas? Check out these:

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

These Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes were prepared as part of my Easter Dessert Kabobs. Instead of making traditional size cupcakes, I made mini ones to use on my kabobs.

Easter Dessert Kabobs - Spring / Easter rainbow dessert recipe ideas | Inspired by Charm

These creative and colorful kabobs are a fun way to serve dessert for spring or Easter. You can learn how I made them by clicking HERE.

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The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes dessert recipe | Inspired by Charm

The Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes

Topped with cream cheese frosting, these Ultimate Coconut Cupcakes are a delicious homemade dessert recipe everyone will love. Coconut is baked into the batter and sprinkled on top for the perfect finishing touch.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, coconut, cupcakes, easter, spring
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 24 cupcakes
Calories: 474kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Begin by preheating your oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high for about 5 minutes or until it’s light and fluffy. Then, with the mixer on low, add one egg at a time. Scrape down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extract and mix well.
  • In three alternating additions, mix in the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined; then fold in half (7 ounces) of the coconut.
  • Fill each cupcake liner to the top with batter. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the tops are just starting to brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 15 minutes; then remove them to a baking rack to cool completely.
  • In the meantime, prepare your cream cheese frosting. (Recipe linked below.*)
  • When the cupcakes have cooled, frost them with a spatula or piping bag. Sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Notes

My Favorite Cream Cheese Frosting recipe can be found HERE

Nutrition

Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

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13 Comments

  1. I’m with you, Michael ! I’ve always loved a good coconut cake. Especially at Easter (though they’re also wonderful in winter — snowballs?).
    This recipe is a KEEPER!!!
    Have you ever had the coconut cake at “Good Enough To Eat” Restaurant in NYC (UWS)? Delicious!

    Just for future reference (hint, hint) —
    I also like rich dark chocolate w/ crushed peppermints on top (isn’t chocolate & mint a wonderful combo).
    Oooh, and LEMON (cake & frosting) w/ lots of lemon zest for a lemon-y sweet/tart flavor! There used to be a cupcake shop in NYC that sold the most delicious lemon cupcakes, but I think it closed, so I’ve been searching for the right recipe ever since.

    1. Buttercup Bake Shop (2nd Ave near 51st St in NYC) lemon cupcake with fresh lemon zest and lemon buttercream icing — next time you’re in NYC you should try it

  2. I have made Ina’s coconut cupcakes many times and always with consistent outcomes to the tune of awesome deliciousness. Absolutely agree with you ! Thanks for sharing and for reminding me it’s time to make another batch!