Skinny Coconut Cupcakes

Skinny Coconut Cupcakes

Bake Skinny Coconut Cupcakes today: light coconut cake with coconut cream cheese frosting, perfect for spring gatherings.

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Yield24

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1: Make the coconut cream cheese frosting

In a medium bowl combine the softened Philadelphia cream cheese with the powdered sugar and two teaspoons of natural coconut extract. Use a hand mixer to beat the mixture until it is very smooth, glossy and just slightly aerated — the texture should be creamy but hold soft peaks when the beaters are lifted. Scrape the bowl, transfer the frosting to a covered container and refrigerate until the cupcakes are cool and you're ready to finish them.

Step 2: Mix the batter and bake the cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the egg whites, light canned coconut milk and the unsweetened applesauce with the remaining coconut extract until homogeneous and slightly frothy at the surface. Add the white box cake mix and the sweetened coconut flakes, folding gently until the batter is smooth and evenly speckled with shredded coconut. Spoon or pour batter into the lined tins about halfway up each liner, then bake until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops are faintly golden. Remove the tins and let the cupcakes cool completely to room temperature on the painted surface before decorating.


Step 3: Finish, decorate and present

When the cupcakes are cool, top each one with a measured half-tablespoon dollop of the chilled coconut cream cheese frosting, smoothing or lightly peaked with the back of a spoon so the frosting reads as a soft, snowy pillow. Sprinkle a teaspoon of sweetened coconut flakes onto each frosted top for a delicate, fibrous texture, then nestle three pastel mini chocolate eggs atop each cupcake for an Easter flourish. Arrange the finished cupcakes on a delicate white pedestal cake stand for serving and display them surrounded by a soft pink striped linen for an inviting springtime composition.

Notes