This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
Coconut Cupcakes are super moist, easy, and full of coconut flavor! There is coconut in the cupcake batter, the cupcake and in the amazing and fluffy coconut buttercream. These cupcakes will become your new favorite recipe!
Easy Coconut Cupcakes Recipe
If you’re a coconut lover like me, you’re always on the hunt for new and delicious ways to enjoy the flavor. Move over coconut cream pie: these incredibly coconutty coconut cupcakes are here! With a moist and soft crumb and perfect texture, they’re easy to make, bursting with coconut in every bite and you’re going to love them.
Ingredients Needed
- Sweetened Shredded Coconut: Also called angel flake, you’ll find it in the baking aisle.
- Canned Coconut Milk: This can be found in the Asian foods aisle – use full fat coconut milk.
- Coconut extract – amps up the coconut flavor of the frosting. You can also omit and just use vanilla extract.
- All the ingredients for these classic cupcakes: Flour, baking powder, salt, butter, granulated sugar, eggs. All basic ingredients, but the key to a delicious cupcake.
- My absolute favorite coconut buttercream frosting which is fluffy and SO GOOD.
How to Make Coconut Cupcakes
- Whisk salt, baking powder, and flour in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream sugar into softened butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Add dry ingredients alternately with the coconut milk, mixing gently between each addition of the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Stir in shredded sweetened coconut.
- Pour batter into prepared muffin pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before removing and frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat butter in a large bowl. Slowly beat in powdered sugar, salt and extracts. Add coconut milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Frost cupcakes as desired, sprinkle with additional shredded coconut.
Favorite Frostings
You aren’t limited to coconut frosting. Here are some other favorites for these cupcakes:
Expert Tips
- You know your cupcakes are done baking when a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
- Use room temperature ingredients for the perfect moist texture and don’t over mix the batter once the dry ingredients are added.
- Fill the cupcake liner approximately 3/4 full for the perfect domed tops.
- You can store these cupcakes for up to three days at room temperature, or for up to five days in the fridge. In the freezer, they’ll last for up to two months.
FAQs
How do you store these cupcakes?
Store these cupcakes in an airtight container. They can freeze for 2 months!
Can I make these gluten free?
These cupcakes can be made with Gluten-Free 1:1 AP flour in an equal amount to the flour called for.
Easy Coconut Cupcakes Recipe
Coconut Cupcakes from scratch with an easy fluffy coconut frosting – this is the best cupcake ever.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ (170g) cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1¼ (250g) cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
For the Frosting
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (452g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-4 tablespoons full-fat canned coconut milk
- Additional shredded sweetened coconut, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
- Whisk salt, baking powder, and flour in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- Using a hand mixer, cream sugar into softened butter until fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Add dry ingredients alternately with the coconut milk, starting and ending with the flour, mixing gently between each addition. Mix until just combined. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Stir in ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut.
- Pour batter into prepared pans and bake approximately 12-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before removing and frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer until smooth.
- Slowly beat in powdered sugar until crumbly. Beat in salt and extracts. Add coconut milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Frost cupcakes as desired, sprinkle with additional shredded coconut.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe is different than the original, which used cake mix. Find that recipe here.
- Canned Coconut Milk can be found in the Asian foods aisle. You can substitute refrigerated coconut milk (a nondairy drink) but your result won’t be as coconut-y of a flavor.
- Be sure to use room temperature ingredients for the best cupcakes.
- Store cupcakes loosely covered on the counter or freeze in an airtight container.
Recipe Nutrition
Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Your cupcakes are beautiful and sound delicious! Maybe I could also use my coconut oil in this recipe somewhere(I have yet to use it)! You sound just like me in the clothes department, and my girls (grown) sound just like your daughter:) I would much rather spend the money on stuff to dress up my cookies than dress myself~haha!
Yes! I bet coconut oil in place of vegetable oil would be awesome!
Oh my gosh! LOVE THOSE! I cannot make cupcakes. At all. Wish we were closer and you could teach me.
These are so easy Carrian, I bet you could do it. But I wish we could do it together too!
Your cupcakes look awesome! Can’t wait to try them…
Thank you!
I relate to you with just about everything in this post!! I’m not fashionable at all – but my daughter loves to get dressed up! And when it comes to photo styling, I definitely think I fall on the simplistic side of the line. But these cupcakes? I don’t think they need anything else – they look perfect as they are!
Thank you Deborah!
GORGEOUS cupcakes!
Thanks Jennifer!
Featured In
Rate This Recipe
Recipe Ratings without Comment