MSC: Coconut Cupcakes

I was so excited to select this month's cupcake challenge, the Coconut Cupcakes from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book. I am having such a great time doing this challenge, and there are so many bakers participating!

I love, love, love coconut. So these were an obvious choice for me. I didn't experience any trouble baking these cupcakes, and I thought they were relatively simply to bake. The recipe called for pure vanilla extract, and although I don't usually like to use pure vanilla extract (I prefer the fake kind!), I used it anyway. I could tell a difference in the cake. I want to make these again, but use imitation vanilla to see if the cake taste would change dramatically.



But then, I got to the recommended frosting, which was the coconut version of the 7 Minute Frosting. I almost skipped the recommended recipe and went with a MUCH simpler Coconut Buttercream, but I decided to be true to the book and went with it.



Well, the 7 minute frosting turned into 15 minutes. It took SO long to set up, even though it was being made in my stand mixer. And making the syrup, ugh, I didn't really enjoy that, either. But, the end result did product a pretty, shiny, rich frosting.

I took the cupcakes to work the next morning for my co-workers to enjoy. They went over well, except for with our video editor, who is allergic to coconut! Needless to say, he didn't partake in the cupcakes. :)

I would probably make these cupcakes again. But without the 7 Minute Frosting. And I would use imitation vanilla instead of pure vanilla extract. So I give this one a 6 out of 10 in terms of overall goodness.

Next month we are making Smores Cupcakes! I am so excited about this one. Thanks to Mary Anne from Meet Me in the Kitchen for selecting this one. And of course, head on over to our Challenge Website to see all of my baking buddies work as well. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Coconut Key Lime Cake

I had some key limes leftover from a previous project (see Cyle's Graduation Cupcakes below), and I had seen this recipe on Smitten Kitchen's blog so I decided to have a go at it.



After I cut a piece for myself....


That evening, I had plans to meet my sister-in-law Shannon and my friend Brooke for frozen yogurt at Yogurtville. I cut them a few slices and boxed them in my pretty Martha Stewart food gift boxes. I think they were pleasantly surprised by the cake. :)

Edibles Incredibles - A Review

Last month Alex and I went to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in Virginia. I really wanted to visit a new bakery, and Shannon knew of one called Edibles Incredible. One evening, we all went to Restin, Virginia in pursuit of cupcakes. Once there, it was hard to get inside, it was a tiny little place with lots of people standing in line.

They had what seemed like 15 different varieties of cupcakes, and it was a tough decision. I ultimately chose the "Snowball" cupcake which was coconut cake with what seemed like a coconut filling, pink buttercream frosting and shredded coconut on top. These cupcakes had a giant mound of frosting on top. I think we paid about $3.50 per cupcake, but there was so much to them, it was worth the price.



My brother chose the chocolate covered cherry cupcake with cherry filling. These cupcakes were BIG! I had to cut mine into quarters. I had a bite of his cupcake, and I really liked the cherry filling.





And they had a great idea for takeout cupcakes!


I thoroughly enjoyed these cupcakes, and will definitely be back when Alex and me visit in the future.