Coconut Cupcakes with Lime Buttercream

This recipe caught my eye in the last issue of Cooking Light. It was on the very last page, so I am sure that is what it was intended to do.
We were taking dinner to someone and I thought this was the perfect dessert to share.
I always end up doing that. I make something I have never tried before and give it to people. I guess I just have faith that most recipes will turn out deliciously.
Am I the only one who does that?
Maybe it is because I like trying new things all the time.
Anyway, I had some lite coconut milk leftover in the fridge, so I decided to sub half of the milk called for with the coconut milk. Just for an extra dash of flavor.
I didn't have any trouble finding potato starch, which I have never used before and I am not really sure if it affected the texture or taste of these cupcakes.
We loved them. I doubled the recipe so I would have enough to share and some to try.
The best part was the frosting. I used the leftovers on the Fresh Mango Bread Muffins I made a couple of days ago. Yum-my!


We are moving this weekend to Georgia! My husband is flying in tomorrow night and then we are packing the truck and heading out of here on Monday morning. We are taking our time, trekking across the U.S. and making stops along the way. We hope to be in Georgia by friday night. I have made enough treats and meals in the past couple weeks, that I will still have new material to blog about, so keep coming back to check in and have a good weekend!

Coconut Cupcakes with Lime Buttercream Frosting from Cooking Light

Find potato starch in the supermarket baking aisle. Use lemon rind and fresh lemon juice in place of the lime for a variation.

Cupcakes:

Cooking spray

4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)

3 tablespoons potato starch

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 large egg

1 large egg white

2/3 cup fat-free milk (I used 1/3 cup lite coconut milk and 1/3 cup fat-free milk)

2 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon half-and-half

1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

4.75 ounces powdered sugar, sifted (about 1 1/3 cups)

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cupcakes, place 2 muffin cup liners in each of 12 muffin cups; coat liners with cooking spray.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a small bowl; stir with a whisk.
4. Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended (mixture will be the consistency of damp sand). Add egg and egg white, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in coconut and vanilla.
5. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when touched lightly in the center. Cool in pan 2 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
6. To prepare frosting, combine 3 tablespoons butter and next 3 ingredients (through juice) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until smooth. Spread about 2 1/2 teaspoons frosting onto each cupcake.


Coming on Sunday- Banana Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting