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If you love coconut you’re going to LOVE Coconut Frosting. This easy buttercream recipe is full of coconut flavor and perfect on brownies, cake, or cupcakes!
Best Coconut Frosting Recipe
I am obsessed with coconut all the things and this frosting is definitely one of them! This is an all-purpose frosting recipe you can use on anything and any flavor, from chocolate to lemon cupcakes, vanilla cake to coconut bars!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Coconut frosting isn’t just for coconut cake – it’s good on everything!
- Just a few simple ingredients
- FULL of tons of coconut flavor!
- Freezes great so you can make it ahead.
Ingredients Needed for Coconut Frosting
- Butter – unsalted, softened butter is what you need to make buttercream. If you use salted butter, that’s fine, but you’ll reduce or omit the added salt.
- Coconut Extract – This is crucial for adding the coconut flavor in the frosting.
How to Make Coconut Buttercream Frosting
- Beat butter: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the unsalted, softened butter until it becomes smooth.
- Add powdered sugar: Slowly and gradually, beat the powdered sugar into the butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Combine all ingredients: Once the mixture is crumbly, add the salt, coconut extract, and vanilla extract. Then, slowly add the heavy cream one tablespoon at a time. Beat in between each addition and it’ll become nice and fluffy.
Expert Tips
- The key to this buttercream is to add the heavy whipping cream slowly. The perfect consistency may pass you by if you pour too hastily, and then you’ll have to overcompensate with extra powdered sugar.
- You can use milk or nondairy milk, but the frosting won’t be as fluffy.
- Start with softened butter for best results.
- To get a more coconut-y flavor, swap out the heavy whipping cream for coconut milk (if canned, be sure to just use the liquid) or add a tablespoon of cream of coconut before adding the milk. If using cream of coconut, you wont want to add as much milk.
- Coconut frosting will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
FAQs
Yes, all buttercream made with butter needs to be refrigerated. As I mentioned above, the temperature of the butter can really control whether you have a pristine, fluffy frosting or a sludgy, melty frosting-like paste.
Yes, you can swap out the heavy whipping cream for coconut milk. However, if you’re using canned coconut milk, just make sure that you’re just getting the liquid out of the can. Nobody likes chunky buttercream!
Yes, buttercream freezes quite well. Store the buttercream in an artitight container for up to three months. Once you’re ready to use it, move the container to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight. Once it thaws, you’ll likely have to whip the buttercream again to get it to the desired consistency.
Coconut Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter , softened
- 4 cups (452g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (see note)
- 1 recipe brownies (optional)
Instructions
- 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 milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Frost brownies or any recipe as desired. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze frosting in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- I used heavy whipping cream because I like how fluffy it makes my frosting. You can also use any kind of milk (regular, 2%, nonfat or nondairy) but you’ll need less milk with less fat.
- For even more coconut flavor, use coconut milk (refrigerated or canned). If using canned, be sure to just use the liquid.
- You can also add 1 tablespoon Cream of Coconut (i.e. CocoReal) before adding the milk. If you do this you’ll need less milk/cream.
- If using salted butter omit added salt.
Recipe Nutrition
Other Coconut Recipes
Last Updated on February 28, 2023
modern family – great show is right. chocolate and coconut can do no wrong in my eyes. Glad you made a from scratch version that you love!
I love that show, the last one where the dad kept hurting his daughter and he was all “what’s wrong with me” that is me totally;p And these look amazing!!!
I don´t remember ever making boxed brownies, and I´m glad you found a from-scratch recipe. That coconut topping is decadent, gorgeous recipe!
These are absolute perfection! I just love the chocolate & coconut combo. I think I’ll make a batch of the frosting and just eat that tonight 😉
Phil is my favorite, too! He is totally awesome and my hero. I guess you can pass this info along to Mel as well lol. Love these brownies!
You’re jumping the gun with those V-Day decorations in the background, eh??
🙂
This looks do-able. I’m so loyal to boxed brownie mix. It’s foolproof.
Never! I’ve been thinking V-day since Dec 26. It’s about darn time, lol. 😉 And me too, I’ve always resisted making my own brownies because I LOVE brownie mix. But this recipe is SO GOOD.
I love chocolate and coconut. Thanks for including my watergate cake!! And I haven’t watched Modern family in awhile. Sadly, I was watching too much tv and that show got the bump. Funny stuff, but something had to give 🙂
Dorothy these look out of this world good! Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate? Yes, please. Can’t wait to try them soon.
Thanks Whitney!
Dorothy…..I totally think you hit the “double triple” here. (I’m smiling as I type this….I love that term!) I agree with you…so many boxed brownies are actually pretty good. But it looks like these are here to stay. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your coconut topping and I cannot wait to try these. Adding them to my Pinterest Brownie board….they look THAT good! Welcome to the party! : )
Thanks Anne! That coconut topping was the bomb. 🙂
Oh man, that is one of the best shows of all time. So hilarious! I remember that episode!! Lol!
I love these brownies! I made similar ones awile ago
http://backforsecondsblog.com/2012/08/double-decker-coconut-cream-brownies/
Now I guess i HAVE to make these too. You know, to compare 🙂
Brownies are my weakness, these look perfect, Dorothy!
I remember those now! Oh, I think I need to make your version… 🙂
How deep should the pan be when baking the brownies? i have a school project where I make a container for a backing good, and I would like to use this recipe.
I use a traditional 9×13″ pan. It’s got 2″ sides. It’s a Pyrex glass dish, but you can also use a 9×13″ metal cake pan.
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