Triple Coconut Cupcakes

Coconut Cupcakes are moist, easy, and FULL of coconut flavor – they’re TRIPLE the coconut! Easy because of cake mix, they’re filled with coconut and frosted with coconut buttercream.

Easy Coconut Cupcakes Recipe

A batch of easy triple coconut cupcakes is the key to any coconut lover’s heart. This super easy recipe is heavy on that light, airy flavor that only coconut can provide. Often, recipes made with coconut only give us a hint of that tropical flavor. If you’re craving a treat that just screams “coconut!”, you’re in luck. 

Ingredients Needed

• Flaked coconut – This is also called Angel Flake, and you get it in the baking aisle. It’s a sweetened shredded coconut.
• Sweetened condensed milk – We’re using this for the fillling. Be sure not to use evaporated milk.
• Boxed yellow cake mix – makes the cupcakes nice and easy – and moist!
• Milk – I like using refrigerated coconut milk, but you can use regular milk too.
• Coconut extract – amps up the coconut flavor of the cupcakes.

How to Make Coconut Cupcakes

• Preheat oven: Line two cupcake pans with liners and preheat your oven to 350°F. 
• Combine ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine one cup of flaked coconut and sweetened condensed milk. In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer set to “low” to combine the cake mix, coconut milk, oil, eggs, and extract, mixing for about thirty seconds. Then, ramp up the speed to “medium” for two minutes. 
• Bake: Once the ingredients are combined, pour the cake batter into each of the cupcake liners to be about ¾ full. Then, scoop a teaspoon or two of the coconut mixture you made on to the tops of the cupcakes. 
• Make frosting: While the cupcakes bake, you can start on the frosting. Use your hand mixer to beat the unsalted butter until it is smooth. Then, slowly begin to beat in the powdered sugar, mixing until the butter and sugar mixture becomes crumbly. Finally, add three tablespoons of coconut milk and two teaspoons of coconut extract, mixing until the frosting becomes smooth. If your frosting still seems dry, add a bit more milk until you’ve achieved the desired consistency. 
• Decorate: Once the cupcakes have baked and cooled, you can frost them using a pastry bag or a spatula. Then, sprinkle a generous helping of shredded coconut on top! 

Expert Tips

• 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. 
• If you aren’t sure how to toast coconut, I’ve got the perfect method; check it out here!

Easy Triple Coconut Cupcakes Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Easy Triple Coconut Cupcakes start with a cake mix but don’t taste like it! Coconut cake, a coconut filling, and a rich coconut frosting make this the perfect coconut cupcake recipe.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Yield 24 cupcakes

Serving Size 1 cupcake

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Ingredients

 

For the Cupcakes

• ▢ 1 cup (61g) sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
• ▢ ½ cup (74g) sweetened condensed milk
• ▢ 1 15.25 ounces/432g box yellow cake mix
• ▢ 1 ¼ cups (296ml) coconut milk
• ▢ 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• ▢ ⅓ cup (79ml) vegetable oil
• ▢ 3 large eggs

For the Frosting

• ▢ 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• ▢ 4 cups (452g) powdered sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons coconut extract
• ▢ 3-6 tablespoons coconut milk
• ▢ 1 cup (61g) shredded, sweetened coconut, toasted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with liners.
• Stir together 1 cup coconut and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Mix cake mix, coconut milk, oil, extract, and eggs with a hand mixer on low for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly in the cupcake pans (about 3/4 full). Scoop 1-2 teaspoons of the coconut mixture onto the top of each cupcake.
• Bake 15-18 minutes until the cupcake springs back when touched. Cool completely before frosting.
• To make the frosting, beat butter with a mixer until smooth. Slowly beat in powdered sugar and mix until crumbly. Add coconut extract and 3 tablespoons milk and mix until smooth. If needed, add more tablespoons of milk to reach desired consistency.
• Frost cupcakes with a spatula or a pastry bag. Top generously with toasted coconut.

Recipe Notes

• Use any brand cake mix and you can swap chocolate if you want.
• Learn how to toast coconut.
• Want to make the cupcakes from scratch? Use my perfect vanilla cupcake recipe. Or use chocolate cupcakes.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerated for 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

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

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

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Last Updated on March 8, 2023