Coconut Birthday Fiesta

Today was Dad's birthday, so to celebrate, Mom made chicken enchiladas and chocolate-covered strawberries, and I made coconut cupcakes. Normally I shy away from anything Martha Stewart has on her website regarding recipes (all are crazy-time-consuming and usually require expensive, unusual ingredients that only trust-fund hipsters can afford) but since last week's success with the chocolate-filled vanilla bean cupcakes, I decided to give her one more shot.

I was pleasantly surprised with the results, even after I halved the recipe: the cakes were fluffy, rich, and full of sweet chunks of coconut for maximum texture. I broke Rule 1 however when I printed off the icing recipe this morning without reading every step, and thus failed at the 7 Minute Icing. I'm not too torn up about it, Martha was smirking at me from the page because she knew I didn't have a candy thermometer or pastry brush to ("gently cool the sugar as to prevent crystalization"....WHO ARE YOU?!!!). When I took the cakes over to my parents, I stole a can of Pillsbury Cream Cheese icing (I'm a giant sinner!! Blaugh!) from the pantry and went to town with coconut sprinkles on top. Very very tasty, if you love coconut, these are your cakes. On a side note, try to find unsweetened coconut to sprinkle on top, otherwise they really push the richness envelope.

Here's the recipe!

INGREDIENTS

Makes 2 dozen.

• 3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 8 large egg whites
• 1 1/4 cups shredded sweetened coconut
• 
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until just combined. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; set aside.
4. In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Do not overbeat. Gently fold a third of the egg-white mixture into the butter-flour mixture until combined. Gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture; stir in shredded coconut.
5. Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each with a heaping 1/4 cup batter. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the cupcakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack. Invert cupcakes onto rack; then reinvert and let cool completely, top sides up. Frost cupcakes with seven minute frosting, swirling to cover. Cupcakes may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Garnish with fresh coconut just before serving.