These bourbon coconut cupcakes are basically impossible to resist. There’s lots of delicious coconut flavour in a moist cupcake and a cream cheese-y bourbon frosting on top. Perfection.
I made these for a very handsome man’s birthday a few weeks ago. I wish I has a recording of them being eaten. It sound something like this: “Mmm, mmm, holy damn that’s good, mmmm”
I thought that decorating all 24 of these cupcakes for a 2 person birthday party might be a little over kill. Or not. Either way I put a whole bag of them in the freezer and pulled out a few 2 days ago and am eating on right now. I’ve got sticky icing all over my keyboard to prove it. Mmm, mmm, holy damn these are good ![]()

- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 2 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut (not reduced-fat)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 ¾ cups sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 large eggs
- ½ cup coconut oil, warmed to melt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Butter for greasing pan
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2-4 tablespoons plus ¼ cup bourbon, rum or southern comfort
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Arrange racks in top and bottom thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
- Whisk 2 ¾ cups flour and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter at medium speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until smooth, 3–4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes. Gradually beat in oil. Beat in dry ingredients at low speed in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
- Pour batter equally into pans to make 24 cupcakes. Bake until a tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks; let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cook completely on wire racks.
- Using an electric mixer beat cream cheese and butter on high speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until smooth and creamy, 2–3 minutes. Add bourbon and salt; beat to blend, about 1 minute longer. Add sugar; beat on low speed to blend. Increase speed to high; beat until fluffy, 5–6 minutes.
- You can either use a knife to spread the frosting on top of completely cooled cupcakes or use a pastry bag to pipe on the frosting.


{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
These cupcakes look wonderful and really festive!
Thanks, Medeja!
These look amazing. I’m a coconut addict, so these are right up my alley.
Thanks, Rachel! I totally am a coconut addict too
I’m a huge coconut fan. These look right up my alley.
I’m a huge coconut fan too!
Coconut? Bourbon? Cupcake? Yes Yes Yes!!!
My 3 favourites!
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