These Bourbon Coconut Cupcakes are perfect for adult birthday parties. They are easy to make and absolutely delicious.

These bourbon coconut cupcakes are basically impossible to resist. There's lots of delicious coconut flavor in a moist cupcake and a cream cheese-y bourbon frosting on top. Perfection.

Coconut Bourbon Cupcakes by The Endless Meal

I made these for a very handsome man's birthday a few weeks ago. I wish I had a recording of them being eaten. It sounds something like this: “Mmm, mmm, holy man that's good, mmmm.” I thought that decorating all 24 of these cupcakes for a 2 person birthday party might be a little overkill. 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 one right now. I've got sticky icing all over my keyboard to prove it. Mmm, mmm, holy man these are good 🙂

Coconut Bourbon Cupcakes by The Endless Meal

If you make these Bourbon Coconut Cupcakes make sure to snap a pic and tag @theendlessmeal on Instagram so I can like and comment on your photos. I love seeing TEM recipes you create.

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Bourbon Coconut Cupcakes

  • Author: Kristen Stevens
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: North American

★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews
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Description

These Bourbon Coconut Cupcakes are perfect for adult birthday parties. They are easy to make and absolutely delicious.

Scale

Ingredients

Cake

  • 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

Frosting

  • 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

Instructions

Cake

  1. Arrange racks in top and bottom thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Frosting and Assembly

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Notes

For a more deliciously bourbon frosting, use 4 tablespoons of bourbon. For a frosting that will be thick enough to pipe onto the cupcakes, use less. These cupcakes can be made 2 days in advance. Keep chilled and bring to room temperature before serving. These cupcakes also freeze very well. Freeze, un-frosted, in a large Ziploc bag for up to 1 month.