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Don’t just drink your pina colada! Enjoy it in the form of a cupcake. These moist pineapple cupcakes with coconut frosting will make you feel like you are on a tropical island.
These cupcakes may seem familiar. Not long ago I shared an amazing recipe for pineapple cupcakes with coconut frosting. They have been a huge hit! It has been said more than once that the combination is similar to a pina colada.
So today’s cupcakes are just that, pina colada cupcakes. I made a few tweaks to each recipe and the result is phenomenal. A summery, beachy beverage in the form of a cupcake.
The recipe for the cupcake is the same as my pineapple cupcake recipe, with the addition of rum extract. The extract amps up the pineapple flavor in this sweet cupcake. Making it more like the favorited tropical drink.
The frosting I use to top the pina colada cupcakes is similar to the coconut frosting I mentioned above. While I do love the light coconut flavor in that frosting, I wanted the frosting for today’s cupcakes to be potent with coconut flavor. To achieve this, I altered the butter to sugar ratio just a tad. I also used less coconut milk and added a touch of coconut extract.
If you can’t find coconut extract or you prefer a lighter coconut flavor, you can follow the recipe for my whipped coconut frosting instead. It has a lighter, more natural coconut flavor and a silkier texture.
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Pina Colada Cupcakes
Don’t just drink your pina colada! Enjoy it in the form of a cupcake. These moist pineapple cupcakes with coconut frosting will make you feel like you are on a tropical island.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1 and ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and ½ teaspoons rum extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
For the frosting
- 1 and ¼ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 2 and ½ cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons canned coconut milk*
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
- slices pineapple for garnish, optional
- maraschino cherries for garnish, optional
Instructions
Make the cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugars, continue to beat for 3 minutes. With the mixer set to low, beat in the vanilla and rum extracts. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Gradually add the flour, mixing just until combined. Beat in the crushed pineapple and it's juice.
- Fill the cups of the prepared muffin pan ⅔ of the way full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Slowly beat in the coconut milk, followed by the extract. Continue mixing until the frosting becomes thick and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Top the cupcakes with the frosting. Sprinkle the tops with the toasted coconut. Decorated with pineapple slices and cherries if desired.
Notes
*Regular full fat coconut milk is recommended for optimal coconut flavor
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 266Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 155mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
Hi where do you buy your pineapple cupcake liners from?
Hi Kim! It’s been so long I don’t remember exactly where I got these specific ones. But I usually find fun liners in the seasonal sections of Walmart, target, and craft stores. I’ve ordered quite a few from Amazon as well.