Hi, I'm Rachel.

A few years ago I could barely boil water.

True story.

Determined to be a kick ass wife, I developed a love for football and learned to cook in my tiny Jersey City kitchen. I spend my days working in Manhattan, my nights and weekends chasing after a rambunctious toddler, and the hours in between cooking with my husband and feeding my TV habit...oh, and I blog about it all! 

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Thursday
Jun212012

Pineapple Cupcakes + Coconut Frosting

Oh cupcakes, how I love thee.

They really just don't seem to ever get old in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good layer cake. But I really adore a tiny personalized dessert of any flavor.

A few weeks ago, we went to a big barbecue at my aunt's house. I wanted to make something summery and most importantly, simple. It was the same weekend that I made 80 cupcakes for Lindsey's shower and so I wanted something that would take just a little bit of time and effort.

I had seen these pineapple cupcakes on Skinnytaste a while back and have had them in the back of my head ever since. It's two simple ingredients - a box of moist yellow cake mix and a large can of crushed pineapple. Mix 'em together well and bake and voila! Gorgeous, moist, pineappley cake. Or cupcakes.

 

The recipe made 24 cupcakes. Admittedly, some came out a bit smaller than others, but I didn't mind. There was a full table of desserts at the party and so I'm glad that these pretty lil' things were small and simple to eat.

Oh and the frosting!

How could I forget that?! I chose my own coconut frosting recipe for these. Fluffy, coconutty and sweet, this is really one of my favorite frostings. I piled it on, dusted with shredded coconut and a sweet little pinapple coconut cupcake was born!

Pineapple Cupcakes
*from Skinnytaste
1 box Supermoist yellow cake mix
1 20oz. can crushed pineapple

Preheat your oven according to the box directions. Mix together the cake mix and pineapple (note: do not drain the pineapple!) on medium-low for 30 seconds. Up the speed to medium-high and mix for about 2 minutes until the batter is light and fluffy.

Pour into a prepared pan - a muffin tin lined with baking cups for cupcakes or a greased 13x9" pan for cake.

Bake according to package directions.

Let cool completely and make the frosting!

 

Coconut Frosting
*From my Pineapple Coconut Dream Bars
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, at room temperature
½ stick butter, at room temperature
2-3 tbsp virgin coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 C confectioners’ sugar
sweetened shredded coconut, for garnish

Beat the cream cheese and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix in the vanilla and coconut oil. Beat in the sugar, 1 cup at a time. Beat until light and fluffy.

Frost the cupcakes. Eat many immediately.

And side note: I'm totally crushing on these sweet cupcake liners! So cute!

Questions of the Day:

What's your favorite kind of dessert to bring to a party?

What's your favorite easy dessert?

Reader Comments (5)

These look delish!! Pineapple...yum and so perfect for summer :)

June 26, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterFriendacrossthedesk

Welcome back! I made your chicken Veronique last night and it was so good for lunch today!!

June 26, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterKimberly

Yum!! I love boxed cake mix recipes. :)

Ohhh I love skinnytaste! and your cupcakes look so delicious and perfect for summer, yum! :)
I hope you are having a wonderful Summer!

as soon as I saw these cupcakes I thought, adorable liners! then i get to the end of your post and you mentioned you loved them also! :)

July 6, 2012 | Unregistered Commenteralex

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