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Firecracker-Red Cupcakes with Coconut Filling
Chill: 1 hr
Cool: 5 mins
Bake: 20 mins at 350°F
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
- 1 package red velvet cake mix (2-layer-size)
- Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting (recipe below)
Directions
For filling:1. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium speed with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, coconut extract, if you like, and salt. Stir in coconut. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until stiff.
2. Line about thirty 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups (use paper baking cups with July 4th theme); set aside.
3. Prepare cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Fill each muffin cup with 2 tablespoons cake batter. Drop 1 tablespoon of the filling into each bake cup. Top with 1 tablespoon more batter. With a small spoon, smooth batter over filling to cover.
4. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven about 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted off center (in the cake part, not the filling) comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
5. Generously frost with Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting. Just before serving, decorate with an assortment of patriotic decorations. (Cupcakes are best the day they are frosted.) Makes about 30 cupcakes.
Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting:6. In a large mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, softened, for 30 seconds on high speed with an electric mixer. Add 4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with 6 tablespoons half-and-half, light cream or whole milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract, if you like. Beat on high speed until smooth and creamy. If necessary, beat in enough additional half-and-half (about 1 teaspoon) to reach spreading consistency. Makes 2 3/4 cups.
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Note:
Decorating Ideas:
On top use American flag picks, tinsel picks, stars on wire, icing stars, red, white & blue sprinkles OR use white paper baking cups and tie patriotic ribbon around the paper bake cups.
1. As an option to red velvet cake, use a white cake mix and tint the glaze bright red and/or blue (or have a combo for photos).
2. Another option, instead of cupcakes, use a greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan and layer cake batter, spoon and spread coconut filling and top with remaining cake batter. Bake and decorate.
