Strawberry Filled Coconut Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
There’s something about living 2,865 miles away from your family that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “home is where the heart is.” On one side of the continent are your mother, brother, father and grandmother, and on the other side your husband and a mischievous dog named Oreo. It makes a gal feel awfully conflicted. Every time I visit California I miss my husband, but then the tables turn right around when I step back on a plane, bound for New York. Ah! If only we lived closer together.
I had a wonderful time visiting my family in San Diego. We visited with relatives, relaxed at home, cooked, baked and enjoyed each others company. I even threw my vegetarian ways to the wind, unable to resist the siren song of the machaca burrito, or my dad’s carne asada, or my mom’s grilled chicken, marinated in orange juice and spices. We all have our weaknesses! Mine is authentic Mexican food.
On Saturday afternoon we had a grand feast, eating rice, beans, salad, roasted corn on the cob, carne asada, grilled chicken and potato salad before digging into a dessert of chocolate muffins and strawberry filled coconut cupcakes. I love my mom’s potato salad and when she set it on the table I made a joke about wanting a side of “Prospect Park.” Nobody got it. Did you?
The reference comes from a scene in Danny Kaye’s 1945 film “Wonderman,” when the ghost of Edwin’s twin brother forces him to go to Prospect Park when he’s supposed to be at the deli picking up potato salad for his girlfriend. Personally, I think the film is hilarious and the magic of YouTube has made it possible for me to share the scene in question with you below. Late on Saturday night I called my husband to tell him about our BBQ and when I said we ate potato salad he said: “You mean Prospect Park?” Which only goes to show how absolutely perfect he is for me. 
But I must say, one of the highlights of the meal were the strawberry filled coconut cupcakes with whipped cream frosting. My mom and I made these after adapting an Epicurious recipe and at the risk of sounding prideful I’m going to tell you true: they were fantastic. My brother couldn’t get enough of them, eating four in one sitting and admonishing me to open a bakery between bites. Maybe one of these days… one of these days. I think it was the pureed strawberries, which my mom and I piped into each coconut cupcake, that did the trick.
I’m back in Connecticut now and have tons of things to do before my husband and I head off to the Caribbean for 10 days. In addition to work-related tasks I’m hell-bent on cleaning our apartment from head to toe because one of our friends will be house & dog sitting for us while we’re away. Not that our home needs much tidying, but I want it to be up to Mary Poppins standards when D moves in next week.
There will be two fabulous guest posters while I’m gone – Zoë and Susan. More on that soon. I have a couple more posts left before I get on a ship and travel across the deep blue ocean.
Strawberry cupcakes on other blogs:
- Strawberry Cupcakes at Cooking With Amy
- Angie’s Famous Strawberry Cupcakes at Good Things Catered
- Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting at Gastronomy Blog
- Very Strawberry Cupcakes from Mike’s Table
Don’t forget about the monthly book giveaway! April’s winner has been posted on the giveaway page. May’s book giveaway includes 3 copies of “Mix Shake Stir: Recipes from Danny Meyer’s Acclaimed New York City Restaurants,” by Danny Meyer. Just in time for the summer months this book includes over 100 recipes for bar classics, signature favorites, and original, refreshing libations – from the Modern’s elegant mojito made with champagne and rose water to Tabla’s Pomegranate Gimlet.
Strawberry Filled Coconut Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
Adapted from this Epicurious.com recipe
Step 1: Make the Strawberry Filling
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds strawberries (about 3 pints)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Remove the stems and thinly slice the strawberries. Toss them in a large bowl with the sugar and lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature, stirring occasionally, for 4 hours.
Transfer the strawberries to a large colander set over a large bowl to drain excess liquid. Put the drained strawberry slices in a blender and pulse until you have a thick strawberry puree. Return to the colander and allow to sit for another 30 minutes, allowing any extra liquid to drain.
*Instructions for filling the cupcakes in Step 3.
Step 2: Make the Coconut Cupcakes
Ingredients: Makes about 16 cupcakes
- 2 13-to 14-ounce cans unsweetened coconut milk (you are going to use these to make reduced coconut milk)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- About 1/2 pound of fresh strawberries
Reduce the coconut milk:
Bring the coconut milk to boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until reduced by half, stirring occasionally, about 25 to 30 minutes. You can measure this by dipping the handle of a spoon into the coconut milk before you bring it to a boil, then dipping the handle of another spoon into the milk after it has cooked for 25 minutes. Compare the two handles to see if the milk has reduced enough.
Remove from heat and cool completely. Transfer to small bowl, then cover and chill. You can do this step up to 2 days in advance.
NOTE: You are only going to use 1 cup of the reduced coconut milk.
For the cupcakes:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line sixteen muffin cups with paper liners.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter in large bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and beat on medium-high speed until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the vanilla and remaining egg, mixing well.
Add half of flour mixture and mix on low speed just until blended. Add 1 cup reduced coconut milk and mix just until blended. Add remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Bake until the cupcake tops spring back when gently touched and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then gently remove the cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Make the Frosting & Assemble Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
In a chilled bowl beat the cream and sugar until the cream holds stiff peaks.
With a sharp knife gently drill little holes into the top of each cupcake, inserting the knife almost to the bottom and then twisting. Now transfer your strawberry puree to a large ziploc bag and carefully snip off one corner of the bottom, creating a small opening.
Insert the open corner into the hole you’ve made in each cupcake, then press gently to insert the filling. Don’t press too hard or too much filling will come out at once. Slow and steady wins the day. You want to put a generous amount of filling in each cupcake.
Spread the frosting on the cupcakes. Put a little dollop on top of each hole first to prevent the strawberry filling from coloring the frosting.
Remove the stems for the remaining strawberries and slice them. Place slices on top of each cupcake.
Cupcakes will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:- Creepy Cream Filled Devil’s Food Cupcakes
- Cheater’s Coconut Cream Pie
- Homemade Coconut Ice Cream
- Hot Milk Cakes with Strawberries and Cream
- Strawberry Bread for the Masses
- Celebration Coconut Layer Cake (Plus Book Giveaway)
- Lemon-Poppy Seed Waffles with Maple Whipped Cream
- Waffles with Strawberries and Cream Topping (Post #100!)
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47 Responses to “Strawberry Filled Coconut Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting”
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Love the strawberry on top! I am a huge coconut fan too! These look great!
Maria´s last blog post -> Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake
Those look great! How did you fill them?
I’ve heard of people doing it from the bottom, which to me sounds a bit gooey. And then the people who use apple corers to take chunks out and then filling them that way, which seems a bit time consuming.
I’d love to try baking filled cupcakes sometime!
Hannah´s last blog post -> Things I Love: #4 – My big break.
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I forgot to mention that part! Thanks for the heads up Hannah. I added instructions for filling the cupcakes to Step 3.
I seem to be a little lost. What do I do with the strawberry puree? The step to fill the cupcakes is missing?
Thanks!
Nope, it’s there, in Step 3. If you don’t see it refresh the page bc I just added it.
Oh my goodness, these look fantastic!
Nicole´s last blog post -> Kitchen Herbs, a Dream Realized.
Have a great time in the Caribbean! Are you going to Aruba? My husband and I have been twice and had a blast. The cupcakes look perfect for strawberry season!
Julie´s last blog post -> Cornmeal Buttermilk Waffles
Not Aruba, though now I really want to go there too! We’re going to Bermuda, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico.
I am going to have to make these for my boyfriend…HE LOVES coconut…and I’m always bored with the plain coconut ideas!
Everything looks super delicious! BBQ at home and freshly made dessert…can’t beat that combo.
What a nice recipe!!! I love coconut and strawberries!!!
Oh lady, this post is darling! Much of my fam is on the West Coast while we live in the Boston area…I feel for you!
Enjoy your vacation!
Jen´s last blog post -> hello maté
Ohhhh I just love this combo. I would love a bite or four right now.
dawn´s last blog post -> chocolate-coconut covered Cheez Its
Hi Ari,
So wonderful you had some quality time with your folks. I’ve always lived near mine, so can’t know what its like being far away (I mean when they were living, they’re both passed now) Lucky for me I have wonderful inlaws and we are within driving distance to them.
I LOVE coconut and this recipe sounds fabulous! Do you use a stablizer in your whip cream? could you make the main part ahead of time and then add the whip cream later?
Have you ever made over some of your Mom’s recipes? Obviously she inspired you to bake – what a wonderful thing to share. Have you ever made her a cookbook of your own recipes? I know that Blurb.com can ’slurp’ your blog to make a book… what a lovely gift that would be for her sometime.
Forgive me, LOL – I just say whats on my mind!
Wishing you a wonderful (delicious) week.
~ Barb
Barb´s last blog post -> Pretty Petals, Aches and Pains, Useful App and a Free Element!
There is nothing to forgive, you leave amazing comments! You’re very lucky to have lived so close to your family and to have a great relationship with in-laws living nearby.
I did not use anything to stabilize the frosting. There wasn’t a point since I planned to serve the cupcakes within an hour or frosting them. (And they were gone by the next day anyways!)
I haven’t made my mom a book of my recipes, I think that’s what she sees my blog as though. Great idea! Maybe for mother’s day next year?
What a great recipe.. I love strawberries, and I love coconut. This might well become my most favorite recipe ever!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)´s last blog post -> Decorate Cookies Like the Pros… Cheating
Holy cow, those look incredible!
These look delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
What a great meal and such beautiful cupcakes!
Joelen´s last blog post -> Mangolicious Bread
those cupcakes look divine!
I am definitely going to make these. Strawberries are on sale… what better excuse?
Leigh Ann´s last blog post -> Oatmeal Dinner Rolls
The cupcakes look divine! And I know just what you mean about missing foods from home. Very much looking forward to being back in America and eating my mum’s ranch potato salad next week!
K x
kristina´s last blog post -> petersham at home
Coconut and strawberries, what a heavenly combination. I wonder if my daughter would like these for her birthday (because I certainly wouldn’t mind having a few)!
Janel´s last blog post -> Jumblicious 5/15/09
Oh, these sound wonderful. I wonder if I could convince my husband to forgo his coconut hating ways!
Seanna Lea´s last blog post -> Give Away! The first novel
Mmm they certainly look perfect!
howtoeatacupcake´s last blog post -> The Cake Slice presents: Mile-High Devil’s Food Cake w/ Brown Sugar Buttercream
I’m the same, I live West and my family East. I love to visit but I’m happy to come back with my DH & kids. Love all your food.
Hélène´s last blog post -> Anadama Bread – BBA Challenge
I am glad that you had such a wonderful trip to the west coast. I have similiar feelings of conflict, but soon I will be on the same coast as my family which is so nice!!!
beastmomma´s last blog post -> Beastmomma, J.D., M.P.H.
Love coconut..this recipe is just what i would like to do tom….thanks
Seema´s last blog post -> Lady in balcony day dreaming
those cupcakes look yummy! I’m actually making something similar later this week…yellow butter cake with whipped cream and strawberries. So very summery
Hayley´s last blog post -> graduation party cake
those look wonderful. any thoughts on what a more “stable”/no refridgeration might be good?
jacquie
Not off the top of my head. Since this frosting is made with whipped cream it must be refrigerated for safety when you’re storing the cupcakes. I did a search for whipped cream frosting recipes on the net and all of them are similar to mine. When Barb was asking about a stabilizer I think she was thinking about egg white based frostings, where you can add cream of tartar to stabilize the structure of the beaten egg whites (meaning you’ll get more volume).
home is most definitely where my heart is–it stubbornly refuses to join me here in ny.
great cupcakes–coconut alone would be delightful, but the strawberry-ness is a fantastic touch!
grace´s last blog post -> the case of the sinking streusel
I don’t know why but I never realized you were in upstate NY. We should get together sometime!
Ok, the children would love eating these! But I’d love making them! How fun, how cute!
Thanks for this great recipe!
Marta´s last blog post -> Sneaky Chickpea Mounds
wow, what a great use of strawberries and coconut together!
Could you put some shredded coconut into the batter?
Nate´s last blog post -> Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
I don’t see why not, but the cupcakes already have a big coconut flavor so add shredded coconut with that in mind.
wowsa, heaven indeed! have a fabulous trip
and glad to hear you and mom made these together–a great way to enjoy time together!
Love the coconut and strawberry mix. It must be the month for all good things coconut.
Esmeralda´s last blog post -> My Big Fat Greek Feast
I’m so glad you got a chance to see your family!! Looks like you guys had an amazing feast. I’m with you: the cupcakes would’ve been the best part for me, too. Talk about fabulous flavors going on!! Coconut always makes me happy!
Elyse´s last blog post -> Glorious, glorious pound cake…
These look absolutely amazing. I think the strawberry puree is what’s getting me!
Madam Chow´s last blog post -> Frugal Fridays – Chocolate Mascarpone Brownies
You were here in San Diego?? I would have loved to have met you. Next time…
These look like some really great cupcakes. Love that you piped the strawberry inside.
Lori @ RecipeGirl´s last blog post -> Boston Red Sox Birthday Cake
I hadn’t realized you were in SD! I would have loved to have met you too. Definitely next time.
These look scrumptious! I’ve been meaning to try making filled cupcakes for ages and this recipe seems like a good place to start. Plus local strawberries should be coming in soon!
I hope you have a grand time in the tropics!
On a totally unrelated note, you have great taste in movies
Ha ha thanks! Danny Kaye is one of my all-time favorite stars. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Up In Arms” are probably my top Danny Kaye movies.
When I saw your post in my feed reader, I was feeding Alice and I couldn’t read the post at the moment because the title made my brain explode a little. It really couldn’t handle the thought of coconut and strawberry and cupcake all in the same recipe. I have a picnic coming up and these are definitely worth schlepping a cooler for, I think…
Nancy´s last blog post -> Summer Reading
These cupcakes sound yummy! Definitly going on my to-do list!
I watched the movie clips and now I want to see the movie! I’ll have to look for it next time I’m in town.
Vanessa´s last blog post -> Photos taken two weeks ago:
I have to admit that it’s the carne asada I’m really drooling over in this post!! (Don’t feel badly, I’m not a huge coconut fan!)