Hey Everyone!! First of all, I have to apologize about my photography. I just wasn’t feeling it yesterday, and to me, it shows. Not to mention I was kind of in a hurry trying to get everything ready. I think I told you all a while back, but in 6 days I will be headed on a cruise to the Caribbean!! Yay! Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real, but, there is still all of the house work and such that I have to get on top of in order to actually leave. But I thought to celebrate my trip we could do something with kind of a beach themed. And since a Virgin Pina Colada is my favorite drink to sip on while at the beach, this only feels befitting 🙂 And I love these cupcakes. I mean, it had me at Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting. Really!? Anything with coconut and cream cheese together has got to be amazingness. Then you stick it all on top of a pineapple cake. Sign me up!!
Ugh, but now I gotta get back to the thousands of things that await me on my to do list. It will all be worth it when I’m swimming with dolphins and lying on the beach. Just gotta keep telling myself that. Enjoy!!
Printable Recipe
Pineapple Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups canned crushed pineapple (drained slightly)
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until slightly thickened and a light cream color (about 2 minutes).
On low speed, mix in the oil and vanilla until blended.
Add in the pineapple and sour cream and mix until fully incorporated.
Like so.
Add the flour mixture.
Blend until just combined and smooth.
Line a cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.
Fill liners about 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes in a pre-heated 350 degree F oven for about 22 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Frosting with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below).
Recipe yields 24-28 cupcakes
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick/8 tablespoons) butter, at room temperature
8 oz. crea, cheese, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
4 cups powdered confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream
-or-
1 tablespoon Dark Rum
Place butter in a large mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Add cream cheese and blend until well combined, about 30 seconds. Add vanilla extract, coconut extract and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and blend on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and beat until it begins to get fluffy. Slowly add the heavy cream or run. Beat until fluffy, about 1 minute. Use at once or keep refrigerated. (This frosting will keep well in the refrigerator for several days, but you may need to re-beat it for the best texture.)
(Optional) To finish off cupcakes top with toasted coconut, fresh pineapple, maraschino cherries, or a paper umbrella.
Recipe yields 24-28 cupcakes
Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Made these today and they ere delicious! Moist and fluffy and just the right amount of pineapple. I made buttercream instead of the cream cheese frosting, and added a little rum extract to it. SOOOOO good! Thank you for the recipe!