Earth Balance Coconut Spread Coconut Cupcakes

In my never-ending quest to find tasty and interesting fats for baking, I bought a carton of Earth Balance Coconut Spread and used it in coconut cupcakes.

Not that there’s anything healthy about these guys, but I’m trying to find alternatives to shortening and thought the coconut spread might be a fun change from butter. Plus I wanted to see how it would affect the texture.

The mainstream grocer, HEB, doesn’t carry Earth Balance Coconut Spread, but I suppose they’ll get it in if it catches on. It has a cleaner coconut flavor than coconut oil, is less greasy, and is marketed as a spread that works for, well, “spreading” plus baking, and sautéing. I used it in some chocolate chip cookies and while they tasted good, the soft texture of the spread just made them kind of cakey. But used in cakes, it’s good stuff! If you find another use for the spread, let me know.

Recipe

Frosted Coconut Cupcakes Made With Coconut Spread

Cookie Madness

Coconut Cupcakes Made with Earth Balance Coconut Spread. If you don't have the coconut spread, use unsalted butter and throw in a little coconut extract.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

 

• 1 ½ cups cake flour or White Lily flour 170 grams
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt I used Morton Kosher -- not as coarse as some kosher, but less fine than table
• 4 ounces/114 grams Smart Balance Coconut Spread cold right out of the tub
• ¾ cup 145 grams granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup whole milk at room temperature
• ⅓ cup shredded sweetened coconut

Butter Cream Frosting

• 1 stick 4 oz unsalted butter, softened
• 1 pinch of salt
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 2 cups powdered confectioners sugar
• Whole Milk as needed

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line 12 to 14 muffin cups with paper liners (I used 12 )
• In a small bowl, mix together the cake flour, baking powder and salt.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the Earth Balance and sugar at medium high speed until light and creamy. Add room temperature eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk– flour, milk, flour, milk, flour. Scrape the bowl and beat for about 30 seconds or until batter is smooth and velvety. Stir in the coconut.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups 12 to 14 muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!