Pina Colada Cupcakes (Printable)
Tropical cupcakes with pineapple, coconut, and rum topped with creamy frosting.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Cupcakes
01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - ⅓ cup coconut milk, canned full-fat
08 - ⅓ cup crushed pineapple, well-drained
09 - ¼ cup pineapple juice
10 - 2 tablespoons light rum or additional pineapple juice
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
→ For the Coconut Frosting
13 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 3 tablespoons coconut milk, canned full-fat
16 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - Pinch of salt
→ For Garnish
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted shredded coconut
19 - 12 maraschino cherries
20 - Small pineapple wedges
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in coconut milk, pineapple juice, rum if using, and vanilla extract until combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Fold in crushed pineapple and shredded coconut.
06 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then coconut milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
09 - Frost cooled cupcakes generously. Garnish with toasted coconut, a cherry, and pineapple wedge if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They capture the essence of a tropical cocktail in cupcake form, making them perfect for summer parties or winter blues
- The combination of crushed pineapple and coconut milk creates an incredibly moist crumb that stays fresh for days
- That rum is entirely optional but adds this subtle warmth that makes people ask, what's in these?
02 -
- Drain that crushed pineapple like your life depends on it, I once skipped this and ended up with dense little muffin bricks
- Room temperature ingredients are not optional, cold butter and eggs will wreck your texture every single time
03 -
- Freeze undecorated cupcakes for up to a month, then thaw and frost for emergency dessert situations
- Add cream of coconut to the frosting instead of regular coconut milk for an even more intense coconut flavor