Key Lime Coconut Cupcakes

Shocking News Break: Autumn is not here yet.

Despite the retail giants attempt to make you believe crisp weather, falling leaves, and carved pumpkins are right on the horizon – I’m here to tell you they aren’t. Yes, children may be back in school putting an end to the summer vacation season but is it fall? Nope, still not yet. And even though the town I currently reside in is throwing a Fall Festival on September 18th – it still wont be fall. So save yourself the excitement, we’ve got a few weeks to go yet.

Fall arrives September 22nd 2010. So stop trying to lure me in with your comforting fall candles, warm cozy sweaters and fashionable boots. I’m not giving in.  Most of all – I will not start cooking like its fall! I refuse. We get like 12 months of winter here so I savor my summer recipes. I wont let them go! Not yet. And you can’t make me.

On that note:

Key Lime Coconut Cupcakes

Adapted from Foodnetwork.com

For the Cupcakes:

• ¾ lb (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 c sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbs key lime zest
• 1 1/2 Tbs key lime juice
• 3 c flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 c light coconut milk
• 1 c sweetened shredded coconut

For the Frosting:

• 1 (80z) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1/2 teas almond extract
• Juice of 1/2 a lime
• 2/3 cups confectioners sugar

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla, key lime zest, and key lime juice and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the coconut milk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, to make the frosting:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, almond extract and lime. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut or lime zest.

I had originally set out to make what I thought was key lime bars, but aparently I only glazed the recipe, as it was Lemon Lime Bars. Not Key Lime. Upon further reading of the recipe, I learned my current kitchen was not equiped to pull it off. I promised someone some goodies though, so cupcakes it was.