When I saw that this month’s Flavor of the Month theme was “boozy,” I decided that I wanted to bake something sweet with an addition of rum. My first thought was buttered rum bread, but unfortunately that turned out to be a big fail, both in texture and in taste. So, I started over with a friend’s recommendation, which was tropical cupcakes with rum. The first thing that sprang to my mind was pina colada, so that’s exactly what I made. They were absolutely delicious! I loved the hint of pineapple in the cupcakes, and the rum frosting topped with shredded coconut helped me forget for a while that it’s 10 degrees and snowing outside. If you want to be transported to a tropical place for a while, try these today!
Pina colada cake mix:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 scant cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 Tbsp pineapple juice
- 1 Tbsp rum
- 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
Rum frosting (for 12 cupcakes):
- 3/4 sticks butter, softened
- 3/8 cup shortening
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp rum
- Shredded coconut, for sprinkling on top
For the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl, mix together the butter with the sugar, pineapple juice, and rum.
Add the egg whites, half at a time.
Add half of the flour mixture and then half of the buttermilk to the butter mixture, mixing until well-blended. Repeat with the remaining halves of each. Stir in the coconut.
Pour the batter into cupcake paper-lined cupcake pans.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
While you’re waiting for the cupcakes to cool, make the frosting. Mix together the shortening, butter, and vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar. Then add in the rum, and mix until well-blended. Pipe on the frosting and sprinkle with additional shredded coconut.
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coconut, cupcakes, flavor of the month
