Coconut Orange Chardonnay Cupcakes Food

COCONUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running on low, add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In three parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.
• Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each cup to the top 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. Frost with Cream Cheese Icing and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, blend together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

COCONUT ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, oil, eggs and orange juice, mix well.
• Combine dry ingredients; stir into orange juice mixture just until moistened. Fold in oranges and chips.
• Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
• Combine topping ingredients; sprnkle over cupcakes.
• Bakes at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

QUICKIE COCONUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12 portion) muffin tins with paper cupcake liners and set aside.
• In a bowl, using an electric mixer, mix the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and coconut extract on medium speed until moistened and smooth. Stir in the chopped coconut. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin tins. The batter will nearly fill each liner to the top. Bake until the muffins spring back when lightly touched, or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• When cool, put the icing out with spoons or small spatulas along with bowls of the cupcake toppings for the kids to decorate their own cupcakes.
• In the bowl of a large electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, whip the butter on high speed until very soft. Meanwhile, place a large sheet of parchment paper on a work surface. Using a large sifter, sift a pound of confectioners' sugar onto the parchment. This helps prevent clumping, and makes the mixing easier. Lower the speed of the mixer, and, using the parchment as a funnel, pour the sugar into the bowl and mix slowly until combined. Add the milk and mix until combined. Sift the second pound of sugar onto the parchment sheet. Again at low speed, add the sugar and mix well. Once combined, sift the remaining sugar and add it with the vanilla and mix. Once it is combined, turn the mixer speed up and beat the icing until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• If desired, divide the icing into smaller batches and color with food coloring.
• Spread the icing on cooled cupcakes while at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftover icing, but be sure to let it come back to room temperature before using. Re-whip the icing to make it fluffy again.
• Yield: about 8 cups, enough for at least 6 dozen cupcakes
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Ease of preparation: easy

ORANGE COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place the coconut in a medium bowl. Wash and zest the oranges and mince the zest well. Squeeze the juice from the oranges, strain, and sprinkle half of it over the coconut. Toss well. Gradually sprinkle on more orange juice, a teaspoon at a time, tossing well with the coconut. Stop adding juice when the coconut is just moist enough to hold a snowball. Do not overmoisten. Mix in grated orange zest and set aside.
• Place egg whites and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium speed until opaque and loosely foamy. Increase speed to high and add sugar in a slow stream down the side of the bowl, beating until stiff and shiny. Remove from machine and fold in the coconut. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto parchment lined baking sheets and form each into a little mound with moistened fingers. Bake at 325 for 1012 minutes until cookies are set and tips are browned. Remove from oven and let cool on rack in pans for 5 minutes, then use spatula to remove cookies from pans and let cool directly on rack. When cookies are cool, melt chocolate in small metal bowl over gently simmering water. Dip bottom of each cookie into melted chocolate and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment of wax paper. Allow chocolate harden and then serve.

COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH COCONUT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cupcakes:
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two 12-cup standard muffin tins with cupcake liners.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside.
• Using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time until just combined. Add the vanilla and coconut extracts. Add the buttermilk and the dry ingredients, being careful not to over mix. Mix in the coconut.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on wire racks before frosting. Keep the oven on.
• For the frosting:
• Using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together until light and smooth. Add the vanilla, and then slowly add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time until thoroughly incorporated.
• To assemble:
• Frost the cupcakes generously with about 4 tablespoons of frosting. Garnish with the toasted coconut flakes.

ORANGE-COCONUT MACAROONS WITH CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. Using your hands, mix together the coconut and orange juice in a large bowl, then mix in zest; set aside.
• Put egg whites and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until frothy. Beat in sugar, 2 or 3 tablespoons at a time. Raise speed to high; beat until stiff, shiny peaks form.
• Fold coconut mixture into egg whites with a rubber spatula. Using your hands or a 1 1/2-inch (1-tablespoon-capacity) ice-cream scoop, drop dough rounds onto lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart.
• Bake, switching positions of sheets and rotating about halfway through, until tops of the macaroons are golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks. Gently loosen cookies from parchment.
• Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Using a small spoon, drizzle chocolate over macaroons. Let stand until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes.

ORANGE COCONUT CREAMS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine milk and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until the butter is melted. Place the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Add milk mixture; beat until smooth. Add the coconut and orange extract; mix well. Roll into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour., In a microwave, melt the chips, chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

CREAMY ORANGE-COCONUT SMOOTHIE

Steps:

• Combine orange chunks, yogurt, orange juice, almond milk, 2 tablespoons coconut, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a blender; process until smooth. Add ice cubes and puree until smooth and thick. Divide between 2 glasses and garnish with remaining coconut.