Coconut Sugar Carrot Banana Cupcakes With Coconut Sugar Meringue Frosting Food

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH MERINGUE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan or two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners; lightly spray the liners with cooking spray. Soak the prunes in a bowl with 3/4 cup hot water until softened, about 10 minutes. Pour into a blender and puree until smooth.
• Whisk the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the prune puree, brown sugar, eggs, yogurt, vegetable oil and vanilla. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined (it's fine if there are a few lumps).
• Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes for standard-size cupcakes, or 12 to 14 minutes for minis. Transfer to a rack and let cool in the pan, 10 minutes, then remove from the pan to cool completely.
• Make the frosting: Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, cream of tartar and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until the sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan. Transfer the egg white mixture to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Sift in the cocoa powder and add the vanilla and orange zest; beat to combine. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes.

COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line a regular sized muffin tin with cupcake papers.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
• In a measuring cup combine egg whites, coconut milk and extracts.
• Cream together sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed.
• Blend until butter lightens in color and texture, 4 minutes.
• Alternately add dry and wet ingredients, starting and ending with dry, in 3 additions.
• Fold in coconut using a rubber spatula.
• Scoop batter into prepared tin, filling each about 3/4 full.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.
• Cool in the pan 5 minutes; remove completely.
• For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Add melted white chocolate and lime juice; beat to blend.
• Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth (it will be gooey).
• Spread 3 Tbsp frosting on each cupcake.
• Top cupcakes with coconut.

BANANA COCONUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 16 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Beat sugar, olive oil, egg, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until light in color and creamy. Add bananas and coconut; stir to combine. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into banana mixture until smooth. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES WITH TOASTED COCONUT

Steps:

• Beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla extract together. In a separate bowl mix flour, spices, salt and baking soda. Add walnuts, figs, dates and carrots to dry ingredients. Mix half of dry mixture into egg mixture until well incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients to batter and mix thoroughly.
• Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Fill each liner 3/4 full with batter. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until toothpick pulls clean from center of cupcake.
• In a bowl combine room temperature cream cheese, softened butter and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. Slowly incorporate confectioners sugar into cream cheese blending until smooth. Frost each cupcake.
• Heat skillet on medium heat. Toast coconut until golden brown. Top each frosted cupcake with coconut. Enjoy!

CARROT-COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For cupcakes:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with muffin papers. Whisk sugar, oil, and eggs in large bowl to blend. Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in medium bowl to blend. Stir pineapple, carrots, coconut, and pecans in another medium bowl to blend. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture until just blended. Fold in carrot mixture. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, dividing equally. Bake cupcakes until tops are golden brown and tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely on rack.
• For frosting:
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Using on/off turns, blend cream cheese, butter, lemon peel, and melted white chocolate in processor until smooth. Add powdered sugar; process until smooth. Spread frosting on cupcakes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)