Toasted Coconut Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting

Ingredients:

Cupcakes-
1 pkg. white cake mix
1 pkg. instant coconut pudding mix (3.4oz)
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
3 egg whites
1 1/2 cups coconut, divided
1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp coconut extract

Frosting-
4-5 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 tbsp whipping cream
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
yellow gel food coloring (optional)
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Evenly spread coconut on a cookie sheet and toast it under the broiler until lightly browned (approximately 3-5 min). Stir it around about halfway through to get it evenly toasted.

For the cake- In an electric mixer, combine cake mix, pudding mix, coconut milk, egg whites, oil, coconut extract, and 1 1/4 cups toasted coconut until well blended. Divide evenly amongst 24 cupcake liners. Bake for 16-19 minutes (or until internal temp. reaches 210 degrees)

For the frosting- Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar. Beat until no lumps remain. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Thoroughly mix again. Add remaining 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and whipping cream until you reach your desired consistency, then add in food coloring if you're using it. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and garnish with remaining toasted coconut.

Coconut Crust

7 oz shredded coconut
1/2 cube melted butter
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Combine butter and coconut and press in the bottom of pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

This coconut crust is super easy and very delicious! There are many ways to use it. Today I made this as the crust for a lemon raspberry cheesecake instead of the normal graham cracker crust. You could also make up a box of instant coconut pudding and you have a very quick and easy coconut cream pie.

Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 3/4 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup coconut
1 cup craisins
1 cup white chocolate chips
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Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in an electric mixer. Add in vanilla and eggs. Next add salt, flour, baking soda, and oatmeal. Stir in walnuts, coconut, craisins and white chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10-13 minutes.

I got this recipe from Sharon, a co-worker of mine when I worked at the credit union. She made these for me on my birthday and they are soooo yummy. The craisins and white chocolate chips were my addition to the recipe and these cookies are just as good without them if you don't have them on hand.