Lemon Coconut Cupcake

This zippy cupcake is fun and flavourful.  It's so light and refreshing that you'll catch your friends, and even yourself, sneaking a second for good measure.  You can make this recipe with a few twists, like adding Coconut or Lemon Curd to the icing, but here's how I made this winning treat!  First you'll need...

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing
• 1/3 cup of Sweetened Coconut Flakes (plus more to sprinkle on top of your cupcake)
  
• 1 cup of Lemon Curd (some for the batter and some for the top of your cupcake - the store bought stuff is perfect)
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)

Now it's time to mix things up...

Step 1: Follow the directions of your White Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  You'll notice that White Cake Mixes call for egg whites only and not the whole egg.  I usually don't bother with that and add the whole egg.  Mix together the batter until smooth. 

Step 2: Now it's time to add some tropical flavour.  Add 1/2 cup of Lemon Curd and mix it into the batter until fully incorporated. Add in 1/3 cup of Sweetened Coconut Flakes and mix through batter.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: While you're waiting for your cupcakes to cool, you might as well make the icing!  Using you mixer, throw in the vanilla icing and butter and mix on high until smooth.  Feel free to add in some Coconut and or Lemon Curd to flavour your icing - just because I didn't, it doesn't mean you can't!  Give your icing a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking, add in some icing sugar.

Step 4: Take your cooled cupcakes and spread some Lemon Curd over the top.  Now it's time to top them with your icing.  If you wanted, you could use a piping bag to ice your cupcakes, or you can just spoon it on and carefully spread it over top of the Lemon Curd.  Then, take the back of your spoon, press it gently into the icing and lift it quickly to make spikes that look like meringue.  Sprinkle with the rest of your Coconut and you're done!  For added class, you can toast your Coconut before sprinkling it over the top.  And that's it!    

Happy Faking!