Strawberry Coconut Cupcakes

I've got a delicious cupcake recipe for you today!

I love making homemade strawberry frosting to put on cupcakes.  I decided to combine that with coconut - two flavors that I think are delish alone.

Put them together?  Yummy!

Let's get this party started!

Strawberry Coconut Cupcakes

CAKE:

1 package white cake mix

3 egg whites

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup applesauce

1 tsp coconut extract

1 cup coconut

FROSTING:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup strawberry puree*

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups powdered sugar

Mix all of your cake ingredients together.  Follow the instructions on the box as far as how long to mix the batter.  Then bake your cupcakes according to the box.  Let the cupcakes cool.

For the frosting, mix the butter with a hand mixer (butter should be a little chilled, but not hard).  Add the strawberry puree* and the vanilla and mix until well blended.  Add your powdered sugar.  You may want to add a little more or a little less, depending on the consistency you want your frosting to be.  I wanted mine a little thicker, so I used a little more sugar.

* To make the strawberry puree, blend about 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen (but thawed) strawberries in a blender until they are pureed.  Not too hard :)

Then you can decorate your cupcakes however you'd like!  I put a slice of strawberry and then sprinkled some coconut on mine to make them pretty.  Cuz it's more fun eating pretty cupcakes, right?! 

Now it's time for you all to get your cupcake on!!!

What fun flavors do you like to make?

PS - I had more pics, but either Blogger or my internet was being SO SLOW tonight!!!!  So I gave up after waiting for almost 2 hours to upload the last few pics . . .  Maybe I'll try again tomorrow . . .

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