Easter Coconut Cupcakes

With Easter just a couple of days away, I wanted to make an Easter inspired Cupcake to share with you! I whipped up these adorable little bird's nest Coconut Cupcakes that are super simple and yummy! All you do is dress up a white cake mix with a little coconut milk and top the cupcakes off with a sweet, creamy, white coconut frosting. Then you roll the edges in toasted coconut for the nest and top them with jelly beans for the eggs! Aren't they just adorable? They are perfect for any Easter festivities you have going on this weekend! Enjoy :) 

Coconut Cupcakes: (adapted from Paula Deen)

1 (18.25-ounce) box classic white cake mix

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

Coconut Frosting (recipe follows)

1 1/2 cups toasted coconut

-jelly beans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12 cup) muffin pans with paper liners (I got 18 cupcakes).

2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, milk, oil, and eggs. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Increase speed to medium, and beat for 2 minutes, or until smooth. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, about 2/3 full. Bake 18 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire rack.

3. Spread Coconut Frosting evenly over each cupcake. Roll edges in toasted coconut and place 3 jelly beans on each cupcake.

Coconut Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup coconut milk

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

additional milk, if needed

In a large bowl, beat butter and milk at medium speed with an electric mixer until combined. Gradually beat in confectioner's sugar until smooth-if frosting is too stiff add a little milk. Stir in coconut extract.

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

I am back with an incredibly easy, tasty, and addictive little Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie recipe that I think you will love! I got this great idea from Picky Palate, and if you love cinnamon rolls, then you will absolutely adore these! The ingredient list is short and sweet-all you need for these is a roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough, a little butter, cinnamon, sugar, and then you make a simple glaze with powdered sugar and milk! How easy, right? Give these babies a try!

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies:

For the cookies:

-1 roll, (16.5 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened to room temperature

-2 tablespoons butter, melted

-1 tablespoon cinnamon

-1/2 cup brown sugar

For the glaze:

-powdered sugar

-milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out cookie dough into about a 12x5-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Pour and spread melted butter all over the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon and then sugar. Roll the dough into a log. Cut into 20 equal pieces. 

Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden on the edges. 

Remove from oven and let cool slightly. 

Meanwhile make the glaze: mix together powdered sugar and milk to desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies and enjoy!