Coconut Lime Cupcakes

I don’t bake cupcakes very often, not because I don’t like them, but to be honest, I sort of forget about them. I am always dreaming up new cookie recipes and forget that there are other desserts out there. My heart belongs to cookies
The other day Josh and I were talking about how we met and how coconut cupcakes played a role in our meeting. Josh hinted that I should make the “famous” coconut cupcakes for him again. I was in a baking mood, so he got his wish:) This time I made Coconut Lime Cupcakes because Josh adores all things lime.

So you probably want to know how we met. Ok, here is the story. Note-Josh may have a slightly different version, but we all know I am always right:) It was a gorgeous spring day in Utah, so my roommate and I decided it would be fun to go on a little hike. We met up with a large group of people from our church and spent the evening hiking. We had a lot of fun and decided to invite a few people over for dessert after the hike. We just made some killer coconut cupcakes and knew they would be a hit:)

I didn’t really talk to Josh on the hike, but he ended up coming over with his roommate for dessert. We had a good time visiting and eating cupcakes. There were no sparks, no love at first sight, at least not on my end:) We did become really good friends and started hanging out almost every day. A few months later, we were watching a basketball game and Josh blurted out…so when are we going to start dating? I started cracking up. I didn’t think he was serious-he really was my best friend and I didn’t think he was interested in dating me. I’ve always had a lot of guy friends and didn’t think anything of it.

Well, he was serious and told me he was interested in dating me ever since he came over for dessert. To make a long story short, he ended up asking me on an “official” date. He showed up at my door step with a rose and we went out for sushi. That first official date led to many more dates and we were married about a year later.
Now, we joke that the coconut cupcakes were the reason Josh fell head over heels in love with me:) How could he resist me after taking a bite of such a decadent cupcake?
The coconut cupcake recipe is adapted from Ina Garten. I made a few changes this time around to make them Coconut Lime Cupcakes. I added lime zest and juice to the cupcake batter. I also made a coconut lime buttercream frosting and sprinkled coconut on top. The cupcakes are dense, with a refreshing kick of lime. Josh loved the lime twist on his favorite coconut cupcake.
These Coconut Lime Cupcakes will always be a favorite in our house! They are perfect for Spring and would be a great dessert to serve on Easter Sunday. And if you trying to win someone’s heart, make them these cupcakes. They worked on Josh:)

Coconut Lime Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
Rich and refreshing coconut lime cupcakes with a creamy coconut lime buttercream frosting. Our favorite cupcake recipe ever!
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
Zest of 1 large lime
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup shredded coconutFor the Coconut Lime Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract
6 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3/4 cup coconut, for sprinkling on top of cupcakesDirections:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and lime zest. Rub together with your fingers, until fragrant. In the bowl of an stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar mixture together on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla, coconut extract, lime juice, and mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Stir in coconut.
4. Fill each liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to wire cooling rack and cool completely.
5. While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, vanilla, and coconut extract until creamy. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, alternating with lime juice, beating until combined.
6. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with coconut.
Coconut cupcake recipe adapted from Ina Garten
If you like these Coconut Lime Cupcakes, you might also like:
- Lemon, Blueberry, Coconut Cupcakes from Verses from my Kitchen
- Skinny Coconut Cupcakes from Skinny Taste
- Coconut Nutella Cupcakes from A Spicy Perspective
- Coconut Lime Cake from Two Peas and Their Pod




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Coconut and lime is one of my favourite combinations – no wonder these captured Josh’s heart!
This is one of my all time favorite flavour combinations! Yum!
Ahhh, SO pretty (and delish!)
Very sweet story. And, the cupcakes look amazing, too.
I love that Ina coconut cupcake recipe and I bet the changes you made with the lime are incredible!
so funny, aren’t men all the same, food always works.
What a cute story, Maria. He knew he had a keeper after that first cupcake.
I think that is just so sweet that you guys were friends for so long before dating…what a patient man!!
Why have I never thought of these cupcakes before? The flavor combo sounds like perfection!!
I’m exactly the same, I would always take a cookie over a cupcake. But these look delicious and can imagine my heart could pretty happily be taken for a cupcake too
I love coconut and lime together and the hubby LOVE it, so these will be popping up in my kitchen soon! What a cute story, too. The cupcakes that launched a marriage, so to speak!
Oh my gosh!!! You two are so cute!! You know i bookmark every lime treat you make!!
What a cute love story! these cupcakes look so pretty!
Your cupcakes look amazing! I am on such a cococnut kick right now and coconut and lime wonderful combination!! I’m bookmarking this recipe!
What a sweet story! (no pun intended) Pete, too, would love these cupcakes. Lime and coconut are two of his favorite flavors in desserts! He just needs to stay home long enough for me to make them for him
Cute story! I’m big on marrying someone you are friends with first. The cupcakes look extremely “friendly” too! My husband loves coconut too. I’ll have to make these, next time I need him to fall in love with me all over again!
These look stunning, I can see why your husband fell in love with you hahaha my friends say the same thing about me and my boyfriend!!
What a cute story! I first met my husband on a group trip with friends too. We were good friends for a while before a mutual friend let it slip one day that he had a crush on me. I had no idea! Needless to say it all worked out in the end, just like you and Josh
I love the idea of coconut and lime together – so spring-y and light sounding!
That is such a sweet story! And a great cupcake flavor to go with it!
Cute story
Coconut & lime…sounds like you’re ready for summer!
Very cute story. And you and I are exact opposites. I love cupcakes and cheat on them with cookies. Hee.
I love your “How We Met” story; so adorable. It really is true that food is always the way to a man’s heart.
Aww! That’s so cute!!
Ooooo…I love a good lime cupcake, can’t wait to try your version. Especially if it’s so good as to make a marriage out of!! Fun to hear your story, Maria.
Aww, what a sweet story! This is such a beautiful, delicate batch of cupcakes! I can see how they could make any man fall head over heels!
How sweet! I also have quite a few good guy friends and could be totally oblivious to them wanting to be more than friends! Kudos to Josh for making it known. Your cupcakes look divine!
What a cute story and awesome cupcakes!
Cute story! The cupcakes look great, I love Ina’s coconut cake and your adaptation sounds delicious.
Maria, that is one sweet story
It’s so cute to remember these things and to have a recipe to share it with and pass on to your children and future grandchildren. The cupcakes look delicious and I am sure with that lime and coconut combination it’s to fall head over heels in love. Have a fantastic week.
such a cute story! I’m not surprised it was your baking that won him over
Love this story! And these cupcakes! Coconut and lime are a perfect combo!
Such a cute story! And what a delicious way to relive it with your sweetie
Great looking cupcakes. I made bars or cookies way more than I make cupcakes, too.
And I loved hearing the How We Met story!
I love hearing stories of how people meet, and eventually fall in love. You two are just cute!
Cute story…it’s always fun to hear how people meet! I’ve been wanting to try Ina’s coconut cupcakes for a long time…guess I will have to now. Yours look so good.
Oh my gosh, these are beautiful! Gorgeous cupcakes, Maria!
I love your love story!!! That is so cute! Great looking cupcakes too.
Awe, what a cute love story Maria!
and I love the idea of lime in the coconut – I’m planning something with coconut cake, I may have to give this a try!
I love reading stories about how couples met… now all I need is one of those cupcakes to nibble on!!!
Such a sweet story! Perfect for you two.
These sound wonderful! I made your apple crumb cake with brown sugar glaze yesterday… if I weren’t already married, my hubby would have proposed. So good!