Pina Colada Cupcakes Recipe

By
Carrie Vasios Mullins
Carrie Vasios Mullins is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Carrie Vasios Mullins
Carrie Vasios Mullins is the former national editor at Serious Eats, with a focus on all things sweet.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Apr. 17, 2019
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Carrie Vasios

These fun, adult-only cupcakes have all the flavors of a pina colada: coconut, pineapple, and rum.

Recipe Facts

Active: 30 mins
Total: 60 mins
Makes: 24 mini cupcakes

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Ingredients

  • For Cupcakes:
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 extra large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons rum
  • 1/4 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
  • 8 ounces pineapple rings in juice, finely chopped, juice reserved
  • For Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon rum
  • 4 tablespoons cream of coconut
  • 1/3 cup sweetened coconut flakes
  • Unsweetened large coconut flakes for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Make Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line mini-muffin tin with wrappers.

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

  3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

  4. Beat in 1/2 of flour mixture until combined. Add rum and cream of coconut and beat until combined. Beat in remaining flour mixture.

  5. Stir in pineapple and juice until evenly incorporated.

  6. Pour batter evenly among wrappers, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until cupcakes are golden and a tester comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Move to a wire baking rack and let cool.

  7. Make Frosting: In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter, and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add salt, rum, and cream of coconut and beat until combined and frosting is smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes more.

  8. Fold in sweetened coconut flakes.

  9. Assembly: Place frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a medium tip. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Garnish each cupcake with a coconut flake, if desired.

Special equipment

mini cupcake pan, mini cupcake wrapper

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