I decided to attend a cupcake demo given by Hazel Sy at Williams-Sonoma last Saturday. The event was scheduled for 2:00 so I arrived at 1:30 since I wasn’t sure what the setup would be, and I wanted to get a seat if I could. There were no seats set up (no room in the store), but there was a chalkboard sign stating that the event would be from 2:30-4:30 instead of from 2:00-4:00. No problem. I decided to walk around the city for a while and come back when the demo started. Imagine my surprise when I walked in at 2:15 to find out that it was already underway! Oh no!
It turns out I didn’t miss too much, and it was interesting to watch. I learned a lot of neat tricks (room temperature butter should be just soft enough but not totally mushy–click the link below for more tips) and we all got a free Lemon Coconut Cupcake at the end–YUM!
They were so moist and delicious! I’m glad I went. I will definitely have to try out the recipe one of these days as I love lemon cake and to add coconut to it? Divine!!
Lemon Coconut Cupcakes
Makes 18 cupcakes
2 cups (218 grams) cake flour
1 cup (220 grams) sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon lemon zest (approx. 2 lemons)
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 eggs, room temperature
Coconut Frosting
Double the ingredients below if you like a lot of frosting
1 stick (113 grams; 1/ pound) butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 – 4 tablespoons cream of coconut
1 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
Unsweetened dried coconut flakes (for garnish)
Pre-heat the oven to 350F and line 18 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, hand whisk together the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the lemon zest.
Add the heavy cream, canola oil and vanilla to the flour mixture. Use the whisk to mix until just combined.
Add the lemon juice. Use the whisk to mix until just combined.
Add the eggs. Use the whisk to mix until just combined.
Spoon (or use an ice cream scooper) the batter into the cupcake liners. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out with crumbs (instead of wet batter).
Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting (approximately 1 hour).
To make the frosting:
Using an electric mixer (use the beater blade/paddle attachment if you have a stand mixer), mix together the butter and salt until creamy (approximately 30 seconds).
Mix the cream of coconut can contents using a spoon because the cream and liquid is often separated when you open it.
Add the vanilla and 3 tablespoons cream of coconut. Mix until just incorporated.
Mix in the confectioner’s sugar 1/2 cup at a time. If the frosting looks too dry, add 1 more tablespoon of cream of coconut. (If you add too much, it will become runny and hard to work with.)
Frost the cupcakes and top with the coconut flakes.
September 2011
Hazel Sy - TastyPursuits.com
September 21, 2011 at 11:06 pm
Thanks for coming to the demo Kim! I had spread the word that the demo would be at 2pm, but it turned out the Willams-Sonoma sign said 2:30. So I just did a soft start a bit after 2pm so people wouldn’t be bored standing around. Did you get a taste of the Guinness Caramel cupcakes that I brought in for people to nibble on while watching the demo? I’m not sure if they all disappeared by the time you arrived.
September 22, 2011 at 9:31 am
I missed the Guinness Caramel cupcakes, but I will have to give it a shot making them at home!