Lime and Coconut Cupcakes

Of course, you probably know me very well for invading Vocal with my film studies stuff and articles entitled ‘a filmmaker’s guide’. I have often explained that I love to bake as well. Since I was young, I have loved the idea, the creativity and the relaxation of baking different things. I love to make macarons, layer cakes and gingerbread in particular and the activity of it really gets me away from my laptop (where I’m sure you know that I spend most of my life). So, I hope you enjoy me talking about what I bake and why I bake it complete with pictures (if not very good) of me actually baking, my baked goods in the process of being created and when they’re finished. I’m really happy to share this with you. And if you like, you can show me your baking (yes, I spend a lot of time writing, but I also spend a lot of time reading other people’s articles!), I would love to see it. Since I was in school, I was always interested in creating things, whether that be pieces of writing, welding things to make small statues or baking foods and making sweets (candy, if you’re American). I hope you enjoy looking at some of the stuff that has honestly kept me sane, because I seem to be going slightly mad.

Lime and Coconut Cupcakes

I love lime and coconut because it reminds me of nice cocktails. It reminds me of summer and of some great flavours that go well with haddock as well. Anyways, I made these cupcakes in order to bring back some of the heat since I am absolutely freezing. Practicing summer flavours is a nice way to remind me that I can warm up in a kitchen in the middle of the approaching winter season. When it comes to making cupcakes, I like to take it nice and easy and then, when they're finished cooling - applying pretty little decorations and then putting them in the fridge to set before serving them at dinner. The best thing about lime and coconut cupcakes though is that they go great with a lovely little shot or white rum or light vodka if you're feeling up to the booze - which you know I always am.

Let's go through how we do this then, step by step.

How to Make Lime and Coconut Cupcakes

Part 1: To Make the Cupcakes

• 115g Chilled Butter
• 115g Caster Sugar
• 115g Self Raising Flour
• 1 Beaten Egg
• 1 Lime, Juiced
• 35g Desiccated Coconut

Whilst your cupcakes are cooling, tidy up a little and we can make the buttercream...

Part 2: To Make the Buttercream

• 150g Chilled Butter
• 300g Icing Sugar
• 1tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1tsp Pale Green Food Colouring (Optional)

To make the perfect buttercream, make sure you whisk the butter on its own for five or six minutes and then, add in the icing sugar and whisk again for another five or six minutes whilst slowly adding the vanilla and optional colouring.

After you've made it and your cupcakes are cooled, you can then apply the buttercream with a piping bag and nozzle. Make any design you like and don't worry because I know it'll look great.

Hey cool, they're done!

The thing I like decorating on to spring/summer flavour cupcakes is flowers. Garden designs can make you feel all summery inside and brighten up a cold, rainy day. Honestly, it works, but I also love the winter flavours of Christmas time (which I'll be looking at in the next few weeks or so). So when you're baking with certain flavours, think about how you would like to decorate them to make you and your tasters feel a certain way. Cocktail cupcakes make for great garden designs giving a lovely spring/summer feeling. Flowers and branches over a pale green buttercream reminds me of a folkish flower scene.