Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting {Almond Joy Cupcakes}
This is such a dreamy flavor combination! You get a rich chocolate cupcake paired with a velvety smooth, luscious and fluffy coconut frosting and they're finished with shredded coconut and almond slices. These are an almond joy candy bar lovers dream!
3/4cupsweetned, shredded coconut, (optionally ground in a food processor for smaller pieces)
1/2 - 3/4cupsliced almonds or 24 whole almonds
24milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large heat proof mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and baking soda. Carefully pour in boiling water and whisk until bubbling subsides and mixture is well blended, allow to cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on low speed, blend together melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, vanilla and salt until well combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in eggs and eggs yolks, mixing just until combined after each addition. Blend in lukewarm cocoa mixture then blend in heavy cream. Slowly mix in flour and blend until combined, while scraping down sides and bottom of bowl.
Divide batter among 24 paper lined muffin cups and bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 18 - 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in muffin tin several minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool. Cool completely then frost with coconut frosting. Sprinkle each frosted cupcake with coconut (before frosting sets), leaving about a 1/2 - 1 inch circle in center of cupcake uncoated with coconut. Gently press 5 or more sliced almonds around 1 chocolate chip in center of cupcake, or gently press 1 whole almond into the center of each cupcake. Store in an airtight container.
Coconut Frosting:
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and coconut milk on medium-low speed until combined, then increase speed to medium-high and whip until very pale and fluffy, about 6 minutes. Blend in coconut extract. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in powdered sugar then increase speed to medium-high and blend until fluffy, about 2 minutes.