Better Coconut Cupcakes

• For the cupcakes
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 egg whites
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup canned coconut milk (NOT sweetened coconut cream)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 pinch salt
• For the icing & garnish
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Unsweetened flaked coconut

1. Preheat oven to 350u0b0 and line a cupcake tin with paper cupcake liners.
2. In a stand up mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter slightly. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy. Scrape the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula.
3. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with a whisk until they are foamy and frothy - you're not looking for peaks here by any means, you just want to get them foamed and ready to accept more air.
4. Pour the whites into the mixing bowl and mix on low for about 2 minutes. At first it will look like the butter is almost curdled and will never incorporate homogenously into the whites but be patient. In about a minute or two it will all come together instantly and almost flawlessly, resembling the glossiest and most heavenly meringue.
5. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, and the coconut milk and extracts in a liquid measuring cup.
6. Alternating between wet and dry, add a third of the dry to the mix, beat to just begin to combine before adding a third of the liquid. Repeat this twice more, beating only just until everything is combined and STOP. Over beating will give you tough cupcakes and these should be like little pillowy clouds of coconuty perfection.
7. Using a 2.5oz spring-loaded ice cream scoop (roughly 2-1/2" diameter), scoop into the cupcake tin, and bake for 20 - 22 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean when poked in the center of the cupcake.
8. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tin until its cool enough to handle. Remove the cupcakes to a wire cooling wrack and allow them to cool completely and utterly.
9. In a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar on medium, until combined. Scrape down the sides and beat in the extracts until the icing is fluffy.
10. Slather each cupcake with the icing and sprinkle on a generous amount of unsweetened coconut flakes.

cupcakes, unsalted butter, sugar, egg whites, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, coconut milk, vanilla, almond, salt, unsalted butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, almond, coconut

Taken from food52.com/recipes/37384-better-coconut-cupcakes (may not work)