Lawnmower Coconut Cupcakes

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line one standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Step 2

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until just combined.

Step 3

Transfer mixture to a large bowl; set aside.

Step 4

In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 1/8 cup sugar; beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Do not over-beat. Gently fold a third of the egg-white mixture into the butter-flour mixture until combined. Gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture; stir in shredded coconut.

Step 5

Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each with a heaping 1/4 cup batter.

Step 6

Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the cupcakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 7

Transfer pans to a wire rack. Invert cupcakes onto rack; then re-invert and let cool completely, top sides up.

Step 8

In a mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth. Gradually add confectioners sugar; beat until smooth. If too thick to spread, beat in up to 1 tablespoon of milk, 1 tsp at a time.

Step 9

Assembly

Step 10

For each cupcake, mix a handful of flaked coconut with a few drops of green food coloring. Press a frosted cupcake into the coconut to cover.

Step 11

The mower is made with a dark chocolate Hersheys Nuggets body, brown M&Ms wheels, and a red M&Ms engine, held in place with dabs of frosting.

Step 12

Shape the handle from a piece of red licorice lace, then insert the ends into the cupcake.