Whisk together dry cake mix, coconut milk, oil, eggs, and coconut extract. Stir in the pineapple bits (make sure they are drained really well, but keep the juice for the frosting!)
The batter will be thicker than your typical cake batter
Pour batter into cupcake tins and bake for 18-21 minutes and let cupcakes cool completely.
You will want to fill the cupcake tins until about 2/3 full.
To make the frosting, blend butter and brown sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar and pineapple juice, alternating between the two. Pour in the coconut extract and mix well.
When making the frosting, I like to start by adding about 1 and ⅓ cup of sugar and mix using a mixer on the lowest setting, gradually working up to the highest. Once it has been whipped together, I add 1 Tablespoon of pineapple juice and mix it again. I continue to do this back and forth, until I have added the last of the sugar. If the frosting is too thick you can add pineapple juice, 1 teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached
To decorate your cupcakes, top them with a pineapple ring, and frost with a piping bag.
When frosting my cupcakes I fill a piping bag or ziploc bag with frosting to make things easier and make the overall appearance more attractive. I used a Wilton 1M piping tip for mine, but you can use any large piping tip for the frosting
Sprinkle with shredded coconut and a cherry on the top
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 24 cupcake tins with liners or by well greasing them.
Prepare the cake mix by whisking together the dry cake mix, coconut milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and coconut extract until well combined. The batter should be slightly thicker than a normal cake batter when you finish mixing.
After the batter is prepared, stir in the pineapple tidbits (be sure it is well drained but reserve the juice for the frosting).
Fill the prepared cupcake tins with batter, until each liner is ⅔ full. Bake the cupcakes for 18-21 minutes or until a tester comes out clean and the top bounces back when you touch it. Let the cupcakes cool in the tins for 5 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely
In a large stand mixer with the whisk attachment, blend the butter and brown sugar on high until creamy and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Colder, firmer butter will take longer. The end result should look like a light, whipped butter.
Blend in the powdered sugar alternately with the pineapple juice. I like to add about 1 and ⅓ cup of sugar and mix it in, starting on the lowest setting and gradually working up to the highest. Once it has been whipped together, add 1 Tablespoon of pineapple juice and mix it again. Do this back and forth, until I have added the last of the sugar. If the frosting is too thick you can add pineapple juice, 1 teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached
Pour in the coconut extract before beating the frosting on high for an additional 5 minutes. It should be very light and fluffy with very little grainy texture.
Fill a piping bag or ziploc bag with your frosting. I used a Wilton 1M piping tip for mine, but you can use any large piping tip for the frosting.
To decorate, top the cupcakes with a pineapple ring, frosting, shredded coconut and a maraschino cherry (all optional
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