Moist chocolate cupcakes, topped with a mound of fluffy marshmallow frosting, and coated in pretty pastel coconut! These colorful snowball cupcakes make such a fun spring time treat!
Today I am on my way down to Washington DC with my friend Kellie, for the IACP Conference! I’m very excited to get away for a couple days, meet some new peeps, and hopefully learn a lot. But I am especially excited because, when I get back home, my kitchen will have undergone what I am hoping will be an incredible transformation!
After nearly 15 years of living with brown stained cabinetry, I’ve finally decided to go light and bright! It occurred to me slowly, after I noticed myself pinning the same white kitchen with white subway tile backsplash, over and over again, that hello! This is my kinda kitchen! My kitchen should look like this! White on the uppers, gray on the lowers (my husband and kids are suuuuper hard on stuff so hopefully it will show dirt/scuffs less), and brushed brass hardware. I can’t wait to get home on Sunday night and walk into a (sorta) brand new kitchen!
But for now I’m so happy to share these adorable cupcakes with you!
Do you remember Hostess Snowball Cakes? They were like a marshmallow ball, rolled in pink coconut, with a chocolate cake center. Kids just go crazy for them, I guess because of the color.
These cupcakes are a riff on that childhood favorite, only waaaaay better. Because: homemade. Homemade is always better, but I know I don’t have to tell you that 😉
Also, these come in all the pretty spring colors, not just pink.
It all begins with THE BEST chocolate cupcake recipe in the universe. I can say that because I am super picky when it comes to homemade cupcakes. IMO, a chocolate cupcake needs to be intensely dark chocolate-y, uber moist, and soft as a baby lamb. But! Sturdy enough to handle plenty of fluffy frosting. And bonus points if it’s easy to make and all happens in one bowl. Check, check, check, checkity check-check!
They get topped with a marshmallow-y Italian meringue. So light and heavenly, and just bursting with sweet vanilla flavor! You could also try 7-minute frosting, but honestly, I find this recipe to be much more stable. For some reason, whenever I make 7-minute frosting it’s always kinda loose and it doesn’t hold it’s shape real well. You are going to dollop a big mound of frosting on these cakes, to really get that snowball effect, and so you need a frosting that can keep it together and not slump all down the sides of the cupcakes.
Then, all you need to do is divide your sweetened flaked coconut into 4 equal portions, and put 3 of those into zip-top bags. Use a toothpick to add a tiny drop of gel-paste icing color to each. The colors I used were Rose Pink
Empty the baggies into bowls, and then just upend the cupcakes into the tinted coconut! It’s that simple!
I hope you enjoy these pastel coconut cupcakes as much as my family and I did! I just think they’d be perfect for Easter Sunday!
And I’ll keep ya posted on the kitchen job, if you’re into that kind of thing. Have a great weekend, everybody!
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** WATCH THIS LIVE RECIPE DEMO VIDEO TO SEE HOW IT’S DONE! **
Snowball Cupcakes
Moist chocolate cupcakes are topped with a mound of fluffy marshmallow frosting, and coated in pretty pastel coconut! These colorful snowball cupcakes make such a fun spring time treat!
Ingredients
- 1 batch Simply Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, divided
- gel paste icing colors in Rose Pink, Lemon Yellow, and Royal Blue
- 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 6 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bake and cool the cupcakes, according to the recipe.
- Divide the coconut into 4 equal portions. Set aside 1 portion to remain white. Place the other 3 portions into small zip-top bags, and add a drop of gel paste food coloring (Rose Pink
- Place 1 3/4 cup sugar in a medium pot, along with the corn syrup and water. Heat over medium-high until the syrup comes to a boil. Allow the syrup to reach a temperature of 240 degrees F (soft ball stage).
- Meanwhile, whip the egg whites with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, until they are glossy and stiff.
- When the sugar syrup has reached 240 degrees, carefully pour it into a large, heat-safe, spouted vessel. Slowly and carefully add the syrup, in a thin stream, to the whipped egg whites, while running the mixer on low speed. When all the syrup has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high and whip until very stiff. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Use an ice cream scoop
to top each cupcake with frosting. Immediately dip the tops of the cupcakes into the tinted coconut, turning to coat evenly.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 124kcal Calories from fat 15 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 10% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Sodium 38mg | 2% |
| Carbohydrate 28g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Sugars 26g | |
| Protein 1g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
Love how pretty these cupcakes look! I can’t wait to see a picture of your “new” kitchen!! That’s super exciting, Allie!!
Thanks Tiffany! I’ve been saving for this for a looong time- so I’m super excited right now. So happy you like the cupcakes; thanks so much for the great feedback 😀
Do the cupcakes need to be refrigerated if I make them the day before the party?
They’re probably ok at room temperature for one night. But it wouldn’t hurt! Good luck Tina!
Allie, I love these cupcakes!!! so pretty! Hope you have a blast this weekend and I also can’t wait to see your kitchen when you get back home!! so exciting!!
Thank you Alice! I’m very excited! Hope you are having a great weekend too hon!
Excited for you friend! I just did it the hard but cheap way. I painted them all myself. Trying to decide if I should bring it to the blog but….I’m waiting on new flooring. It’s been an adventure for sure!
Enjoy your time away! And of course I love these….there’s coconut. 🙂
Oh, you did it yourself??? I was going to at first, but then when I read all that was involved I decided it would probably take me a month, lol! I would love to see how yours turned out! I can’t wait for you to share the pics on your blog!
These snowball cupcakes are so adorable! Can’t wait to see your new kitchen! I hope my hometown treats you well and you have a great time!
Aw, I didn’t know you were from DC! You’re in San Francisco now though, right? So far so good here, DC is such a fun town and the conference is a blast 😉
These are just delightful and very Spring like. I would like to eat 3 or 7, please. I hope your kitchen turns out the way you want and I can’t wait to see it.
Thank you so much Janette! Hope you’re having a great weekend my dear!
These are so much fun Allie! I love them. Have a great time at IACP!
Thanks boo! So far the conference is a blast! Having a great time but missing you 🙁 Hope you’re having a relaxing weekend Jocelyn!
Allie, these are so cute! I love that they’re easy but still so festive. I love meringue buttercream – Italian or Swiss. I think it’s one of the best culinary inventions ever. And congrats on the new kitchen – I think cabinets can change the whole look 🙂
Thank you! I think it’s going to look like a whole new kitchen, lol. Can’t wait to see it and share the pics with you! Hope you’re having a great weekend Aida! xoxo
Ummmm, you’re totally bringing these with you….right? 🙂
You know it! 🙂
These cupcakes look beautiful and the frosting sounds so good! I hope you have fun at the conference! Love the idea of making your kitchen lighter and brighter 🙂
Thank you so much Mira! I’m all about lightening and brightening, especially after this dreary winter we’ve been having! Hope you’re having a great weekend hon! xoxo
Pretty cupcakes with bright spring colors – luv the tinted coconut and the texture of that Italian Meringue. How fun to come home to a transformed kitchen (would like that so much!). 😉
I know! I’m soooo excited right now. It’s so great the way the timing worked out. Can’t wait to share the “after” shots with you! Thanks so much for the sweet comment Cristina!
These cupcakes are stunning! Love the colours – so vibrant and fun! Lovely recipe, Allie! x
Thanks so much Jess! I had a lot of fun with these- the colors are just so cheerful! 🙂
Oh my gosh, these cupcakes look so perfect. I am drooling…what a creative idea!!
Thanks Annie! I’m so happy you enjoyed. Hope you are having lots of fun this weekend 🙂
Have fun at the conference, and your kitchen reno sounds like it’s gonna be gorgeous! Congrats!
Snowball cupcakes were my favorite growing up so I’m dying over these — they’re so pretty and that frosting is so fluffy! Pinned over and over. 🙂
Aw, Marcie! You are the sweetest, thank you so much!
Eekk… so fun! I can’t wait to see the kitchen I bet its going to be gorgeous. That is totally my kinda kitchen too! And so are these cupcakes. Love how fun and vibrant they are. My son will love them!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Aw, yay! Give that sweetie a hug from me Krista! Hope you’re having an awesome weekend hon 🙂
Love these cupcakes!!! Can’t wait to see tour freshly painted kitchen! Have a fun weekend! 🙂
Me either, haha! I’m so excited to get home so I can see the transformation 🙂 Thanks so much SweetBakedLife 🙂
What pretty cupcakes! These are the only types of snowballs I want in my life at this point in the year – but alas, it was snowing here all day! I’m looking forward to seeing (and living vicariously through) pictures of your new kitchen 🙂
Oh no, snow really? Ugh when is this winter going to end??? I hope this is your last snow for a looong time, CakePants! Stay warm my friend, and thanks for the sweet comment!
Oooh a kitchen reno! How exciting! I bet it’ll look just as pretty as these cupcakes, because these might be the prettiest cupcakes I’ve ever seen! The pastel colors are perfect 🙂
Aw, thank you Michelle! I’m just so sick and tired of slush and drear, I needed some pastel pretties to cheer me up, lol!
When I was little, snowballs were my favorite packaged treat so I just completely swooned when I saw these. You are my baking hero!
Haha that is awesome Marissa! Snowballs are such a classic right? I’m so glad you liked these- thanks for making my day! 🙂
These cupcakes are perfect for Easter and I looking forward to seeing how your kitchen transformation turns out. Have a great time in Washington DC. I love the Georgetown Area.
Thanks Chineka! Hopefully I’ll get a chance to spread my wings outside of the hotel conference rooms, lol! 🙂
Love these cupcakes, Allie! They’re so so pretty! Have fun at the conference! So excited for your kitchen reno – can’t wait to see how it turns out 🙂
Thanks Kelly, me too! Hope you’re having a fun weekend sweetie!
Wow, these are amazing! That colored coconut is one if the best ideas I’ve seen lately. Beautiful cupcakes Allie!
Thank you so much Paula! I’m all about the pretty spring colors these days. So happy you like the cupcakes; hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
Gorgeous pastel spring colours! I’m loving the flavours as well – coconut is such a delicious addition! Beautiful photographs too. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Thank you so much Alessandra! I’m so happy you like them. The colors made me happy, lol!
These are so fun! I love Snowballs! (the coconuty kind, and not the snow kind!)
Same here Ashley! Especially in late March, lol! Thanks so much hon 🙂
Allie these cupcakes are so pretty!! And perfect for spring!! Also, I cannot wait for your kitchen reveal…you have to text me tomorrow morning with a picture 🙂
I definitely will! They’re still finishing it up now- it took a little longer than I initially thought. As soon as it’s done I will be snapping away! Can’t wait!
Oooh, I bet the best part of making these is dipping them in that gorgeous coloured coconut! So satisfying when the finished result is as pretty as this.
These are just perfect for Easter!
Thanks Helen! The coconut was a lot of fun. I loved the springtime colors too. It’s still pretty wintry around here, so a colorful spring treat was definitely in order!
Snow ball cupcakes!! I love it! However, I will NOT be chucking them at anyone – just into my mouth!
Haha yes! No snowball fights with these cupcakes lol! Thanks Nagi!
Yay for a new kitchen! These cupcakes are so cute, they look exactly like snoballs! Totally pinning this!
Thank you so much Renee! <3 <3 <3
Oh my gosh, how totally cute are these!?!? I used to love snowballs and still love the cakey-frostingy-coconut combination. Have a wonderful time at the conference. And I can’t WAIT to see your new kitchen!
Thank you so much Nora! The conference was a blast and I’m slowly getting caught up now, after being away. I’m so happy to know you’re a fan of snowballs! They were my mom’s favorite lunch box treat when she was little 🙂
We made these today and I absolutely adore them! The frosting tastes wonderful with the chocolate cake and coconut. Our family isn’t very big so we cut the recipe in half and we have some leftover. Do you recommend refrigerating? I wasn’t sure about the egg whites in the frosting.
Yay! I’m so happy you liked them Elyse! I’ve halved the recipe before too and it always works out great. Honestly, I left mine out on the counter for several days, and they seemed fine. The egg whites are cooked so that’s probably why? But if you are unsure I think the fridge is the way to go. Thanks so much for reading and trying one of my recipes! Have a great week 🙂
That’s what I figured, but we went ahead and threw them in the fridge. With much success I might add. There was no change in the frosting, and no weeping either. My Grandmother has already asked me to make this again so that she can take cupcakes to her church dinner on Wednesday! Thanks so much. Will definitely be keeping this recipe handy for company and special occasions. <3
Aw that’s so great! I’m so glad you and your Grandmother liked them so much. And great to know that the frosting held up well in the fridge too. Thanks so much for sharing Elyse! 😀
ooooh a kitchen remodel! so exciting!!!!! These snowball cupcakes are ohhh so pretty and that frosting looks like cuhraaazy luscious!
Hi! These look amazing! I am curious how the icing holds up? I’m making cupcakes Minecraft themed. This icing looks awesome but would it hold crushed chocolate cookies and a hardened marshmallow fondant decoration that is about 1.5inx1.5in? I don’t want to have the icing ooze off the cupcakes. Thanks!
Hey Carra! I used an ice cream scoop to top these cupcakes, and as you can probably tell from the pics, it kept it’s shape pretty well. Although I think the coconut kind of helped. Maybe the crushed cookies would do the same? Another great option would be Swiss meringue buttercream. Back in my pastry chef days, that was all we ever used for under fondant. You can find that recipe here: https://bakingamoment.com/simply-perfect-vanilla-cupcakes/. Hope that helps!
These are so pretty! It may have been asked and I didn’t see in comments, where does the vanilla go? In the syrup mixture or in the egg whites and sugar? Thank you so much 🙂
Kari
Hey Kari! I’m so sorry for that oversight. You just want to stir the vanilla into the frosting at the very end. Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
Hi where do I get the recipe for the cup cake it’s self
Just click the link in the recipe card, Fiona! Hope you enjoy 🙂
I tried the frosting, and it was so good! Thanks for posting this! I think it’s now my favorite frosting. I wished it kept longer, I’d never make buttercream again 🙂
Oh I know! It’s easy to make and it tastes so good! Too bad it doesn’t keep longer. Thanks so much for the great feedback, Pam!
Can I freeze these cup cakes with the marshmallow frosting
I’ve never tried that Lori, so I’m really not sure! If you have any luck with that will you loop back and let us know? It’s a great question and I’m sure other readers would love to benefit from your experience. Thanks so much!
These beauties would be perfect on our Easter dessert buffet!
Such a fun idea, and I love that you could change the color for any holiday!
How fun are these!!! Thanks for sharing!
These are so much fun! I love the colors!
These are the prettiest cupcakes ever!
Awesome for Easter!
Are you even kidding me? These are adorable! And congrats on the new kitchen. I am sure white cabinets makes a huge difference!
These are spring dessert perfection! I just love the frosting!!
Yes, homemade is always better! These snowball cupcakes are super cute and fun for Easter!