Coconut Margarita Ice Cream Cupcakes
There are going to be a few ice cream cupcake posts over the next couple of days. I need to get them all in by the 30th. Be sure to check out the ice cream cupcake roundup at the end of the month (link at end of post).
I made these cupcakes before we started the kitchen renovation (you can even see them in the freezer picture from the first day post). Because I was trying not to throw away any food when the renovation started, I made some really random foods. I had some coconut creme left from the coconut lime cupcakes, and everyone loved those cupcakes so I decided to whip up a batch. I ended up having enough creme to make 3/4 of a batch of cupcakes. I can’t really say how many normal sized cupcakes that recipe would make because I made a variety of cupcakes. But don’t worry I am sure I’ll be making it again (I dipped some in leftover ganache for Hubby to take to work, the rest were used for these ice cream cupcakes).
Once the cupcakes were done, I just needed some ice cream to go with coconut. I headed up to the local JP Licks to see what flavors they had this month. It was my lucky day because they had “Fresh Margarita” Sorbet. As you all know, coconut and lime is one of my favorite flavor combos, so I got a pint without hesitation.
I decided to try a couple options with these cupcakes. For some of them, I did the same thing I did last year, where I had a layer of cupcake, then ice cream (sorbet in this case), then frosting (again, I used up some coconut cream cheese frosting I had in the fridge). For other cupcakes, I cut them in half and put the sorbet in the middle.
I liked the sandwich variety better because it wasn’t so cold against my teeth biting into the cupcake. Hubby also preferred the sandwich variety. But they were all delicious no matter what. *Note* I didn’t make these dairy free, but I did have to try one and they’re REALLY good. If you can find margarita sorbet, I highly recommend this combo.
Coconut cream cheese frosting – from Hello! Cupcake
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Beat the cream cheese and butter in a mixer bowl until light and fluffy.
Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream.
Beat in the salt, coconut flavoring, and vanilla extract.
Continue beating until mixture is smooth and spreadable.
Add additional confectioners’ sugar if necessary to thicken the frosting, or more cream to thin.
Fold in the shredded coconut.
I am submitting these cupcakes into the blogging event hosted by Cupcake Project and Scoopalicious. Be sure to check back to vote for their reader’s choice cupcakes. Voting will be the first week in June.






I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 






These look fantastic!
my husbands family calls them butter-gooey cake.
Hi! These are actually called Gooey Butter Cakes, and they are a Paula Deen recipe (hence the butter and cream cheese!) I love making them with a red velvet cake mix….so good.
Ooey gooey butter cakes have been around for decades – they started in St. Louis – very close to my hometown. I remember making this recipe years before Paula came on the scene. She just made them more famous! Everyone goes nuts when you make them – I make them with all kinds of flavors – pineapple, lemon etc. Yours look great.
Thanks for all the information about where the bars originate from. Wherever they came from, they sure are good. I saw some comments on the allrecipes.com link of variations that people have tried like swirling in some berries and using chocolate cake mix. Kind of like a cheesecake brownie
Here in Kentucky they’re called Chess bars and have been around for a very long time. I’m not a native to KY and a coworker introduced me to these. I looked at them and thought “What the heck is that?” but once I tried one I was HOOKED! I just love how simple they are to make.
Whatever you call them, they’re pretty darned good!
YUM! Those look really delicious. And I love the colors you always put in the background.; The blue with the orange tint of the abrs is just perfect!
Yours looks like how my first and only batch turned out but I think I’d like them better gooey and with a little less sugar.
~ingrid
Yum…I love these things!
These look delicious! And I love using boxed cake mix!
I made these for a friends birthday this past weekend and they were a big hit!
I just made these today and they are delicious! I left mine slightly gooey and it’s so good!
I love these bars!
ust made these, yum! But I am curious to know where I can find some variations, i.e., with nuts, chocolate, fruit flavored, etc……I love to experiment!
beantownbaker — March 16th, 2013 @ 2:49 pm
I haven’t had a chance to play around myself with this recipe. I’m sure if you searched online, you’d find some other variations. Let me know what you try!
My mom used to make them for us when I was little. I am 25 now. And I am pretty sure they have been around for quite some time. Paula Deen probably only highlighted the fact that they were around. But yes Yum!
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday.
It’s always interesting to read through articles from other writers and practice something from other sites.
How can you make these to taste like pumpkin? If you add in pumpkin, do you need to cut back on something else??
beantownbaker — September 26th, 2013 @ 10:33 am
Oh that’s a great thought… What about using a box of pumpkin cake mix? And then throwing some pumpkin spices in the cream cheese mixture? If you try this variation, definitely let me know how it turns out!
Omg these look amazing cannot wait to try! I will experiment though!
beantownbaker — September 2nd, 2014 @ 7:08 pm
If you do, let me know how it goes!
This has been around for years and yes it came from a Philly box. Was a family tradition for holidays at our house, but you can make with lemon as well
beantownbaker — September 2nd, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Good to know!
I have been making these for years…but I dust with powdered sugar when cool. I can’t go to a family function without taking them.We call them Butter Cheese Squares.
I have made these for over 20 some years. I mix pecan pieces in the crust. Family just loves them. Making them tomorrow.
I make mine with Butter Pecan Cake mix and they are awesome. I am trying lemon this weekend.