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    Home » All Desserts » Muffins and cupcakes

    Published: Feb 25, 2021 · Modified: Jan 27, 2022 by Anthea

    Vegan Coconut Lime Cupcakes

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    5 from 5 votes

    Easy vegan coconut lime cupcakes filled with a zesty creamy lime curd and topped with a coconut vanilla buttercream. Fluffy tropical deliciousness!

    Vegan coconut lime cupcakes on marble board. One cupcake has a bite taken out of it showing the pastel green lime curd filling.

    Even though we can't travel right now, we can make these tropical cupcakes! These vegan coconut lime cupcakes are:

    • Easy and simple
    • Don't use any weird ingredients
    • Are fluffy, bursting with citrus and coconut

    If you would like to make a bigger vegan Summer cake, check out my Vegan Pina Colada Cake recipe!

    Making the vegan coconut lime cake

    Simply add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix. Then add the wet ingredients and mix until combined! As there's dessicated coconut in the mixture, it might look a little lumpy but just make sure there are no lumps of flour!

    Don't be tempted to add more liquid at this stage. This recipe will not bake with a runny batter!

    The dessicated coconut in the cupcakes helps create a fluffy crumb and minimises the need for extra oil!

    The cupcakes rise beautifully in the oven and will make your home smell beautiful!

    Coconut lime cupcake batter in bowl with spatula coming out. Batter is thick and a little lumpy.

    Making the vegan lime curd

    The lime curd for these cupcakes is zesty, custard-like and additive! I used a common Australian variety of lime but feel free to use key limes if you have access to them!

    I'll be honest - the lime curd doesn't look great in the saucepan before you add any colouring (powder, gel or liquid colouring). This is because the natural coconut oil in the cream has melted and become transparent. However, when the lime filling cools, it'll become white (and not grey) just like coconut cream!

    It's best to add your desired colour once the curd cools. You'll be working with a whitish custard-like mixture rather than a strange grey mixture.

    Two image collage. One image showing uncoloured lime curd filling and second image shows small spoon scooping coloured green lime curd into the middle of a golden cupcake

    Decorating the vegan coconut lime cupcakes

    I provided a simple coconut buttercream recipe and decorate my cupcakes with shredded coconut and wedges of lime.

    To make these cupcakes healthier, you can decorate them with whipped coconut cream! If you omit the lime curd filling, you can simply top your cupcakes with shredded coconut (before baking) and call them muffins.

    If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear about it!

    Vegan coconut lime cupcakes on marble board. Each cupcake has piped frosting, a wedge of lime and shredded coconut on top.

    See my other vegan cupcake recipes:

    • Vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes
    • Vegan Tiramisu Cupcakes
    • Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes
    • Red Velvet Cupcakes
    Vegan coconut lime cupcakes on marble board. One cupcake has a bite taken out of it showing the pastel green lime curd filling
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Vegan Coconut Lime Cupcakes

    Easy vegan coconut lime cakes with a lime curd filling and vanilla coconut buttercream.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Cuisine: American, Vegan
    Servings: 12 cupcakes
    Author: Anthea

    Ingredients

    Dry ingredients

    • 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose plain flour
    • 1 cups (200g) granulated sugar
    • ¾ cup (60g) dessicated coconut
    • 3 teaspoons baking powder
    • Pinch of any good-quality salt

    Wet ingredients

    • 1 ⅓ cup (320g) dairy-free milk
    • ½ cup (120g) neutral flavored oil
    • ¼ cup (60g) zest and juice of limes, or to taste (note 1)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Lime curd filling (optional)

    • 1 cup (240g) thick scoopable canned coconut cream
    • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar, or sweetener to taste
    • ¼ cup (30g) zest and juice of limes, or to taste
    • 2 tablespoons (15g) corn starch / corn flour
    • Green spirulina or a mixture of turmeric and blue spirulina, to colour

    Frosting

    • ¾ cup (170g) vegan butter
    • 3 cups (300g) powdered sugar / icing sugar, or to taste (use more for a firmer frosting)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon coconut extract, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a cupcake tray with liners.

    To make the cupcakes:

    • Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl and mix until combined or until there are no lumps. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. The mixture should be quite thick.
    • Divide the batter between your cupcake liners.
    • Bake the cupcakes in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer can be inserted into a cupcake and it comes out clean. The baking time will depend on the size of your individual cupcakes.
    • Cool the cupcakes in the cupcake tray for 5 minutes then allow to cool on a wire rack.

    To make the lime curd:

    • Add all ingredients (except the powdered colours) to a small saucepan and mix until combined. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir for 5 minutes or until thickened. Allow to cool completely. The curd will become less transparent once it cools.
    • When the curd has cooled, mix in your powdered colours, as desired.
    • Use an apple corer or knife to cut and remove the middle of each cupcake. Spoon the lime curd into each cupcake. Set aside in the fridge until needed.

    To make the frosting:

    • Add the butter to a bowl or stand mixer. Whip until pale and fluffy. Add the sugar, vanilla and coconut extract and whip until very fluffy.
    • Use a piping bag with a star shaped nozzle to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Alternatively, use a knife to spread the frosting on the cupcakes.
    • Serve immediately. Alternatively, store the unfrosted cupcakes at room temperature or the frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving.

    Notes

    1. I weighed the lime juice/zest together and it was about ¼ cup. I used Tahitian or Persian limes which are the most common variety in Australia. However, feel free to use key limes if you can access them!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cupcake without frosting | Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you Make this Recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @rainbownourishments on Instagram and hashtag #rainbownourishments!

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Vegan Coconut Lime Cupcakes
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    1. Kathleen says

      January 19, 2023 at 10:51 am

      Can I use regular butter and not vegan butter in this recipe and what is desiccated coconut?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        January 19, 2023 at 11:09 am

        Yes regular butter will work. Desiccated coconut is finely shredded coconut or the finest type of dried unsweetened coconut that you can find. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Kathryn W says

      July 08, 2022 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      This is a fantastic recipe, thanks! Very flavoursome, with a light sponge and zingy lime curd.

      I didn't have much time to decorate them, so I opted for a simple lime icing - topped with roasted coconut shavings.

      I made them as a vegan option for a celebration, and vegans and non-vegans really enjoyed them. I'll definitely be making these delicious cakes again.

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        August 11, 2022 at 4:27 pm

        I'm so glad you loved these cupcakes! A simple lime icing sounds perfect and that's great that everyone enjoyed them :). Thanks for your feedback Kathryn!

        Reply
    3. Siany says

      February 15, 2022 at 4:50 am

      Hello,
      These cupcakes look delicious but can it be made as a sponge cake aswell?

      Reply
      • Anthea says

        February 15, 2022 at 8:12 pm

        Thank you! From experience, when I scale up a recipe, I need to add more baking agents. Maybe add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to make this a larger cake :).

        Reply

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