Conference Weekend Cupcakes

Another amazing General Conference has come and gone. I feel uplifted as well as motivated to follow the example of President Monson. Wasn't his closing remarks hilarious? My favorite session was Saturday morning's Solemn Assembly. I tried to explain to the kids how special that meeting was. I was impressed at how they listened intently almost the entire time. Rylee asked me everytime a new speaker got up to the pulpit, "is that our new prophet?" I look forward to teaching my children about him and his example of service.

I also loved Elder Bednar's remarks about missionary work. He said that instead of praying for the missionaries to find people who would be receptive to the message that we should pray for opportunities to find people that the missionaries can teach. He promised us that if we pray for those opportunities that they will come. (paraphrased of course)

Elder Ballard also gave a beautiful talk directed to the women of the Church. He reminded me that the magical moments of motherhood come interspersed with the monotonous moments. I need to learn to appreciate both.

The cupcakes got started as a PTA project. I am in charge of "Teacher Appreciation Week" at the elementary school in two weeks and I have to fix a Mexican dinner for 85 people. I wanted to serve a Tres Leche (al a Cafe Rio) for dessert. This was a very labor intensive recipe. It took 2 days to come together. It calls for a Dulce de Leche Buttercream but Reggie and I found it far too rich and sweet. So, when I make these for the teachers I will substitute whipped cream for the icing and top them with sliced strawberries. If you like "three milk cake" it is definately worth the effort!

Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, separated

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup coconut milk
1 cup lightly toasted flaked coconut (Mounds or Angel Flake brand)

Dulce de Leche Buttercream:

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle brand)

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

14 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening, butter, and sugar until light and fluffy on medium speed; add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating until all the yellow disappears. Add the vanilla.

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed mixture beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small bowl, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.

Fill standard paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to wire rack that has been placed over a baking sheet to cool.

While cupcakes are still warm, stir together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and the coconut milk. Using a meat injector needle, inject each cupcake in several different spots with about 1/2 to 3/4-ounce of the mixture. Or, poke several holes in the top of each of the cupcakes with a 1/4-inch wooden skewer. Pour the milk mixture over each cupcake while they are still warm, filling each hole. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight before icing.

For the Buttercream:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. To make the dulce de leche, pour the sweetened condensed milk into a glass pie plate and cover with foil. Place in a larger roasting pan where pie plate can sit flat. Pour hot water into the roasting pan to a depth of about halfway up the pie plate.

Place in oven and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Stir until smooth. Place egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl. Stir the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a small, heavy saucepan. Whisk in the water first, then the dulce de leche and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk the dulce de leche mixture into the 2 egg yolks. Stir in the vanilla. Strain through a wire mesh strainer into a small bowl and set aside to cool completely.

Beat the butter on high speed in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the cooled dulce de leche mixture. Beat in the 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable.

Frost each cupcake with a generous amount of dulce de leche buttercream. Refrigerate any remaining buttercream for another use. Sprinkle each cupcake with toasted coconut.