I will admit that I am not one to hang out with women all that much. The vast majority of my female friends tend to fall on the tomboy side of life. So when Sex and the City came out years ago on HBO I didn’t watch it. I went years having my friends go on and on about it. So when we finally got HBO, I sat down and watched the series over a few months. I also saw the first movie.
It was alright.
I just don’t relate to any of the characters. In fact, when people ask me which character am I, I always tell them Jennifer Hudson’s character. I think Louise? Her I could relate too. A thicker gal. Poor. Living with roommates. Educated but can’t really find a job. But still wants to be fashionable. This was my girl. And the fact that she squealed with delight over her LV purse. Which I also did. I also petted mine for days like it was a cat or something, but that’s just me. 🙂
So when the second movie came out, I was asked to go out with a bunch of girls to go see it. Okay, why not, I’ve come this far right? I had a great time. I actually enjoyed the movie. But I think that might have been artificially enhanced by the fact that the movie place we went to allowed cocktails. You had to be 21 or over to get into the place as well. Which I love and now only want to go to those types of movies. Imagine going to the movies where there are no kids or teenagers….and beer is on tap. And they bring you replacement beer throughout the movie! Heaven. Everybody else had cocktails though. Just me and the token two guys at the movie were having beer. Needless to say, I think cocktails could have helped me enjoy some movies that I thought were subpar.
The same week I saw the movie I received a copy of The Perfect Finish (disclaimer…I got my copy for free, from the publisher). I was particularly interested in this one because it was written by the pastry chef for the White House. It seems that as of late all the cookbooks seem to be from some TV celebrity (I use that term loosely), so it was nice to get something written by a pastry chef.
Now my one concern though is that when it is done by a pastry chef, it can often become very technical. Those kind of cookbooks tend to scare off the average home cook by using big fancy words. Boo on big fancy words I say. The good news is that this cookbook is good for your average and above average baker. It gives the ingredients in both standard measure like the states people love as well as in metric, which everyone else (especially those of us who weigh their ingredients) love. There are plenty of recipes that I want to make from this book. The Walnut Layer Cake with Apple-Caramel Filling and Calvados Cream Cheese Icing will so be made come this Fall. The Candied Bacon Peach Cobbler will also be made once the peaches are how I like them. But what caught my eye this time around was the Fresh Coconut Cupcakes with Orange and Rum. Which I immediately decided should become Pina Colada Cupcakes. And so it was done.
These were made into minis because I was thinking cocktail party. And bite size just seemed the way to go. Though you probably want to use fresh pineapple, don’t. You need the juice from the can for the icing.
Oh and for all you Sex and the City fans, I will answer the other question SATC people always ask me…Aidan…all the way!!!
And if you’re not following CCbP on Facebook and want to….here.
Pina Colada Cupcakes
Coconut Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, pulverized into a powder in the food processor
10 TBSP unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP rum
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup sour cream
Position rack into the center of the oven and preheat to 325F.
Grease a 24 cup muffin tin with baking spray.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, vanilla, and rum until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.
Add one-third of the flour mixture, followed by one-third of the sour cream. Beat on low speed until just combined. Repeat twice.
Using a spoon or piping bag, divide the batter evenly among the muffin tins. Bake for 13-16 minutes until the cakes are golden and the tops bounce bake when pressed. You can use a cake tester or wooden skewer to see if it comes out clean. Let cool in the tins on rack.
Cake recipe adapted from The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark, W.W. Norton & Company Inc.
Pineapple-Coconut Buttercream
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
6-8 cups powdered sugar (this will depend on the consistency you want)
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
Juice from the can of pineapple
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut, pulverized into powder in the food processor
2 tsp rum
Place the butter in a large mixing bowl.
Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the pineapple, coconut, and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. and mix thoroughly.
Blond Duck says
I never watched SATC either, and all my friends were male until I got married. But I’ll take one of these tasty treats!
Linda says
I saw SATC2 at the same theatre I think. I’d never been there before but I’ll be going back.
That cupcake looks delish, as usual 🙂
Peabody says
Did you go to the Seattle or the Redmond one?
Cari says
Ha! This has been on my list to make for some time, but instead tonight I am making coconut ice cream with a pineapple syrup to go on top. Piña Colada sundae anyone? 🙂
Joanne says
I have to admit, I’ve been an SATC diehard from the beginning…and I didn’t really love the second movie. But it was one of those things that I just HAD to see. Then again, I might have liked it better with a cocktail.
These cupcakes sound so good! They would have made the movie-watching experience infinitely better as well.
Nutmeg Nanny says
What a great looking sweet treat! I love that you can drink at your movie theater. How awesome is that!
Julie says
I am a SATC girl all the way. Although during the series, I was single! Now I am married but still love watching the shows. Yes, I own all of the dvd’s of the series and the first movie :). I haven’t seen the second movie yet. Gotta go soon! Just based on your comment, I am for Mr. Big, I think?
Oh and the cupcakes look amazing!
Cakelaw says
Mmm, cocktails in a cupcake sounds grand to me. Haven’t seen SatC yet – probably a DVD job for me.
wendyywy says
I don’t watch it either.
🙂
Melissa says
Cupcake and a cocktail? Now that would be a perfect ending to my day.
I’m a Mr. Big kind of girl myself.
Anh says
I didn’t follow SATC 🙂 Just watched the movie. Light entertainment. That’s about it.
I love this cupcake idea – very fun!
Rosa says
I love the presentation! Lovely cupcakes!
Cheers,
Rosa
Meeta says
simply awesome!
dani says
sounds like the perfect girls’ night out place 🙂
Cara says
I’m hosting a shower in August and have been collecting cocktail-flavored cupcake recipes for the occasion. Adding this to the list, thanks!
Ondi says
omg!!! i’m with you 100% on the girl thing! i do like SJP, but have never seen an episode of SATC …i would have had a beer too =)
Samantha says
Oh gosh, Peabody! You have the best timing! My love is on a 24-hour assessment with the fire department he’s been interviewing with, and I wanted to bake something special tonight so he’d have a nice welcome-home tomorrow… and pina coladas are our FAVORITE. These look so fabulous! Thank you!!!
Heather says
cupcakes look great, and cocktails do make SATC movies better!
Margaret says
How delightfully summery those look! We have a movie theater here that serves beer – it’s kind of a dive, but it’s a lot of fun regardless.
Valerie says
Ooo, these look spectacular! I’m a SATC fan but also a semi-tom boy. I found it exciting that Big was watching The Deadliest Catch in the movie. 😀
grace says
yes, i like pina coladas (but not getting caught in the rain…). great cupcakes, and i always thought aidan deserved better than carrie (namely, me). 🙂
Pro-Portional Designs says
I was JUST thinking the other day that I would like a pina colada cupcake.
Thanks for the heads up on the book. I’m going to have to look into it
Eliana says
Now I need to find a place in NYC where I can have a cocktail while I watch a movie. (Oh – and gorgeous cupcake)
Sues says
Those look awesome!! And I’m sure they taste even better. Perfect summer party cupcakes 🙂
I NEED to find a movie theater like that!! 21+ is perfect!
Mrs. L says
So like you with the SATC thing. Rented the series on DVD. Didn’t see the first movie until the night before the second…which a girlfriend treated me to. Went with her and her girls night out group…margaritas before the movie…laughed lots during.
And pina colada cupcakes are so up my alley…
Dolores says
And I thought I was the only one who didn’t get the SATC hype. I confess I’ve seen none of it, but from the outside, for this non-girlie girl it looks like an adult version of glittery vampires (another trend I totally don’t get).
Pina Colada cupcakes, on the other hand, look like a winner!
Lynn says
Love the cocktail cupcake. I think it’s going to be the next big thing!
Julia M says
I’m with you… not a big fan of the series either. But I do love these cupcakes. I like your display idea. I’m throwing a small bridal shower in a couple of weeks and was planning on having cupcakes – this will be fun way to display them. Thanks!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) says
I’m a girly girl, and I still haven’t watched SATC.. Just not a fan!!
Marie (The Knead for Speed) says
Ha, reminds me of the song lyrics, “If you like pina coladas…” Those cupcakes are adorable. I might have to make some!
Ruby says
Hello!
Thank you for the lovely recipe. I am a big fan of SATC.
Please tell me if I can leave these cupcakes at room temperature overnight?
With thanks!
Peabody says
I would put in fridge.