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Quick and easy Almond Joy Cupcakes are made with a doctored up cake mix and topped with fluffy buttercream and sweet coconut.
I like to think that I am always on top of my game. You know – punctual, organized, prepared. But that is so not the case – at all. While I try my best, life happens. Ya know, like having your ventilation hood installed 8 inches lower than it’s supposed be, resulting in tearing out drywall and having yet another crew in our house for the rest of the week. Fun times. Life though, it happens.
A few weeks ago, my mom reminded me that she’d be stopping by with her boyfriend and that it was his birthday. Between work, construction chaos, decorating and a toddler, I totally lost track of the days. With them arriving in just a few hours, I did a quick pantry scan and threw together a batch of Almond Joy Cupcakes.
John is wholeheartedly a coconut addict, so I thought these would be the perfect way to celebrate his special day. Using a doctored up cake mix allowed me to skip a last minute trip to the grocery store for cocoa powder. This was most definitely a little bonus because I had a sweet baby fast asleep for her midday nap.
My favorite doctored up cake mix is super super simple and requires just a handful of ingredients. The beauty of this recipe is that you can tweak it just a tad and give it a whole new life. From Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes to Heath Bar Cupcakes, this recipe has been one of my favorites for years. And these Almond Joy Cupcakes might just be my new favorite adaptation, because hello: almonds and coconut and chocolate and buttercream? That’s my jam.
How can you possibly go wrong with half a mini Almond Joy tucked into a chocolate cupcake, anyway? Topped with vanilla buttercream and shredded coconut? You can’t, you just can’t.
Almond Joy Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 15.25 ounce package devil’s food cake mix (see note below)
- 1 3.4 ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup warm water
- 10 snack size Almond Joy candy bars cut in half
For the Buttercream
- 3 sticks 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (I used Challenge Butter)
- 1 ½ pounds 24 ounces confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract I used clear vanilla
- 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream
For the Garnish
- shredded coconut
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
- 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla and water. Beat for about one minute on medium speed until well combined.
- 3. Using a large cookie scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells; about 3 tablespoons of batter per well.
- Push half a snack size Almond Joy into the center and use a spoon to cover the candy bar.
- 4. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. Allow cupcakes to cool inside muffin tins for about 5 minutes or so before removing them to a cooking rack to cool completely. Once cupcakes are cool, prepare the buttercream frosting
- 5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-high speed for about 8 minutes. This process will lighten the color of the butter and ensure you buttercream in extra smooth and fluffy.
- 6. Turn speed down to low and gradually add in the confectioners' sugar. Continue mixing on low speed until the powdered sugar is completely incorporated. Add in 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Turn mixer back up to medium-high speed and beat the mixture for an additional 5-6 minutes. If needed, add in a little more cream 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the consistency you desire. Pipe the buttercream onto cupcakes and topped with shredded coconut.
Hi! I’m about to dive and try this :) One question, though. Do the Almond Joy bars need to be frozen first?
Hi, Rebecca! You do not need to freeze the Almond Joys. I hope you enjoyed them!
These sound so delicious I am going to make a batch this afternoon. My guests tomorrow will love them.
Thanks for your excellent blog and sharing these recipes.
hello the cup cake look fab and i will be making them shortly…….but i have a question…..why do most recipes use packet mix’s……… why not a homemade sponge in which i will be making………otherwise the combination of flavors just sound fab……..Fran
Fran-
You can use whatever recipe works best for you! That’s the beauty of baking, you can adapt the flavors to meet your taste! Enjoy.
-Jamie
I LOVE almond joys! These cupcakes look so great.
Julia-
I hope you get the chance to try them. Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
This cupcakes is supper adorable. Love the coconut on top. It makes the cake way more pretty.
Mytrice-
Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
This looks like something I could do! Thank you so much for posting this awesome recipe – I love cupcakes as well as Almond Joys; I’m sure this will be delicious!
Chithra-
I hope you get the chance to try them. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
These are lovely! I love almond joy anything and your photos and decorating are stunning :)
Medha-
Thank you so much! I am so glad you stopped by.
-Jamie
I don’t think you can go wrong with these cupcakes either! Almond joy is one of my favorite candy bars!
Jenna-
I hope you get the chance to try these! Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
Another coconut lover, I’m so happy that these are what you chose to whip up! They look time intensive (but who needs to know the cook’s secret?!).
Erin-
No need to share the short-cut! Thanks so much for stopping by!
-Jamie
yum, i fancy a cupcake now :)
http://trulyaddia.wordpress.com
Addia-
I hope you have a cupcake or two soon! Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie