This week’s Sweet Melissa Sundays was selected by Eliana of A Chica Bakes: coconut pecan frosting. If you’ve ever had German chocolate cake, you probably recognize this frosting as the traditional topping and/or filling for the cake. Personally, I’ve never tried German chocolate cake, so I only knew this fact because Melissa told us in the blurb before the recipe 🙂 I’m not a fan of pecans, which is probably why this cake has never been on my radar. It also means I left the pecans out this week, and the absence of the nuts really left my frosting looking quite yellow, don’t you think? I remade the chocolate malted cupcakes from Melissa’s book (we made them back in April – my post here) to go with the frosting, and since we’re only 28 days from Halloween now, I also thought it appropriate to use Halloween liners for the cupcakes.
In retrospect, this frosting is pretty simple to make, but there was some stress along the way. I like really clear, precise instructions when I make something for the first time, and I thought they were a bit lacking in this recipe. Basically, you combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a pan and cook them “until thickened” before adding the coconut and pecans. I wasn’t sure how thick the mixture should be and I think a temperature or a more detailed description would have been helpful here. To be safe and eliminate any risk from the raw egg yolks, I cooked until the mixture reached 160 F. I then strained it to remove the little bits of eggs that cooked before adding the coconut and pecans.
I enjoyed the frosting, though it is quite sweet. The pecans would probably have been a nice counterpoint to the sweetness, if I’d included them. Many thanks to Eliana for hosting this week! She will post the frosting recipe on her blog today or you can find it on page 103 of The Sweet Melissa Baking Book.
On Friday I mentioned being excited about getting apples and pumpkins this fall, and I’m happy to say we checked both tasks off our list this weekend! I came home with 8 pounds of Macintosh and 8 pounds of Cortland – suffice it to say I’ve got a lot of apple baking in my future. As for the pumpkins, we picked up two huge ones to decorate and display. It’s a yearly tradition for us to decorate pumpkins – one we started about 5 years ago – and I just love it. Even though I have a pretty big stash of canned pumpkin in the pantry, I’ve also got one tiny sugar pumpkin that I’ll use to make puree from scratch. It’s a fun process and I like to do it at least once in the fall. Have I mentioned that I love October? 🙂
I just posted coconut bread pudding this morning – we must both have coconut on the brain! This frosting looks soooo delish. I’m headed to the kitchen to whip some up right now! 🙂
I’m really jealous of your apples! I’ve got a whole bunch of macs in the fridge, though, as well as an apple or two of a few other varieties. One of the ones I picked up was Cortlands; I haven’t tried them before. The sign said they were related to macs, though, so I think I’ll like them. Yay for October! =)
Yum, this looks very similar to a chantilly frosting that a well-known bakery in Hawaii uses for frosting their famous cocoa cream puffs.
Your cupcakes look yummy…regardless of the missing pecans! =) I am also not a huge fan of pecans so I ended up using walnuts in my frosting. It is cooling as I type…will assemble everything and post it once I get home from church.
Your cupcakes look wonderful and I love the liners!
I agree that this recipe could have used a little more instruction, like straining the frosting which I did too to eliminate the cooked egg.
Oh, fresh pumpkin puree is wonderful and such a great feeling of accomplishment! I love making this myself every Fall. The apples are going to be perfect for so many goodies! Spiced apple butter could be one =).
Your frosting looks delicious! I love those cupcakes and I must have missed that week because I don’t remember them. I am going to have to go back and bake =).
You left out the pecans and I left out the coconut. I also had the same question about how thick the frosting should be. Mine was done 7 minutes in and if I cooked it any longer, I would have had to cut it out with a knife.
The cupcake liners are so cute! I love this time of year just for all the cute liners!
I think your frosting looks delicious. It’s probably my favorite frosting ever – only problem is that I don’t like German chocolate cake! haha
The cupcakes look all ready for Halloween, so cute! I’ve never been a fan of German chocolate cake and Josh doesn’t like coconut at all, so I sat out this week.
Yay for the apple haul! Have fun baking apple treats. My TWD cake is in the oven right now, it smells great!
I love Fall, too. I put together my outside fall display yesterday. I found some very fun pumpkins at the farmer’s market.
Love the cupcake liners! The cupcakes look yum, too!
I hear you on the direction thing. I just remembered the recipe for the frosting on the GC bar you pick up in the grocery store..it says 12 min….Melissas cookbook is not the best..don’t get me wrong, I have had a few recipes I’ve enjoyed but it seems like so mnay are a flop…hmmmm ..anyway’s sorry to ramble..your cupcakes are great looking!!
My hubby loves GC cake..I have made so many of them I can’t even count!!
How do all these people get over here this fast to leave comments? I swear, I cleared out your section, left for the airport, came back, and a hundred people stopped by before me…lol. These all look wonderful, so cute lined up with their little outfits and all. I bet the guys would love these!
Malted cupcakes and this frosting sound like a culinary marriage in heaven to me. Love the liners too…very cute and festive.
Hi Tracey. I did just the opposite and left out the coconut. I really enjoyed this recipe….though this seemed more like candy then frosting to me. Nice picked on the cake recipe. That is my favorite chocolate cake recipe.
Wow…16 pounds of apples! I can’t wait to see what inspires you. Hope you will also post pictures of your decorate pumpkins. I too love October, all things pumpkin, including pumpkin carving. Happy October!
I want that many apples! And one of these cupcakes 🙂 They look delicious! I also love the Halloween liners. It’s definitely not too early for a fun, spirited addition!
Yummo! That frosting looks great and I agree- it goes really well with chocolate cup cakes!
Your cupcakes look super cute Tracey! Thanks so much for baking along with me.
Those cupcakes look amazing! Adorable liners! We were supposed to go apple and pumpkin picking this past weekend too, but we didn’t make it. We’re shooting for this weekend! Happy Apple baking, can’t wait to see what you’ve come with!
Wow. I love the look of the frosting!
I have those cupcake liners too! Perfect for Halloween!
I am absolutely with you on the clear instruction thing… especially when I’m making something completely new.
I am jealous of your fall harvest bounty! I’ve really wanted to go apple picking, but I don’t think it’s going to work out this year. I am looking forward to seeing your creations from them!
The frosting is wonderful!