Desserts Recipes

Star Wars Gluten-Free Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cupcakes {#Recipe for Chocolate Coconut Buttercream Frosting}

These Star Wars inspired birthday cupcakes are made with gluten-free chocolate cake mix, macadamia nut crumbs, black buttercream frosting, and gold sprinkles.

Sunday was hubby’s birthday, and we spent a quiet day at home celebrating the most loving husband, best friend, and amazing father anyone could ever ask for. We had a Star Wars day in his honour!

Instead of a cake, this year I thought I’d make some Star Wars-inspired cupcakes. I was short on time so I used a gluten-free chocolate cake mix. The girls loved helping me add the water, oil, and eggs (plus a few bonus eggshells). We mixed up the batter according to the box instructions, then poured the cake batter into cupcake liners in a muffin tin, about two thirds full.

Kids love baking!

I wanted to jazz the cupcakes up a little so I took a handful of macadamia nuts, threw them into my food processor, and blitzed them into an even crumb texture. Before putting the cupcakes in the oven, I gently sprinkled a thin layer of chopped macadamia nuts (about a tablespoon) on top of the batter. Don’t forget to adjust the baking time – cupcakes usually need about two thirds of the baking time that a cake does. I baked these at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes.

The macadamia crumbs are light enough that they only penetrate the top half an inch or so and give each cupcake a fun and unique texture, even if you choose to eat them without frosting.

Sprinkle a thin layer of nut crumbs on top of the batter before baking to achieve this fun textured look.

But we wouldn’t do that… these are birthday cupcakes!

For these Star Wars inspired cupcakes, I decorated them with black buttercream frosting and gold sprinkles. Get it? Like a star field!

These Star Wars inspired birthday cupcakes are made with gluten-free chocolate cake mix, macadamia nut crumbs, black buttercream frosting, and gold sprinkles.

True black buttercream is one of the hardest frosting colours to achieve. You can either buy pre-made frosting, or make it from scratch using your own colourant. If you’re making your own, add cocoa powder to your standard buttercream frosting recipe to get dark brown chocolate frosting before adding the gel colouring.

I made our frosting with butter, coconut milk, icing sugar, vanilla, and cocoa powder, then coloured it with Wilton gel icing colouring.

Chocolate Coconut Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder divided
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups icing sugar

Instructions
 

  • Mix butter and about half the cocoa powder together in a small bowl with an electric mixer on low until light and fluffy.
  • Add coconut milk, remaining cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
  • Gradually mix in icing sugar until desired consistency is reached.
Be warned though, this is the price of black frosting!

The price of black frosting!

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13 Comments

  • Yum! I love chocolate and coconut and it’s been a quite a while since I made cupcakes for the family. I’m pinning this recipe now 🙂

  • This is every little boys’ dream right here, and I’m thrilled that it’s safe for the gluten-free little boys too! You rock! I’m totally drooling right now. Yum! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Delicious Dish Tuesday! <3

  • Awww… your picture are just too adorable! Such a cute idea and I love the Star Wars holders. Thanks for sharing!

  • Ou these look delicious! We saw a Star Wars themed cook book at our local Chapters/Indigo 🙂

  • The coconut milk in this icing recipe must add a wonderful flavour…I’m looking forward to trying it!

  • Your Free Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cupcakes are sure to be a hit in alot of households. Chocolate lovers will love the chocolate on chocolate in this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  • I love macadamia nuts they are my favorite nuts. This recipe looks really good and I’m sure I’ll be giving it a try.

  • Omgosh these look and sound AMAZING!!!! Cannot wait to try them!! Deelish!! I am a serious chocolate lover 🙂