Inspired to Bake by These...

...super yummy bad boys!!!
Tempt us Tuesdays is featuring these candies this week.


Can anyone else find these m&m's?
When they first came out,
I could get them at the grocery store and Walmart,
but then they disappeared:-(
It was a very sad day
because they had quickly become one of my new fav candies.
I mean hello...choc and coconut!!!

This coconut obsession is still going strong...
I don't think I am going to kick it anytime soon.
(of course the java twix has been dancing in my dreams,
but that is a whole nother post and recipe concoction:-)

Anyhoo, back to the yummiest m&m's EVER!
I was "elated" to find them at my local Dollar Tree.
In fact, I seriously considered buying ALL of them,
but figured that would be really bad for the diet!
(because I am pretty sure I would hide them for just me...hee hee!)
I refrained and only bought 6 bags...
it was tough to stop at 6.
As I was savoring a few...
ok, ok, as I savored an entire bag;-)
This recipe slowly formed in my head.

Mocha Fudge Coconut Cupcakes

Cake
dark choc cake mix (yup, I cheat and use the box mixes sometimes)
3 tsp. instant coffee
oil
water
eggs
Mix up batter according to the cake package. My slight variation was to add the instant coffee with the water and oil. (You really won't really taste the coffee, it just deepens the choc even more.) Bake in muffin tins. Let cool. Then use a melon scooper thingy...I knew I bought it for some good use. Scoop out the center of the cupcake and be good and throw the center away. Or just eat some like I did:-) Set the tray of cupcakes aside and get ready for the fudgy goodness!



Choc Ganache Filling
1 c. heavy whipping cream
2 c. choc chips
Heat cream to boiling. Remove from the heat and stir in chips. Keep stirring until all the chips are melted and it is smooth and creamy. Let cool to room temperature. Start on frosting.

Hello chocolate goodness!!!


Coconut Buttercream
1 c. butter
2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
4 c. powdered sugar
2-3 c. sweetened coconut

Beat the butter, water, vanilla and salt until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Beat well after all the sugar has been added. Stir in the coconut.

What? No picture of the frosting?
Apparently my photog skills were missing right then.
(I was probably in choc lala land, licking a spoon or something)

Once the choc filling is cool and thick (not hard), spoon into the cupcake holes. Refrigerate cupcakes until the filling hardens. Go ahead...lick the choc spoon. You know you want to:-) Spread gobs of yummy coconut frosting on top and garnish with the best m&m's. Or some toasted coconut, if you can't find these candies. Hmmmm, choc covered espresso beans would be good on top too...just a thought.



Isn't this cupcake stand the cutest???
I found the short glass candlesticks at the Dollar Tree
and the mini teacup plate at Goodwill.
A little E6000 glue
and bada bing bada boom
a mini cupcake stand.
I love this one so much...it is just too cute!!!
I am on a roll with the cupcake stands...
to date I have made myself 4 custom ones.
Not to mention the couple store bought ones that I already had.
Never know when you might need another stand,
that is what I like to think.
Plus these are super cheap, so why not?

Time for another round of recipe hopping.