Home ยป Coconut polar bear cupcakes recipe

Coconut polar bear cupcakes recipe

Vegan, quick & easy

Are you ready for some cuteness? I hope so! 🐻

I’ve created the most adorable, festive cupcakes which look like polar bears!

These cakes are easy to make and are really effective. They’re 100% vegan.

The cupcakes are a vanilla cake, topped with a thick & creamy vanilla buttercream coated in coconut with royal icing details.

The cake is spongy and light along with the tasty buttercream….YUM!!

They are the perfect accompaniment to a toasty, warm Christmas meal, to serve at Christmas events/parties and even enjoy with the hot chocolate (dairy-free of course) for a cosy evening.

I love Polar bears and want to share the importance of being aware of climate change and the impact it’s having on the environment and to these stunning animals.

To read more, please check out this article from the National Geographic. 

Now for the cupcakes…

Preparation- 10 minutes

Baking time- 18-20 minutes

Makes- Around 8-10

Level- Easy

Ingredients for the cakes

-240ml of almond milk

-1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar

-210g of self-raising flour (You can use gluten-free)

-100g of golden caster sugar

-1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

-1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

-60g of coconut oil (Melted)

Ingredients for the buttercream

-130g of butter (I use Tomor)

-400g of icing sugar

-2 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste (You can use vanilla extract)

-2 teaspoon of almond milk (Optional)

+

-Desiccated coconut

To make the cupcakes

Step 1- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees c and line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases.

Step 2- In a small bowl, combine the almond milk with the apple cider vinegar and whisk until fully combined.

Set aside for 10 minutes to curdle. This creates a vegan ‘buttermilk’.

Step 3- In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.

Mix well to combine.

Step 4- Add the melted coconut oil to the ‘buttermilk’ and whisk to combine.

Step 5- Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until a smooth batter.

Step 6- Fill the cases 3/4 full with the batter.

Make sure to tap the tins on the worktop to remove any air bubbles.

Step 7- Pop the cakes into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.

You will know they are done when you put a knife or skewer in and it comes out clean and they are springy to the touch.

Step 8- Place the cupcakes on a cooling rack and allow to cool fully before frosting.

To make the frosting

Step 1- Cream the butter in a bowl, on a high speed until creamy. I use my stand mixer with the balloon whisk attachment.

Step 2- When your butter/margarine is creamy & light in colour, add in the icing sugar, vanilla bean paste.

Whizz together until fluffy & fully combined.

Add a splash of milk if the buttercream is too thick.

Step 3- Transfer the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle.

Step 4- Pipe a low swirl of buttercream onto each cupcake and level with a of-set spatula or knife.

Step 5- Pipe 2 little bulbs of frosting for ears and 1 for the nose, as seen in the photo below.

Step 6- Carefully dip or sprinkle desiccated coconut all over the cupcake, including the ears.

Step 7- Add eyes and a nose using black royal icing. Get my recipe here.

You could always use chocolate, chocolate chips, sprinkles etc.

Serve these festive cupcakes fresh or store in a sealed container in or out of the fridge, the buttercream will firm up at room temperature. 

Best eaten within a few days.

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Holly Jade

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12 Comments

  1. Natalie
    December 12, 2017 / 10:24 am

    These cupcakes are simply adorable!!! So cute ๐Ÿ™‚

    • The Little Blog of Vegan
      March 2, 2018 / 1:34 am

      Thankyou Natalie! x

  2. My Vibrant Kitchen
    December 12, 2017 / 1:17 pm

    Those cupcakes look amazing!!!
    The National Geographic article you linked to is heart-breaking. Thanks for sharing it, we desperately need more awareness about climate change.
    Don't know if you've watched the latest Blue Planet episode… absolutely depressing.
    The impact animal agriculture has on our planet is part of the reason I went vegan (and cause I love animals and vegan food is obviously bloody delicious!). ๐Ÿ˜‰
    X Alex

    • The Little Blog of Vegan
      March 2, 2018 / 1:37 am

      Thankyou so much!!!! I agree with you 110%!! Climate change is such a big issue and we really need to make people more aware! I always watch Blueplanet, and i agree! ๐Ÿ™
      Helping animals is my main goal and OMG, haha i love that! Vegan food is BOMB!!! x

  3. Jenna
    December 12, 2017 / 2:02 pm

    These cupcakes are so stinking cute. I've seen that Nat Geo article about the poor polar bear all over and its so sad.

    • The Little Blog of Vegan
      March 2, 2018 / 1:34 am

      Thankyou so much! I know, its heartbreaking! I love polar bears SO much!!! x

  4. Bethany
    December 12, 2017 / 5:59 pm

    Aww! These are some of the cutest cupcakes I have ever seen! I love them and how simple they are.

    • The Little Blog of Vegan
      March 2, 2018 / 1:35 am

      Oh wow, thankyou very much! Thats so sweet! x

  5. Kari
    February 27, 2018 / 10:32 pm

    Oh, these are so cute. I know for a fact that mine will not turn out as pretty as yours, but I also know they are going to make my company this weekend smile!

    • The Little Blog of Vegan
      March 2, 2018 / 1:35 am

      Thanks Kari! I'm sure they will, these are super simple to make and decorate!!! They'll look adorable! Make sure to tag me in some pics on social media if you do make them! x

  6. Kevin Elwood
    April 1, 2020 / 1:13 am

    I love how the coconut is woven throughout these cupcakes. And I just love coconut in general so these sound amazing!

  7. Super deals breakthrough testimonies
    August 4, 2021 / 1:11 am

    Made this recipe today and it turned out amazing. It is so moist and delicious. I would definitely make this again!

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