Today has been a really hot day in Sydney; the temperature has reached nearly 95F. It’s a good thing I did all my baking yesterday, when it wasn’t so hot! We did do our taste-testing today, however. To our Cupcake Hero throw-down contestants, I congratulate you again, as well as commend you for your efforts in making these cupcakes. Both of them have extra steps that makes them both extra special.
For our vote-winner, the batica from Sugar Plum of Vanillastrawberryfields, we are required to use a fresh coconut and grate it down (which is a bit of work!) and then to let the cake batter sit for at least four hours. The recipe was a little hard to understand, mainly because it’s not made in a traditional manner, but this is what made it special. What we liked about it is that it is very unique and traditional. It was definitely a moist cake with a lovely coconut flavor. 2 out of my 5 taste-testers preferred Sugar Plum’s batica.
For our competitor, the coconut rough cupcake from Catie of Catie’s Cakes & Cookies, the extra steps were the preparation of the chocolate-coconut nests and the coconut malibu truffles. Making these two particular things is not an easy task when it is so hot; a lot of refrigeration was necessary! When all was done and everyone had messy fingers!, the taste-testers really liked the chocolate-coconut nests and the gooey-ness of the truffles. This is what made these cupcakes so special. So special in fact, that 3 out of my 5 taste-testers preferred Catie’s coconut rough cupcakes.
This means that our winner in the throwdown by just one vote is Catie of Catie’s Cakes & Cookies!
Congratulations Catie!
Once again, I want to also congratulate you again Sugar Plum and everyone else who entered their coconut cupcakes!
Cupcake Hero will now return to I Heart Cuppycakes, so stay tuned over there to see what the next Cupcake Hero theme ingredient will be. 
