Close

Photo:Garten:Noam Galai/ Getty Images, Illustration: Ekaterina Burtseva

a photo of Ina Garten

Garten:Noam Galai/ Getty Images, Illustration: Ekaterina Burtseva

For sweet tooths, dinner is just the appetizer for dessert. But sometimes making a delicious dessert at home can be a bit overwhelming, from the precision to the prep time. And, especially if you’re expecting guests, you may gravitate to a store-bought sweet or—gasp—skip dessert altogether.

Ina Garten has a solution for you: make your dessert ahead of time, even a day in advance. The cookbook author says in a recent interview withWall Street Journal- Stylethat she prepares one of her most famous dessert recipes ahead of time, and it’s just as delicious.

When the interviewer asked if there’s a secret to getting Garten’sCoconut Cupcakerecipe “just right,” she joked that the secret is to “follow the recipe.” But she did offer her make-ahead tip that just made this cupcake recipe so much easier.

“That recipe is really good because you can make it in advance, wrap them really well and put them in the fridge,” Garten shared in the video. “But you don’t ice them until you’re ready to serve them. So the cake can last, but make this icing at the last minute.”

Making cakes and cupcakes ahead of time and not icing them until it’s time to serve is a great hack. First, it helps your cake cool down so icing isn’t sliding everywhere when you’re ready to decorate. Also, it’s great for time management when hosting, as you can spend more time with your guests instead of being bombarded in the kitchen.

Coconut cupcakes are a staple for Garten’s Easter spread, but you can make her easy recipe any time of the year. We love that these cupcakes feature shredded coconut—the chef uses sweetened coconut, but you can also use unsweetened coconut for less sugar.

If you’re looking for a cupcake withless added sugarthan Ina’s, ourBlueberry-Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakeshighlight fresh fruit for natural sweetness.

18 Anti-Inflammatory Desserts You’ll Want to Make Forever

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Tell us why!