Famous Coconut Cupcakes

Ok, ladies who have been hounding me for this recipe, here it is. Hope you all love it as much as they do! Like most of my recipes, it isn't an exact science. Feel free to play around with the amounts until you get what you love.

Cake:
Your favorite butter vanilla cake recipe made into batter (don't use a recipe that calls for oil. Use a recipe that calls for butter. Trust me)
I use pillsbury butter recipe vanilla cake and add a large vanilla pudding mix, 1/2 c. sour cream and 1/2 c. white sugar (along with the water, eggs and butter it calls for)
2-3 T. Coconut extract (I add it in until I can smell it strongly)
1/2 cup coconut, blended in your blender until fine (this is optional)

Bake cupcakes or cake according to directions for whatever cake recipe you use.

Frosting:

1/2 c. white shortening
1/2 c. (1 cube) Smart Balance Buttery Sticks partially softened
1-2 T. coconut extract
1 lb powdered sugar

Cream shortening and butter sticks, add extract and mix well. Add p. sugar slowly and mix well. (Add more or less p. sugar to get desired consistency.) Frost cupcakes with desired amount and top with coconut if you choose.