Voluptuous Vanilla Bean-Coconut Cupcakes

Does anyone else get a rush when they split open a vanilla bean? I love the complex, deep, seductive aroma. And for sure it's a spice to be savoured and appreciated because of its exorbitant price.

Ingredients for Batter:
1 (14-ounce) ca unsweetened coconut milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup ground macadamia nuts
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
1 cup flaked coconut, lightly toasted

Ingredients for Vanilla-Coconut Frosting:
1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup of reserved reduced coconut milk
remaining vanilla seeds
1/8 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions for Batter:
1. In a medium saucepan bring coconut milk just to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes or until milk is reduced to 1-1/3 cups; cool. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line eighteen 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper liners; set aside. Using the tip of a small sharp knife, scrape out seeds from vanilla bean, set aside.

2. In a small bowl stir together flour, ground nuts, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat on medium to high speed for 1 minute, scraping side of bowl occasionally.

3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in half of the vanilla seed; reserve other half for frosting. Alternately add flour mixture and 1 cup of the reduced coconut milk (reserve rest of coconut milk for frosting) to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.

4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Cool completely on racks.

5. Pipe or spread Vanilla-Coconut Frosting on tops of cupcakes. Sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Directions for Vanilla-Coconut Frosting:
1. In a large bowl beat 1 cup softened butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed or 30 seconds. Beat in the remaining 1/3 cup reduced coconut milk, the remaining vanilla seeds, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Gradually add 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar, beating until fluffy.

When purchasing vanilla beans, choose beans that look shiny, dark, plump, and moist. If you are fortunate enough to find beans with a fine white powder clinging to their exterior, choose them. The powder is vanilla, the secret to vanilla's flavor and these beans are the best of all.