Coconut-Date Muffins

Directions

1. 1
   First, preheat that oven to 325.
2. 2
   Toss the dates in a small bowl with a teaspoon of baking soda, then pour the boiling water on top and let them sit for 15 minutes. Once they're nice and soft, mash em up with a potato masher until they turn into a gross-looking paste-like thing.
3. 3
   Beat the butter in a stand mixer on medium for 2-3 minutes, until it gets light and creamy.
4. 4
   Add in the sugar and beat it for 2-3 more minutes on medium.
5. 5
   Mix in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
6. 6
   Whisk up a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, the baking powder, flour, and salt in a bowl.
7. 7
   Slowly mix in the dry ingredients and the date goo, alternating between them until both are all mixed in. Make sure you don't overmix it, too.
8. 8
   Fold in the untoasted coconut, then put the batter in a cupcake tin with some cupcake liners and sprinkle the toasted coconut on top. All you have to do to toast the coconut is throw it on the stove in a small pan on medium until it gets toasty and brown. Simple.
9. 9
   Throw 'em in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
10. 10
    Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes, then take them out of the tin and let them sit on a cooling rack for another 15.
11. 11
    Shove one or two of said muffins in your face.