HEALTHIER CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES FOR BUSY MUMS, easy-peasy

Healthier, lower-sugar, butter-free, budget-friendly lighter treats...

Lighter, Healthier, Lower-Sugar Chocolate Cupcakes

15/1/17

These light chocolate cupcakes are the answer to a busy mum's prayers when it comes to making home-made goodies for kids to take to school.  

They are as much of a treat for mum as they will be for school kids.  

For one thing, it's a one-bowl wonder and easy enough for the kids to get involved.  

They're also healthier than most: 

• no butter
• wholemeal flour
• free of common wheat if you use spelt flour
• some sugar replaced with dried unsweetened coconut 

The ones in the photo were for a special occasion; they were iced with melted chocolate and sprinkled with with nuts & candied ginger.  For an ordinary school  treat, a light dusting of icing sugar or dribbles of melted chocolate would be enough.

Cost: £1.50'ish

Feeds: 8 small or 6 large cupcakes; recipe doubles easily.

Ingred:  

   

    65gm/2 1/3 oz self-raising wholemeal flour (add 1/2 tsp baking powder if flour is plain)
    20gm/3/4oz white flour
    2 generous tablespoons cocoa (not drinking chocolate)

    1/2 generous tsp baking powder

    1/2 tsp instant coffee (opt)

    50gm/1 2/3 oz sugar

    15gm/1/2 oz unsweetened dried shredded coconut

    75 ml sunflower or light veggie oil

    75 ml milk

     1 large egg

     1/2 tsp vanilla 

     

 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350f/180c/170f; stuff 8 muffin holes with paper liners
2. Place all ingred in a deep bowl.  Beat with electric beaters, a stand-alone mixer, or a whisk until well-blended, 2-4 mins
3. Fill paper liners 2/3 full
4. Bake 18-20 mins; a toothpick in the centre should come out dry
5. Cool completely before decorating 

VARIATION: Chocolate & Pear Cupcakes

Insert finely sliced, peeled pair into the top of the cupcake batter before placing in oven

Alternate Toppings: 

Melt 35gm dark cooking chocolate over but not touching simmering water (or in the microwave but in 5 second increments):

• spread melted chocolate over cupcakes; add chopped walnuts & sugared ginger or drained ginger in syrup
• Add a tablespoon or two of milk to the melted chocolate; dribble over cupcakes

OR Lightly dust cupcakes with icing sugar 

                                           More kid-friendly baking onNav Bar: Recipes1 

 Please leave a Comment in the box below

       .

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission