Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting are rich, delicious and downright amazing. But these treats are whole wheat with no refined sugar. (Not that anyone will ever know!)
Holidays are a special time – for couples, for kids, for families. Treats always seem to be at the center of that. There are lots of people who feel that food – treats in particular – shouldn’t be so connected to these sorts of event. Maybe they are right, but I tend to fall into the “food is social” camp. Sharing food together has been a part of socializing since the beginning of time. It bonds us in a unique way. Personally, it makes me feel special to be able to create something with my hands that reflects what my heart feels for the special people in my life. I also like seeing my kids faces light up when I make them something really special they weren’t expecting.
I think when it comes to treats, they key is moderation. Sometimes holidays and special events become a reason to indulge in treats to the point of extravagance. Focus on quality and quantity when you celebrate with food. I will never advocate for empty, chemical-laden sweets (or any other type of food)! But I do think there is room in a nutrient-dense diet for a treat. Whole wheat, naturally sweetened cupcakes are still cupcakes. They are not diet food, they will not make you skinny. But they do avoid the nutritionally void ingredients that are in-store purchased baked goods. They avoid additives and preservatives. They were not made 12 years ago and suspended in their perfect cupcake state until they could be perfectly labeled and sold to you for a premium price.
You will recognize these Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting from my recipe for Chocolate Muffins. (I did warn you that if you frosted them, you had to call them cupcakes!) They are wonderfully chocolaty and sweet without being bakery sweet. And this Buttercream Frosting is my go-to for making treats extra special. Neither have refined ingredients. We top with raspberries because we love them and because they look so sweet on top of these minis. But any kind of berry you prefer works just fine. I always serve an extra serving of the berries beside the cupcakes – it is funny that the plates always come back empty. Not just of cupcakes but of the healthy berries too.
*Note: this recipe makes 24 regular sized muffins. If that is more than you need, I recommend baking the full amount and freezing half for later. They are made with whole wheat and have no refined sugars – so they work great as muffins. If you plan to cut the muffin recipe in half, make sure to cut the Buttercream Frosting in half as well.
Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 3 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 cup coconut oil, warmed to liquid
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, Plain I have used sour cream in a pinch and it works well too!
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3 tbsp strongly brewed coffee
- 1 Buttercream Frosting
- 1-2 small containers Fresh Raspberries I always serve extra raspberries with the cupcakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil muffin pans or line with paper liners.
- Use a whisk to combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Use whisk to combine all wet ingredients in a separate mixing bowl and whisk until ingredients emulsify and become uniform. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well.
- Spoon batter into muffin pan until cups are 2/3 of the way full.
- Cook muffins for 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly. Remove muffins from the oven and allow them to cool completely. If you plan to freeze half of your muffins, put them in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and move them to the freezer (make sure they are completely cool!)
- While muffins are cooling, follow directions for Buttercream Frosting. It will only take you about 5 minutes to make the frosting. But make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature.
- Fill a piping bag, or a small sandwich bag with frosting and nip off the corner with scissors. Using gentle pressure, pipe the frosting onto the muffins. You now officially have to call these cupcakes because they have frosting. 🙂
- Top with raspberries and enjoy!
I love the ingredients you use. My 3 year old saw the picture and got really excited asking if we were going to make them tonight. I’m printing it off to make for Valentine’s Day!
That makes me feel great!! My kids are 2, 4, and 15. It is so much easier to get them to eat healthfully when they get excited about it! Let me know if you give them a try!
We try to stay away from additives and preservatives too. We don’t do it 100% of the time but we are all conscious of it. I remember once I was talking to a doctor friend of mine who is a real food advocate, and she made the comment that the most important thing was that the kids were aware of what is real food and what isn’t. But I try to cook that way as much as possible. Your cupcakes look delicious…pinning so I can try them!
That is great advice! I think teaching kids (and us adults!) to eat on purpose is important. If we want to go have a treat, there is room in healthy diet for that. But we should do it on purpose, not because we didn’t know what was in our food. Or because it was too easy!
OK, I’m making these THIS week!
Hi Jessica! Let me know if the kids like them! So glad to connect here.