Chocolate Cupcakes 

Chocolate cupcakes that are gluten free, refined sugar free and plant based. Could cupcakes get any better? These are surprisingly quick cupcakes to make ~ can be whipped up in 15 mins and then just let the oven do the rest! Incorporating some vegetables in your dessert is easier than you think and contributes to your one of seven per day!

 Makes 10 chocolate cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 130g raw organic beetroot, grated with skin on
  • 20g organic raw cacao powder
  • 1 ½ tbspn organic coconut oil
  • 2 tspn organic maple syrup
  • ½ tsp organic vanilla extract
  • 1 tbpsn flaxseeds milled
  • 3 tbspn warm water
  • ¼ tspn cinnamon
  • pinch sea salt
  • 75g organic almond meal
  • 50g organic ground pecans
  • 60g organic blackberries (frozen)
  • ½ tspn gluten free baking powder
  • 2 tbspn organic maple syrup

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 160 C/ 320 F
  2. Make flax egg by combining milled flax seeds with warm & whisking. Let stand for 10 mins
  3. Combine raw beetroot, flax mixture, vanilla, cinnamon, ground almonds, cacao powder, pecans, maple syrup, coconut oil and baking powder in a large bowl
  4. Mix well until combined then add the blackberries
  5. Spoon into paper lined cupcake tins
  6. Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through
  7. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the tin ~ its so hard but very important to let the chocolate cupcakes cool completely before taking them out of their cupcake liners
  8. Serve alone or topped with chocolate ice cream…
  9. Click here for recipe http://healthfromhomenaturally.com/devils-ice-cream/

Equipment

Cupcake tins

The Nerdy Nutritionist

 Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

The incredible rich purple colour of the beetroot is due to chemical compounds called betacyanins. These are secondary metabolites produced by the purple family of beetroots working to provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action within our bodies

Not only are beets high in these protective constituents, but they are also a great source of folate, Vitamin C, iron, potassium and manganese.

Folate is a key methyl donor and plays an imperative role as a coenzyme. Its main functions lie within growth and development and so is one of the most important nutrients for women thinking of conceiving and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Conditions that benefit from folate are depression, schizophrenia, vitiligo, hyperhomocystenie and primary cardiovascular disease (1)

Manganese (Mn) is a trace mineral which is antioxidant in function and helps reduce lipid oxidation and therefore tissue damage. It plays an important role in the synthesis of thyroxine and therefore correct thyroid function (2)

1 cup of beetroot provides 51.7mg of arginine (3), a precursor to nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels benefiting coronary disorders, athletes and erectile dysfunction. Need to increase your beet intake? Get in the kitchen & whip up some Chocolate Cupcakes ASAP!

References

(1) Braun, L. & Cohen, M. (2010) Herbs & Natural Supplements – An evidence-based guide (3rd ed.) Elsevier: Australia

(2) Jamison, J, R. (2003). Nutrition and Dietary Supplements in Disease Management. Churchill Livingstone: Australia

 

Disclaimer

The information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not create any client-practitioner relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Please consult your health care provider, or Health from Home Naturally, before making any healthcare decisions.