Healthier Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
If you’re like me, you LOVE sweets! So I’m all for healthier versions of sweet treats without all the yucky stuff and added sugar. Enjoy these little healthier chocolate peanut butter cupcakes! They’re quite the beauty!
FOR CUPCAKES:
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¼ cup extra-virgin organic coconut oil
½ cup all-natural peanut butter
¾ cup pure maple syrup (preferably grade B)
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tsp. ground flaxseed
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour, sifted
½ cup almond flour, sifted
2 tsp. baking powder, gluten-free
1 tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
¼ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
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FOR FROSTING:
½ cup all-natural peanut butter
2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk 1
pinch sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
¼ cup pure maple syrup (preferably grade B)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
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FOR CHOCOLATE DIP (OPTIONAL):
½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. extra-virgin organic coconut oil
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Special Equipment:
Muffin papers/cupcake liners Nonstick cooking spray
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FOR CUPCAKES:
1. Preheat oven to 375º F.
2. Line muffin pan with twelve muffin papers and lightly coat with spray. Set aside.
3. Place oil, peanut butter, maple syrup, almond milk, flaxseed, and extract in blender (or food processor); cover. Blend for approximately 30 seconds, or until smooth. Set aside.
4. Combine flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl; blend until combined.
5. Add oil mixture to flour mixture; mix until ingredients are just moistened (do not overmix).
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
7. Pour batter evenly into prepared muffin pans, filling each tin with a level ¼ cup batter (approx. three-quarters full).
8. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of a cupcake comes out clean.
9. Set cupcakes aside to cool.
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FOR FROSTING:
1. While cupcakes are baking, combine peanut butter, almond milk, salt, maple syrup, and extract in a medium mixing bowl; beat until well mixed. Set aside.
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FOR DIP:
1. If using dip, place a heat-proof mixing bowl on top of a pot of gently boiling water.
2. Add chocolate and oil; cook, stirring frequently, until just melted. Stir until well blended.
3. Once cupcakes have cooled, frost each with 1 Tbsp. frosting. Dip frosting of each cupcake into dip; set aside to cool a few minutes before serving.
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RECIPE NOTE: When making dip, you can melt chocolate in a microwave; just make sure to use 50% power and stir every 30 seconds.
