Things have been getting a bit too healthy around here lately. Whole wheat this and pumpkin that.
I’m not sure what’s happened to me.
Actually I do. Three months in Mexico eating fried stuff with cheese is what happened to me.
Now I’m in the Netherlands, a much healthier country. All that bike riding and fresh air. Unfortunately, because the weather has been so nice, there’s been a lot of drinking wine al fresco and eating fries with mayonnaise going on. Wait, fries and mayonnaise aren’t a summer thing?? Since when?
Anyhoo, the bottom line is that I have three months of over-indulgence to try and work off before I have to contemplate getting back in a bikini in Turkey in a couple of months.
But that isn’t going to stop me from baking. Or eating chocolate. It just means that I’m trying to make my baking and chocolate healthier.
Like these healthy chocolate cupcakes, combining two of my favourite things, which I almost never eat together (usually for good reason): chocolate and avocadoes.
Whomever first thought to use avocadoes in chocolatey desserts is a genius. They just add a creamy fluffiness without any of the avocado taste. Heck, even Scott likes these cupcakes and he doesn’t like avocadoes (despite my best and most forceful encouraging methods).
I also used my current favourite thing – whole wheat flour – and olive oil, instead of vegetable oil.
I love to slather these cupcakes in Nutella. If that’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
Also, as we all know, I love to add a slightly unhealthy twist to something healthy. It’s just what I do
Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes
9
servings15
minutes20
minutesIngredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup ripe avocado, mashed
1 cup water, room temperature
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Nutella for frosting (optional)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, avocado, vinegar, water and vanilla extract. Stir the sugar into the wet ingredients and combine. Add the dry ingredients to the avocado bowl and fold in with a spatula. Don’t overmix, or the batter will become dense.
- Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and then pour the batter into each one, only around two thirds full, otherwise it will rise too high above the cases and look messy (and we want pretty cupcakes!)
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the tops of the cupcakes are firm and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Let cupcakes cool on a cooling rack and then smooth a spoonful of Nutella on the top with a knife (if you want them to be a little less healthy!)
this is such an innovative idea to use avocados in these yummy cupcakes, they make everything soft and buttery without the calories… 🙂
Exactly! Glad you like it 🙂
You forgot to include water and sugar in the instructions. I’m baking them right now, and added sugar to the dry ingredients and the water to the wet ingredients. I hope I made the right choice because I’m not an experienced baker so for me it may not be as obvious
Oh jeez – you’re right! I’m sorry, I’ve amended them now. The sugar is supposed to be mixed into the wet ingredients before you add the dry ingredients to it. Let me know how they turned out, because hopefully it won’t have affected them too much.
OMG, so easy and so yummy! I will definitely be making these more often 🙂
how much does this recipe serve?
The recipe made 9 cupcakes for me, although you could always make 6 larger cupcakes or maybe 12 mini ones.
Wow, who knew? I never would have though to use avocado in a cupcake. But I LOVE avocados, so I will definitely try this. Think I better avoid the Nutella though or it will no longer be healthy for me… because once I start with Nutella, I can’t stop!!! Happy SITS day:)
I can definitely agree with that. If someone handed me a tub of Nutella and a spoon I could go to town!
These are just awesome! Pinning these for later! Adding this to our “party bowl” list. Happy SITs!
They would be great for a party – don’t tell anyone they’re healthy and then see their faces after they’ve eaten them!
I love when healthy recipes are also vegan! These look so delicious; I have yet to try avocado in my baking and I think you have given me the perfect starting point! Stopping by from SITS.
These look incredible!!!!! I found you through SITSgirls! Happy traveling!
Glad you like them. Let me know if you make them, they don’t taste healthy at all!
Wow! chocolate and avocado’s, how amazing is that! I must try these because like you, I love chocolate and avocado’s to.
Now, I need to do some research on these french fries with mayonnaise or, maybe I shouldn’t.
Happy SITS Day Beautiful!
Haha fries with mayonnaise are my downfall!
I love a chocolate cake! I made avocado mus with bananas and chocolate
Wow, these look AMAZING! Pinned for later. Happy SITS day!
I’m not a fan of avocados at all, but I might be persuaded to try these!
These look amazing. I have heard of using applesauce in baking, but never avocado. Sounds great. Happy SITS day!
Amazing! Anything with healthy and chocolate in the name…sign me up!
Thanks for the recipe, lucky girl! To be traveling the world! Happy SITS Day!
Yum. Who doesn’t love chocolate. Your pic is really enticing. I’ll have to give this healthier version a try.
Julia, this tastes interesting! Chocolate and avocado? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that combination before haha! I can’t wait to try this! I also enjoy baking and will definitely put this on the list to bake soon.
What can i replace the white vinegar with? Can i use lemon juice?
Hi Natasha – you can use apple cider vinegar if you don’t have any white. You can definitely try lemon juice, because you just need the acidic element, but just be aware that it might give a bit of a lemony flavour to the end product. Should be fine, though 🙂