The cupcake recipe which I'm going to share with you today is such a brilliant idea to include greens and fruits in your child's diet. This is yet another sneaky recipe from The Sneaky Chef. I'm hooked to this book guys! It's really amazing what you can make your children to eat, following the simple methods given in the book.
I have renewed this book for the second time in the library and I have to return it very soon, so I'm trying out as many recipes as possible. In our library here I cannot renew it for the third time. I will have to return it and maybe get it sometime later.
Like all baking recipes mentioned in the book the chef uses the Flour blend (mixture of whole wheat flour and wheat germ) to start with. She then suggests mixing a puree of spinach/collard greens and blueberries. Didn't I say it is brilliant? The beauty of this cupcake recipe is you don't taste any of these healthy ingredients in the cupcakes. It tastes very normal, if not better than the usual chocolate cupcakes.
To make it eggless I substituted the egg in the recipe with prune puree (applesauce should also be fine). Since pureed fruits make the baked good denser I added baking soda to lighten up the cupcakes. I was crossing my fingers, because I don't play with baking soda/powder ratio in a baking recipe. I simply follow the recipe. But to my relief they came out very well, nice and fluffy.
Actually it was very fluffy, so I was thinking maybe I should have reduced the quantity of baking soda, but the next day it was alright. Everything was perfect, the cupcakes had the right texture. Another important thing, my son liked these cupcakes even on the second and third day. So something is definitely right in this cupcake recipe.
Recipe
Healthy Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Flour Blend
- 2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- Around ¼ Cup Miniature Chocolate Chips (Not Mentioned In The Original Recipe)
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
Wet Ingredients:
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (I Used Earth Balance Vegan)
- ⅓ Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
- ¼ Cup Prune Puree (In Place Of 1 Egg, Also See My Notes)
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- ¾ Cup Purple Puree (Blend Of Spinach And Blueberries)
- ½ Cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Melt the butter and chocolate chips together. I did this in the microwave oven, first for 15 seconds, stirred it once and heated it again for 20 seconds. Microwave oven times may differ so use caution while melting the mixture.
- Remove from heat and let it cool for sometime.
- In another bowl, stir together the pureed prune, vanilla, purple puree, sugar and 1 tablespoon water.
- Combine this purple mixture with the melted and cooled chocolate mixture.
- In another mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients and ½ teaspoon baking soda. Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly.
- Scoop out the dough and fill it in the muffin cups almost to the top. (I used an ice cream scoop, which measures 3 tablespoons)
- Bake 23 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine was done exactly at 23 minutes, but anyway I baked it for another 1 minute, just to be sure.
- Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack before frosting. Frosting is optional, you may simply dust it with some powdered sugar or leave it plain.
My Notes
- For the prune puree I used Beech Nut brand, baby food. It's a small 2.5oz jar of pureed prunes. It measures exactly ¼ cup. Alternatively you may buy prunes, soak them in hot water and grind them into a smooth paste and measure ¼ cup of the paste. We were not able to taste the prunes in the cupcakes.
- I strongly recommend eating these cupcakes the day after baking. It is unbelievably good the next day. When I tasted on the same day the taste was definitely good, but since I had used the Earth Balance blend, that flavor was definitely dominating. Actually we (couple of testers) did not taste the blueberries or spinach. I was so sure that it was the Earth Balance because I had a similar experience with the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. But we were in for a big surprise the next day because the cupcakes tasted very normal, like any other regular cupcake.
- Also when tasted on the day of baking, we were able to tell that it was made of whole wheat flour, but not on the second day. The only thing which was different is the texture. I guess that's because of the blueberries. I did grind it smooth, but I guess I should have processed it for some more time in the food processor.
- My son ate half a cupcake on the first day. But when offered another piece after sometime he told me that he didn't like it. I iced the cupcakes the following day, while he was in school. They were ready when he came back and he had totally forgotten that it was the same cupcakes which I had offered him yesterday. He was clearly attracted by the icing and the sprinkles and he ate 1 cupcake without complaining. To my surprise he liked it the next day and also the day after. I also tested it with another kid who is 5 and also a picky eater. He usually doesn't eat anything including junk food like cupcakes and cookies. To his mother's surprise he also ate it. So I guess this cupcake recipe is definitely a keeper.
- Alternatively this batter can also be baked in mini-bundt pans and voila you have your baked donuts. For donuts, bake 12 to 14 minutes until the tops spring back when pressed lightly. Loosed the edges with a knife and turn the donuts out over a plate. I have not tried this.
This cupcake recipe goes to "Egg Replacement - Pureed Fruit" event hosted by me.
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Adi says
Where do you find purple puree
Madhuram says
I have given the link under wet ingredients.
Hrithick Bisani says
Can you send me the icing recipe for 2 cups which u posted to aasi
Madhuram says
Triple the recipe Hrithick.
Vera Zecevic Cupcakes Garden says
Sounds really interested! I'm always looking for great vegan recipes! I would really like to showcase this recipe on my cupcake recipes and ideas blog if you agree.
Jenny says
I love this recipe. I needed to find a healthier way to make cupcakes for a class I'm taking at school. I am a child development major and my project was on getting kids to eat healthier (even if sometimes they don't know it:) I would have given this 5 stars, but one star fell off because there is still a tiny textural issue that I know my kids will pick up on (because the biggest of them all-my dad-did). They are just slightly gritty. I did not use the wheat germ because I wasn't sure how much of it to use to make the flour blend so I just used whole wheat flour, although I would be interested to try it out. I'm wondering of grinding up the Whole Wheat Flour a bit in the food processor might help?
Madhuram says
Thanks Jenny. I have updated the recipe with a link for the flour blend. I too found that the cupcakes were a bit gritty. I have mentioned that in the Notes section too. I think we should be able to get it right if the blueberries are blended properly.
Jenny says
I blended up the blueberries really well and even ran them through a sieve before mixing it in. Im not sure what happened but oh well, they are really yummy. im making then again right now for Easter tomorrow. A question about the frosting recipe you posted...When i made it the non fat dry milk never quite disintegrated all the way( and i boiled the juice first) or got thick...did you use a mixer or whisk it by hand? Im topping them this time with a marscapone and cream cheese frosting with a puree of raspberry and strawberry.
Madhuram says
I really don't remember Jenny. I think I would have whisked it by hand.
Adi says
This recipie was good! Can you share with me the frosting recipie
Is it supposed to be very runny?
Thanks!
Madhuram says
Yes it is more of a glaze rather than a frosting. It should be in one of the comments, Adi. I replied to somebody else too.
amy says
Sorry i might of missed something above. Is this recipe from a book? I have a very picky eater and i need to get more good things into her. Especially since she gets consipated about once a month. want to prevent that.
Please email me any good info: links and stuff you want to share to
lilacpower@hotmail.com
Thanks so much
Amy
Look for Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious.
Sara says
I've made these twice already. My super-picky kids (6 & 3) really liked them.
Thanks Sara. You should try the strawberry milk and blueberry milk too.
Aashi says
Thanks a lot Madhu for the frosting recipe. Really appreciate it.
Aashi says
Madhu,
Can you please send me the recipe of frosting too? I am also planning to make these cupcakes for my little one 🙂 Love your recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Aashi
Sure Aashi, it's
INCREDIBLY IMPROVED ICING
White Icing -- Makes about 3/4 cup
1 cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Mix dry milk and powdered sugar in a bowl, then add the boiling water and vanilla extract. Mix very well. If needed, add a little more water, half a teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Chocolate Icing Makes about 3/4 cup
1 cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Mix dry milk, powdered sugar, and cocoa in a bowl, then add the boiling water and vanilla extract. Mix very well. If needed, add a little more water, half a teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
For the purple color icing follow the same steps as above, but use warm blueberry juice (or store bought pom juice) instead. I also did not follow the exact measurements because I did not want so much icing. If I remember right, I think I scaled everything to 1/4th of the given measurement.
ilovecupcakes says
these cupcakes look great! is the recipe for the frosting posted somewhere else? i have to bake cupcakes for my son's birthday in a couple weeks and these look perfect! thanks for sharing!
Thanks. Have sent you an e-mail.
Sunshinemom says
Lovely cupcakes, Madhuram! Pureeing spinach and collard into this - amazing! The chocolate sprinkles look delightful. I saw that comment - I too cannot really make out what my son likes. He grows out of taste so soon ❗ Daughter is more predictable - there is nothing she doesn't like 🙂
Even the icing is a healthy one SM. It's made of non fat dry milk powder and blueberry juice for the purple icing and plain water for the white icing.
Usha says
Awesome idea...the cupcakes look really cute 🙂
rajani says
hi!this is quite brilliant - !!
G.Pavani says
hi madhu,cup cakes looks superab n colurful yaar..
Bharti says
Hehe..score one for mom!
I bet you're saying "gotcha!" That's what I do in my mind when I get them to eat something they don't like!
Soma says
What a great idea!! Not just kids, I think I too would not feel guilty after eating these:-)
Priya says
Wow this is an awesome idea!!!! cupcakes looks gorgeous..
sowmya says
They look so pretty..
Uma says
Hi Sneaky Mom! 😀 You have a follower. Thanks for the sneaky I mean healthy cupcake recipe. As you said this is definitely a keeper! My little one is just like your son, ok with fruits but not with veggies. So this is a bright idea. Thanks Madhu! I liked the way how you tested these cupcakes on different kids. 🙂
Deepa says
Hi Madhu,
Have been enjoying and gaining inspiration from your site everyday! MEanwhile, I wanted to comment, that I have been trying to have pureed veggies added to anything and everything almost. My son is not a picky eater, but this way I get more veggies in and make it to the 3 cups a day easily. It's easy to do fruits! I am a bit concerned about the spinach and blueberries being baked here - would that still retain their nutrition? It could, but I'd verify. --Deepa
Deepa, the problem with my son is I don't what he likes. One day he says he loves something and If i make it once again he doesn't even touch it. Anything when cooked is definitely going to lose some of it's benefits. But atleast the children will be getting some of the nutrients. If children are eating the foods in the actual form, well and good, but the methods given in the book is for children like my son, who don't get their required serving of vegetables and fruits. My son is also ok with fruits but not veggies.
RedChillies says
Pureed spinach/collard greens and blueberries? Now that is very clever especially on a 3 year old. Looks like a great book, let me go find it in my local library as well.
kamala says
Looks like one pot dish...with greens , fruits..a healthy one Madhu..No wonder your son peeped into another one..Looks cute with the frosting..
Sweatha says
Lovely and healthy.Nice of you to use prune puree.I hope you saw my comment on the use of prune puree in your previous post? I too did not taste prunes in my muffins.It was your beechnut prune puree pic that prompted me to use my pkt prunes.Thanks
Yes Sweatha, I did see your reply, that's why I went ahead and used it. Thanks to you too.
anudivya says
Cupcakes for dinner! Count me in! 😀
Kalai says
Sneaky!!! They look awesome! 🙂
Happy Cook says
Purple puree that is something i hav enever seen.
I do love this delciious loking cupcake. Why wait for dinner i would eat them the all day long.
Superb. beautiful and delcious.
We have to prepare the Purple puree, HC. I'm going to write that in a seperate page and link it to this recipe.