I can’t believe it is already November, so much has been going on and still so much to do! We are already in week 10 in football, Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and in four weeks, I will be in my new position at work! YAY! With so much going on we are a little behind in posting, but hopefully we will get those drafts completed.
Keeping it Skinny Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes.
I made these skinny chocolate mocha cupcakes with a whipped cream topping for Halloween and they were so fluffy and the mocha flavor was great! I am going to back away from the cupcakes for a moment and bring up Halloween; or more specifically Jimmy Kimmel’s “Halloween Prank” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NDkVx9AzSY “I told my children I ate all of their Halloween Candy”. Now, Jimmy has done this for a few years and every year I watch it, already knowing how I am going to feel when it is over. Some of these clips are quite funny with the child’s rationalizations and cute when the children tell their parent’s “it’s okay” while looking super sad but giving a hug at the same time. Then, there are those clips that make me question parenting, and not just allowing a full-blown disrespectful tantrum (which is bad enough) but because the parents sent in the clips. WHY WHY WHY would anyone want a video of their child having a tantrum while calling them every horrible name they can think of and have it air on TV. Then of course put online (that place where once it is out, it is out,) for the world to see? I just don’t get it, they are giving kids a bad name 🙂 I’m joking, maybe…
Back to the cupcakes. In comparison to the previous skinny cupcakes, these have a little more fat and calories than the others and that is because I used whole eggs and I used olive oil. I was watching cupcake wars and one of the cupcakes made was an olive oil cupcake and the judges loved it, so I figured what the hell, let’s use olive oil. Because of the reduction in sugar and using applesauce and yogurt in place of butter I am still classifying the mocha treats as “semi-skinny”.
If you hate coffee flavored anything, you can substitute hot water in its place. If you love coffee like me (I think I bleed coffee…and chocolate) make it a strong 1/2 cup! As I say for almost all of our recipes…. do not let the ingredient list scare you away from the recipe, you probably already have the ingredients in your cabinet! Enjoy!
Double boiler method, keeping the chocolate from direct heat.
Keeping It Skinny Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup cake flour
- 1/4 cup + 3 tbs whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup full vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup strong fresh brewed coffee
Directions:
- Preheat oven 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with liners and spray with a non-stick spray.
- Using the double boiler method (picture above) melt chocolate and oil, while stirring frequently. Once melted remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cooled, mix in applesauce.
- In a medium size bowl, sift together three times: both flours, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together honey, both sugars, eggs + yolk, and vanilla. Mix until combined. Add your chocolate mixture and mix until smooth.
- Add half of the flour mixture and then half of the Greek yogurt, continue until both are in the batter. Mix until JUST combined. Then quickly pour in the hot coffee and stir until evenly combined. Do not over mix!
- Divide the batter evenly among the 12 liners. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before frosting. I used cool whip for my topping.
Tagged: chocolate, coffee, cool whip, cupcakes, decadent, double boiler method, low-fat, mocha, olive oil cupcake, skinny, whipped cream
This sounds great, and I love the coffee/chocolate combo! 🙂
Coffee and chocolate together…two of my favorite things put together!!!!