December 8, 2014

Hot Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes

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Soft & fluffy, you’ll never guess these hot chocolate almond flour cupcakes are gluten free! With a lightly sweet, chocolate-y base and a dreamy whipped cream frosting, they are the perfect special treat. Vegetarian with dairy free option.

A Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcake in a coffee mug with marshmallows.

Get your green smoothies ready! Because between now and Christmas I have pretty much all sweet treats coming your way. It’s a sugar bonanza.

Because of this, my eating habits have gone something like this lately:

  • Breakfast. Drink coffee and pound a green smoothie or oatmeal.
  • Lunch. Dinner leftovers. Always.
  • Dinner. Make something healthy in an attempt to counteract all the holiday recipe testing.
  • Dessert. Pick from one of four sweet treats I currently have sitting on my counter.
  • After dessert. Test more recipes and add to that pile of sweets currently hanging out in my kitchen.

Can you see my need for green smoothies?? It’s a vicious cycle I tell you.

Although such fun so no complaining here.

Several Almond Flour Chocolate Cupcakes on plates with marshmallows scattered around.

About These Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes

So. We’re going to ease on in to the sugary goodness with these hot chocolate cupcakes.

Because while not exactly health food, they are certainly not quite as decadent as all my heaps of brown sugar and loads of butter recipes (coming atcha’ shortly).

  • We have a cupcake base that is sweetened only with honey.
  • We have coconut oil instead of butter.
  • And! They’re gluten-free.

This was one of my many attempts to create a dessert that my mom and sister can eat. And unlike most of them, it actually turned out successful.

And by successful, I mean I actually liked them too (what can I say, I love me some gluten and normally don’t love the texture of gluten-free goodies?).

Anywho, the base here is plenty chocolaty and has a hint of warmth from ground cinnamon.

And the frosting is a simple stabilized whipped cream, so it holds its shape nicely if you decide to pipe it onto the base. Straws and/or marshmallows are optional, but I mean, just so fun.

A Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake in a coffee mug with marshmallows.

Additional Gluten Free Desserts You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Hot Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes | cookiemonstercooking.com

Hot Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes

Yield: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Soft & fluffy, you’ll never guess these hot chocolate almond flour cupcakes are gluten free! With a lightly sweet, chocolate-y base and a dreamy whipped cream frosting, they are the perfect special treat. Vegetarian with dairy free option.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 2 ¼ cups plus 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil*
  • ½ cup honey
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature**
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

For the frosting:***

  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For garnish (optional):

  • marshmallows
  • paper straws, cut into about 2 ½ inch pieces

Instructions

For the cupcakes:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with baking cups and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, honey, eggs, vanilla extract and almond extract until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  4. Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake tins. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  5. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. Add the heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla to a large bowl. Whip with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
  2. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and let chill for about 20 minutes.
  3. Frost the cupcakes as desired (using a piping bag or just spread it on).
  4. Once frosted, these cupcakes must be stored in the refrigerator, due to the whipped cream topping.
  5. Right before serving, top each cupcake with a few marshmallows (depending on the size) and / or garnish with a paper straw (this step is completely optional, but I thought just too fun!).

Notes

*Be sure to melt the coconut oil first and then measure out the correct amount. Otherwise you may use too much.

**If your eggs are not at room temp, there is a chance that they could cause the coconut oil to harden up (and then the batter will be a different consistency). While this doesn't always happen, let them come to room temp to avoid any issues.

***To keep these dairy free - top with either homemade or store-bought whipped coconut cream (we like the So Delicious brand) instead of the listed frosting.

You may have some whipped cream leftover depending on how much you frost with - but I am of the belief that homemade leftover whipped cream is always a good thing! Just keep in the fridge in a container and you can use in actual hot chocolate! Or for eating spoonfuls… You could also just cut back the amounts a little if you know you aren’t going to pipe a lot on each cupcake.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 167mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 0gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.

© Ashley / Cook Nourish Bliss
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert
Cakes & Cupcakes, Chocolate, Christmas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Recipes (ALL), Seasonal, Soy Free, Vegetarian
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