Vanilla Cupcakes with Maple Pecan Frosting

Vanilla Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes with Maple Pecan
Frosting

1/2c. coconut flour, sifted

1/2tsp. sea salt

1/4tsp. baking soda

6 eggs

1/2c. coconut oil, melted.

1/4c. agave nectar

1/4c. honey, warmed

1Tbsp. coconut sugar

Preheat oven to 350

In small bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix and set aside.

In large bowl, beat eggs, coconut oil, agave nectar, honey, and sugar on low-med speed until well-blended and frothy. Add dry ingredients, beat on med-low for 30 seconds. Spoon batter into paper-lined cupcake pans, approx. 2/3 full. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden brown. Place on cooling rack, cool completely before frosting.

Yields 12 cupcakes. 

Maple Pecan Frosting

Note: This frosting can be made without pecans, if you're into that sort of thing...

1/2c. coconut oil*

1/4c. and 2Tbs. maple syrup

1 1/2Tbsp. finely chopped pecans. 

In a medium bowl, beat coconut oil, maple syrup, and pecans on med-low speed until light and delicious. Spread on top of completely cooled cupcakes. Enjoy :)

*TIP: You can melt the coconut oil down to measure easily. But coconut oil must be cooled down to it's original solid form before making the frosting.

Coconut Cupcakes with Schokoladenglasur (chocolate frosting)

So my birthday is in TWO weeks! Last year of my twenties. Eh, it's just another day. I think that if we still received gifts like a new wardrobe or a bitchin' pinata full of money and Xanax, we'd look forward to our birthdays as we got older. But once the gifts started becoming practical, like my sister's pet hair vacuum cleaner she got for her 27th birthday, we stopped counting down the days and sending out invitations. But, one thing I always looked forward to every year regardless of my age was my Gramma Rita's German Chocolate cake. I wonder why I only ate it once a year? I think it's like a pumpkin pie, it tastes good no matter when you eat it but it'll never be better than on Thanksgiving day. So be it. 


In honor of my Gramma, here's my take on her birthday treat to me. 


Preheat oven to 350

German Chocolate Cupcakes

Coconut Cupcakes:
1/2c. coconut flour
1/2tsp. baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
4 eggs
1/4c. agave nectar
4Tbs. So Delicious coconut milk, vanilla
1tsp. vanilla extract

2Tbs. coconut sugar
3Tbs. coconut flakes, unsweetened


In small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, sea salt. Set aside.


In large mixing bowl, beat eggs, agave nectar, coconut milk, vanilla extract and sugar on medium speed until frothy. Add dry ingredients and coconut flakes. Beat on low-med speed until well mixed. Careful not to over-mix. Scoop into paper-lined cupcake pan, filling each about 2/3 full. 


Bake 17-20 minutes, or until slightly golden. Insert a toothpick into center of cupcake, if it comes out clean, they're done! Place on cooling rack, cooling completely before frosting them.
Yields 8 cupcakes.


Chocolate Frosting, Vegan
1c. chopped dark chocolate
1/2c. grapeseed oil
2Tbs. agave nectar
1Tbs. vanilla extract
Pinch sea salt


Over low-med heat, melt together grapeseed oil and chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth. Add agave nectar, vanilla, and sea salt until well mixed. Remove from heat. Refrigerate for about 15-20min. until completely cooled. 


Whip on med-high until fluffy. If mixture gets hardened, place in microwave for 5 seconds, beat again.


Spread on cooled cupcakes and enjoy :)

Introduction to ME

For the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with gluten-free, sugar-free dieting. My younger sister turned me onto Paleo-inspired eating and I have fallen in love, for the second-time in my life. I basically eat meats, veggies, fruits, twigs and dirt. Yah, it's really good. When I eat "clean", like a caveman, I feel this amazing energy that lasts throughout the day. I feel I can do anything... like go to the gym and get my blood pumping. I don't actually go to the gym most days, but I feel like I can and that's all that matters. SIKE! I must go and I will go to the gym (tomorrow) because bikini season is almost here and I refuse to look like a delicious pork roast wrapped in kitchen string.

If you care to know, I work in a sales office where I stand on my feet 38 hours a day (I think it's more like 8 hours a day but when you contemplate standing on your own head to give your feet a break, it can feel like more) and unfortunately my commission is a direct reflection of my mood and energy levels. If I'm tired, I'm so inattentive and can't sell anything, however if I'm alert and on top of my game, you're walking out of my store with a few extra items. Just tell your wife that your new iPad is an "investment". 


Anyway, I was starting to get tired and my sales started to tank until my younger sister, Kiddia, explained that heavy carbohydrates, like those found in pastas, breads, and all of my favorite desserts, are what help contribute to that "sluggish" feeling I got after eating lunch. After a few pointers and Paleo-guidelines from her, I slowly started weening myself off dairy, gluten, sugars and chocolate and funnel cakes and BBQ cheeseburgers with onion rings, and started to feel my energy come back... CAAA-CHIIING!! I have worked the wheels in my head to come up with some pretty tasty treats that will satisfy a gluten-free, sugar-free, low-calorie, or Vegan lifestyle. I am not a professional in anything, especially nutrition, so these recipes aren't super strict and have not been reviewed by anyone other than the people in my house. I don't live with any doctors, so don't listen to them either. I call myself a baker, just like Rachael Ray calls herself a cook. She just got lucky with EVOO. To my friends and family, eat and be happy :)


Cheers,
BSB