The Best Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes

The best paleo chocolate cupcakes are no longer a pipe dream…they are here…and they are good by ANYONE’S standards! 

Rich chocolate flavor, and a tender, spongy crumb!  Come see how easy it is to make a totally grain free and delicious chocolate cupcake!

A delicious, moist, and paleo cupcake (or cake!) for you next celebration!!

I am always striving to sneak some healthier foods into my kids’ treats….but until now the paleo chocolate cupcake had been a work in progress.  We already have our favorite gluten free vegan vanilla cupcake, but mom wanted a grain free one too!

As I have gained more experience working with paleo flours, I have learned some of their unique traits and needs.    

But how to ensure a lovely moist crumb that I so adore?! Hmmm…

As an added bonus, these have been vetted out by the ever picky ‘friends,’ category.  They just think they are good cupcakes, period.  I struggle with the pallets of some amigos, as they are used to store bought overly sweetened and sugared confections!

A Secret Ingredient

When I was young, my grandma used to take a box mix of cake, and use a whole can of pears as part of the liquid.  While I didn’t know why then, that cake was always one of my favorites!!   It was so deliciously moist!  Of course I now know that pureed fruits and vegetables can add that coveted moisture into any baked good.  Kind of like in my gluten free vegan chocolate cake.

I am not sure why I didn’t think of it before, but I finally decided to use some applesauce as part of the liquid ingredients to create a really moist cake, and it worked beautifully.  

I have a hunch that other pureed fruits and vegetables would work too, I just have not tested them.

How To Frost The Best Paleo Chocolate Cupcake!?

We have several frostings we rotate though….but you can top these beauties with any favorite frosting.

• For a simple frosting, I melt some dark chocolate and butter (or coconut oil) and add a few splashes of milk to thin.  With a sprinkle of flaked sea salt, and a dash of vanilla…voila!! (see pic below)
• We also love a  traditional buttercream,
• This  chocolate avocado frosting is serious amaze-balls, no one would ever guess there is avocado in there!
• And my friend Erin, over @Texanerin Baking has a chocolate vegan frosting that looks to DIE for!!

Healthier Sprinkles?

In these pictures, I used some regular sprinkles I had on hand that I purchased on accident online, thinking they were dyed with natural colors…wrong-o!  As soon as opened the box…I knew I had not looked carefully enough at the labels before clicking ‘buy’!  But they look pretty, so I went with it.

And lets get this out of the way:

a.)  sprinkles don’t actually TASTE good to most people, they have a funky texture and zero flavor!

b.)  kids however,  think everything is better with sprinkles.

c.)  sprinkles are NOT health food nor paleo, not even close!

BUT, if you are a mom, and are making stuff for kiddos, sprinkles can be a fun and colorful addition!!!

But artificial food dyes are no bueno for anyone…so we don’t make a habit of buying products containing them. 

Here are some naturally dyed versions I have tried and enjoyed:

• Here is what I THOUGHT I was buying when I bought the other ones above: India Tree Natural Sprinkles
• These decorating sugars looks very pretty!
• These still have some questionable ingredients, but no food dyes!
• Here some homemade sprinkles with no nasties made from flaked coconut that are pretty darn beautiful in my book!

Additional Chocolate Paleo Treats You Could Try!

• consider trying my Chocolate Hemp Zucchini Bread….it is a crowd favorite, made all in your blender!!
• Chocolate Avocado Cookies – Nut & Egg Free too!
• The chocolate version of my super popular and well loved Hail Merry Tart knock offs!
• Double Chocolate Cookies

Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe:

If you try this recipe, I want to know!  Please leave a comment below!

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