Healthy Coconut Cupcake Makeover

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Happy Valentines Day!

I want to start off by thanking everyone for all of your support and encouragement as I embarked on the Vegan For A Week Challenge.  It was truly a life changing experience.


In honour of this day of of love, I decided that some baking was in order.  A dessert that I have wanted to tackle for a long time is Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcakes.  These decedant little gems are probably the most delicious things I have ever laid my eyes on, but at about 700 calories and 44 grams of fat each, healthy they are not.

It was makeover time!

I ditched the butter, eggs and cream cheese and reduced the sugar content.  The result was a much denser cupcake, but with just enough coconutty goodness to satisfy your sweet tooth.  A defininte winner for a first try.  I would like to experiement a little more to get a lighter and fluffier cake.

If anyone has any tips, I am all ears. :)

Strawberry Coconut Cupcakes (Makes 12)

Cake
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup white flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 flax egg
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

Glaze
1/4 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp strawberry jam
1 tbsp unsweetened coconut
1 tbsp coconut milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line or lightly grease your muffin tin.

Prepare your flax egg and set asside

Sift together flours, wheat germ, baking soda and salt.  In a separate bowl, cream (with a hand blender or stand up mixer) sugar, applesauce, coconut milk and vanilla for about 2 minutes.  Add the flax egg and coconut.

While still mixing, slowly add the dry ingredients and blend for 2-3 minutes until the batter lightens up (if it seems a bit stiff, add a 1/4 cup of coconut milk).

Fill your muffin tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from pan and allow to cool.

Glaze
Mix sugar, jam and coconut milk.  Dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes in the glaze and swirl to coat.  Feel free to add festive sprinkles or pipe flowers, hearts or leaves.

Nutritional Information (Approx.)
150 calories
4.8 g fat
24 g carbs
3.2 g protein
2 g fibre

How are you celebrating Valentines Day?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

P.S. Check it out, I am featured on Fitblogger today!  It is a fantastic site where you can find fun, inspiring and healthy people from all over the blog world.