This past weekend, I was searching for a dessert recipe to take to my cousin for her birthday. The dessert had to travel well, seeing as I would be taking the bus to her house. I also knew I wanted to make something chocolatey, as she is my only other relative that loves chocolate almost as much as I do. I kept thinking of making brownies, but that just didn't seem right for a birthday. I decided I wanted to make cupcakes and for some reason all I could think of was this chocolate-avocado cupcake recipe I gave to my friend Leanne, who received rave reviews from co-workers when she made the cupcakes. I also came up with the idea of a peanut butter frosting because the original cupcakes called for a chocolate glaze and I don't get all that excited about most glazes on cupcakes. Out of my selfishness I also wanted to make the recipe gluten-free so I could try them. The result? The frosting was DELICIOUS. I'm not even much of a frosting person and I could have eaten the whole bowl of frosting. The cupcakes were dense and fudgy, more of a brownie texture than a cupcake, really. The chocolate chips were a great addition as well, adding even more chocolate flavor to the cupcakes.
GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE AVOCADO CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
1 1/2 c. all-purpose gluten-free flour blend (tapioca starch, potato starch, arrowroot starch, sweet rice flour, sorghum flour)
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 c. agave nectar
3/4 c. non-fat milk or soy milk
1/3 c. canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c. gluten-free chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 f.
Prepare muffin tin with muffin papers.
Combine the first five ingredients with a whisk in a large bowl.
Set aside.
In a blender or food processor, puree the avocado, agave nectar, milk, oil and vanilla together until smooth.
Mix the puree with the dry ingredients. Add the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into a muffin tin prepared with muffin papers, bake about 25 minutes until done.
When cooled, frost with peanut butter frosting.
PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
4 oz (1/2 package) cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick unsalted butter (4tbsp), softened
2/3 c. smooth peanut butter (not natural/refrigerated kind)
2 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar (you may need 3 c.)
2-4 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Beat cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, mix slowly to combine, then beat in milk and vanilla on medium high until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if necessary, to your liking.
