Dark Chocolate Espresso, Raspberry Quinoa Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

 

I was asked to make these delicious cupcakes for Roz's baby shower in December. I was honoured to be asked to make these Quinoa cupcakes to celebrate baby Zoe with a fabulous group of women. I'm only getting around to posting the recipe now. These cupcakes are chocolaty and divine and great for a special occasion. I have adapted the recipe from the cookbook Quinoa 365.

Baby Shower for Roz and Baby Zoe!

 

Dark Chocolate Espresso, Raspberry Quinoa Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing:
(Adapted recipe from "Quinoa 365: The Everyday Super food)

Batter:
2 cups cooked quinoa, cold
1/3 cup coconut milk (or regular milk, rice, soy etc.)*add as needed to batter
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp ground espresso
3/4 cups oil or melted butter
1 cup organic cane sugar or raw coconut sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Filling:
Raspberry jam

Topping:
Fresh Raspberries
1 package cream cheese
1 tub of white frosting

 

Step #1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a Food Processor mix milk, eggs, vanilla, quinoa, melted butter (or oil) blend until smooth. Add Cocoa powder, espresso, sugar, baking powder, baking soda to mixture and blend until smooth (taste batter and if you think it needs a little more chocolate, espresso or sugar.. go for it, I tend to add less sugar and add more if needed).  Note: Blend in the food processor until as smooth as you can (approx. 5 minutes)


Step #2: Line  muffin tins with cupcake liners. Add a scoop of batter (about 1/2 full) and make a dent with a spoon in the batter (for jam). Add a small tsp of raspberry jam and cover with more batter.

Step #3 Bake for approximately 30-40 minutes. Until when you press gently it springs back and tops look brown. Let Cool.

Step #4: Mix 1 container with plain icing and 1 softened block of cream cheese in Food Processor until smooth. You can add to a piping bag or ice the cupcakes with a knife. *Make sure cupcakes are cool before icing or else it will melt.

#5 Garnishing time! Take a zester or grater and from above grate dark chocolate onto icing. Add a raspberry on top for perfection! Enjoy