I asked on my Facebook page the other day what things people miss eating that they would like a “cleaner” version of. One of the first responses was Hostess Cupcakes. Here’s the ingredient list from standard Hostess Cupcakes:
Sugar, Water, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Flour, Reduced Iron, B Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Vegetable and/orAnimal Shortening [Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Cottonseed and/or Canola), Beef Fat, Palm Oil], Corn Syrup, Egg Whites, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Whole Eggs. Contains 2% or Less of: Modified Corn Starch, Soybean Oil, Cocoa, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Chocolate Liquor, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Locust Bean Gum, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphate, Leavenings (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Monocalcium Phosphate),Corn Flour, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Nonfat Milk, Sweet Dairy Whey, Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Flour, Calcium and Sodium Caseinate, Sodium Stearate, Cornstarch,Glucose, Guar Gum, Cellulose Gum, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Agar, Gelatin, Fumaric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors (Contain: Caramel Color, Butter), Sorbic Acid and Potassium Sorbate (to Retain Freshness), FD&C Yellow 5 and 6, Red 40.
Yikes! With GMO ingredients, food dyes (why?!?!) and a bunch of words I can’t even pronounce, a project was in order.
So, I went to work in the kitchen.
Friends, you won’t be disappointed in these Grain Free Hostess Cupcake Copycats!
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
cupcakes
|
- For the cupcakes:
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted + a tablespoon or so for greasing pan
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- For the filling:
- 1 can refrigerated coconut cream NOT coconut milk
- 2 tsp tapioca flour or arrowroot starch
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 TBSP pure maple syrup or honey
- For the ganache:
- 1 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
Ingredients
|
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line muffin tin with liners.
- Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl and set aside.
- Whisk eggs, melted coconut oil, vanilla and honey or syrup together and pour into dry ingredients.
- Stir until combined and pour into muffin liners.
- Bake for about 18-20 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Make the filling:
- Beat together the filling ingredients until well combined.
- Fill a pastry bag with the filling.
- Put into top of the cupcake and squeeze some filling into the cupcake. (See pics on how to do this HERE)
- If you don't have a piping bag, use a knife to cut a cone shape out of the center of the cupcake, then cut the bottom part of the cone off. Then place the top part of the cone, the lid, on top of the filling.
- Make the ganache:
- In a double boiler, melt together the chocolate chips and coconut milk. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes.
- Top each cupcake with the ganache, and pipe more of the filling on the top for decoration, if desired.
- Place in fridge to cool and allow ganache to harden a bit.
- For best results, store in fridge.
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Virginia G says
Wow, these turned out really beautifully! I’m impressed!
Life Made Full says
Great! Thanks for letting me know, Virginia!
Allison Bruner says
Dude, if you don’t have a piping bag, just snip the corner off a ziplock bag. These look awesome. I’m glad the recipe doesn’t call for a lot of obscure ingredients.
Kimlyn says
Wondering if I can substitute “coconut cream concentrate” for the coconut cream? The concentrate seems like it might be thicker than the canned cream. I don’t have any of the above mentioned coconut cream but do have the other. Or do I need to make a special trip to town for the specific coconut cream?
Thank You
Life Made Full says
Coconut cream concentrate will have a “grainy” texture, and doesn’t fluff up like coconut cream. If you have canned coconut milk, you can refrigerate it, and then skim off the cream on top! Sorry the concentrate doesn’t work the same, though!
Kathy Carter says
Can I substitute heavy whipping cream for coconut cream
Life Made Full says
Yes!
Michelle says
Delicious! Absolutely wonderful – who ever says you must deprive yourself when going Paleo is completely wrong.
Shanti Landon says
So glad you liked it, Michelle!
Jess says
These look amazing! One of the many things I miss. I wonder what could the almond flour be substituted for? We have an almond allergy as well.
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Jess! I hear sunflower seed flower will work as a substitute, but I haven’t tried it myself! Here’s a post about it: http://paleoparents.com/featured/nut-free-almond-flour-replacement/ Hope that helps!
My says
These were my first foray into grain free baking and I (along with hubby) was absolutely shocked at how good these were! Thank you so much for this recipe, I plan to make your carrot cake recipe for hubby’s birthday on Tuesday!
Shanti Landon says
Thank you for letting me know! So glad you liked them!
Christine says
These look good. Do you think using flax seeds as an egg replacer would work?
Thanks
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Christine! I don’t have experience using flax seeds as a replacer in this recipe…but if you try it, please come back and let me know how they turned out! Sorry I’m not more help!
Roz says
Made these and hubby and I had to limit ourselves to one a day. So good we could’ve eaten them all in one day! He begs me to make them all the time now. I love hostess cupcakes and these are close enough to enjoy without missing the real thing. So much healthier!
Shanti Landon says
Yay! So glad you liked them, Roz! Thanks for the comment!
val jones says
can you replace the almond flour with coconut flour?
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Val! Unfortunately, coconut flour does not sub well for almond flour. =( I hear sunflower seed flour is a good sub, but have not tried it myself. Sorry I’m not more help!
Lauren says
Do you have any suggestions for egg substitutes?
Shanti Landon says
Hi, Lauren! I haven’t ever used egg subs, but have heard of people having some luck with flax meal. I would Google it and see what comes up with the best ratings! Hope that helps!