Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.

Hi Bold Bakers!

Just like classic cupcakes, these chocolate cupcakes are made with a flour, sugar, cocoa powder, fat, eggs, and flavorings. The difference is that these ingredients have been given a bit of a makeover to fit my style.

How to make Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

As I prefer to bake without sugar or grain, these cupcakes are made with coconut flour and the Lakanto Sugar alternative. Instead of using processed vegetable oil or animal-derived fat, I use coconut oil for all the richness without any of the inflammatory effects of unhealthy fats. The batter also has 6 eggs, which can be replaced with flax egg for those who are vegan or allergic to eggs.

[ Get My Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Too! ]

Last, but certainly not least, these Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes are packed with cocoa powder — meaning they are super decadent, perfect of all you chocolate fiends. Chocolate is not only one of my favorite flavors, but it also happens to be pretty good for you as it’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals!

How to Make Refined Sugar Free Cupcakes

Instead of using refined sugar, these cupcakes are made with a sugar alternative called Lakanto Sugar. Lakanto is a brand of monkfruit-based sweetener that I really love. This sugar alternative is naturally derived, has no after taste, is zero glycemic, and can be used 1:1 for sugar in baking. Monkfruit comes mostly from remote mountains in Southern China, which sounds about has hidden-treasure-y as you can get. In reality, they’re small melons!

As far as I’m concerned, using this in place of sugar is a no-brainer, as we all know sugar in excess is not really conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Sugar can take you for a ride, causing a blood sugar spike that ultimately leads to a crash. Because of this, I really like to experiment with alternative sugars so I can have my cake and eat it too without any of the stress it puts on my body throughout the day.

That said, there are other sources of unrefined sugar I love too, like coconut sugar, date sugar, or even Swerve — which will all also work in this recipe.

How to make Vegan Refined Sugar-Free Chocolate Frosting

We all know it: the frosting is always the best part of any cupcake.

Yes, Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes need to be moist, rich, and delicious, which they are… but it’s only once frosted that a cupcake is complete. There’s something about the contrast of soft chocolaty cupcake and rich, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate frosting that really makes my heart sing.

If you’re like me, though, you require super rich chocolate frosting — but you don’t want any of the refined sugars or unhealthy fats. This chocolate frosting happens to be vegan, just 2 ingredients, and sans sugar or butter. So what the heck is it? It just coconut cream and melted chocolate and that’s it!

To make it, I simply melt Lily’s vegan sugar-free chocolate (or whatever your favorite brand of vegan, sugar-free chocolate is) then mix it with a tin of coconut cream. After this mixture comes together it can be poured as a glaze or turned into a light fluffy frosting. By chilling then whipping this mixture, I create a buttercream-like texture without any butter or sugar. The result is truly a magical chocolate frosting!

If you’re looking for a lower fat options

These cupcakes are made with full-fat coconut milk and full-fat coconut cream, which are a great source of healthy fat! If you are looking for a way to lower the fat content then you can use reduced fat coconut milk instead. I personally prefer the richness provided by full-fat coconut milk.

Get More Healthy Recipes!

• Vegan Pecan Pie Bars (Sugar Free!)
• Truly Skinny Peppermint Mocha
• Healthy Cookie Dough Truffles

Don’t forget to follow Bigger Bolder Baking on Pinterest!

Try These Recipes!

New Year's Eve Black Cocoa Cupcakes

One-Bowl Lemon Cupcakes

Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Incredible Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting