Lewis' 1st Chocolate Cup Cake
Lewis' 1st chocolate cup cake recipe is PERFECT for baby led weaning, toddlers and the whole family. This recipes is dedicated to my beautiful son Lewis, his first ever chocolate cake! It is perfectly sweetened naturally with unrefined sugars. No nasties, No sugar and perfect for a 1st Birthday cup cakes or cake, for any celebrations that you are having and want a healthier version of a cake. The frosting is super yummy and the cake is lovely soft. OPTIONS: Feel free to use a round cake tin if you want to make a actual cake rather than cupcakes. FROSTING: another alternative to the avocado chocolate frosting is chocolate cream cheese. Using a hand mixer, swap the avocado for cream cheese, then add cocoa and your choice of sweetener ie maple syrup or algave syrup or *honey or date paste or banana - TAKE YOUR PICK. * Do take note that babies under 1 should not have honey.
Ingredients
- CAKE:
- 175g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
- 175g seedless dates (Medjool dates are lovely)
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 150g self-raising flour (whole wheat / wholemeal or white)
- 3.5 tbsp organic cocoa powder
- ⅓ tsp of baking powder
- FROSTING:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 tbs cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons of Maple Syrup
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place in paper cup cake holders in each hole OR grease a round non-stick cake tin and line the base with baking parchment and butter.
- Step 2 Prepare the dates: place dates into a bowl and cover with hot water. Let this sit for 5 minutes. Then drain out the water. Cream the butter using a electric hand mixer and then add the soft dates (ensure dates are cooled down) and cream them together. Now add in your eggs and beat. Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into the bowl and fold them into the creamed mixture. For cupcakes bake for approx 15 minutes (for a round cake bake for approx 20minutes until the centre is cooked), then place on a wired rack to cool.
- Step 3 To make the frosting:With a electric hand mixer, blend avocados, add cocoa powder & maple syrup OR banana. Leave in the fridge for a hour or two and frost your cooled down cupcakes OR cooled cake.
possible to make egg-free with a flax egg? or other egg-free ideas?
yes should still work fine! let us know how you go xx
Hi. Can I use plain flour instead? How much baking powder should I add on too if using plain flour? tq
Just add 2 teaspoons of baking powder for 150g plain flour. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl before using, to make sure the baking powder is thoroughly distributed (or you can put both ingredients into a bowl and whisk them together). hope this helps xx
Can I use carob powder instead?If so, how much? : )
Sure can! We love carob powder. Use the same measurements as it is for cocoa. 1:1 ratio xx
Can I use oat flour instead?
sure can!
Can we use oat flour?
And what abiut carob molasses? I can’t seem to find carob powder, can it be replaced with molasses?
oat flour is ok to use. carob molasses should be fine in replacement x
How far in advance do you think I could make these? Was planning to make a small “smash cake” rather than the cupcakes.
a few days ahead or you could freeze for up to 3 months and defrost overnight before the big day. always make the avocado frosting on the actual day of eating! x
How far in advance can you make this recipe? I was thinking about making a smaller cake instead of the cupcakes.
you could freeze it up to 3 months in advance and take out of freezer overnight to defrost. I would always make the avocado frosting on the day of the event though so its nice and fresh xx
Can these be stored in the fridge for a few days or will the arvo frosting turn?
i would always frost on the day of consumption. you can fridge the cupcakes without the frosting and on the day of eating the cupcakes make the frosting up fresh. x
I made this as a round cake and even though it was very tasty it was very dense and not like your photo of the cupcake where it looked light and fluffy! Any ideas why?!
it really depends on the round tin size, sounds like your tin was quite big or maybe too long in the oven. Sorry if it came out dense, it shouldn’t be dense. I will test out the dimensions on my round tin and add to the recipe to update it. thank you for your feedback, much appreciated. xx Rachael