Thursday, July 8, 2010

Avocado Cupcakes

Yes, yes you read the title correctly. Avocado cupcakes. The idea from Warren Brown's United Cakes of America, this little treat represents California. Finally, two of my favorite foods combined into one thing? I can dig it. And you should too!
This cupcake tastes a bit like a spice cake. It's got a nice texture that's somewhere between cupcakes and cornbread. Depending on your taste, you can omit or include walnuts in the batter, too. I personally prefer a smooth consistency, but my mom, on the other hand, said "don't you tell those readers to omit the walnuts." So that's up to you.

The avocado just adds a hint of flavor but it's so mild that the sweet and spicy of the nutmeg and allspice come out. It goes great with the cream cheese frosting, too, but what doesn't get a million times better with cream cheese frosting?
In the scheme of cakes, this  one was fairly easy. It was a quick in the oven and ready to be munched on. Though it's a different cupcake experience, I think it'd be a nice change from chocolate with vanilla icing (though I love it so!). 

So give this one a try. You can almost feel good about it because we used a split of regular and lower fat cream cheese, and of course you know avocado is a healthy fat! Right? This cupcake is almost the equivalent of a protein bar! Well, a girl can dream. Anyway, here's the recipe!

Avocado Cupcakes
What ya need:
7 oz AP Flour (1.5 cups)
3 tbsp Cornmeal
1/4 tsp Allspice
3/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 cup Walnuts (Optional. Next time I make these, I will omit the nuts)

1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Buttermilk (We only had low fat)

4 oz Avocado ripe and cut into small chunks (About a cup)

4 oz Unsalted Butter

8 oz Sugar (1 cup)
2 eggs

Cream Cheese Frosting, Recipe Follows

What ya do:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a cupcake pan with non stick spray and line with paper cupcake liners
2. Combine flour, cornmeal, allspice and nutmeg. Whisk for 10 seconds to blend. (IF using nuts, reserve about 2 tbsp dry mixture to coat nuts in)
3. Stir baking soda into the buttermilk. Add pieces of avocado
4. Cream together butter and sugar on medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Turn the mixer to the lowest speed and add eggs one at a time, letting the first one fully incorporate before the second.
5. Alternately add the dry and wet mixtures in about 4 additions each.
6. Stop mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Make sure there are no clumps at the bottom of the bowl. Mix on medium speed for 15 seconds. (IF using nuts, fold them in now)
7. Using an ice cream scoop, deposit batter into each tray. Bake 18-24 minutes, or until tops are golden-green and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese FrostingWhat ya need:
16 oz Cream Cheese (8 oz lower fat, 8 oz full fat)
3 oz Unsalted Butter
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
16 oz Confectioners Sugar

What ya do:
1. Place creamcheese in bowl of a standing mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add butter and continue beating until fully combined and smooth. Add vanilla.
2. Turn mixer to lowest speed and add sugar by the spoonful. After the last addition, return mixer to medium speed and allow frosting to fully combine. Scrape sides of bowl to assure no clumps. Use this frosting immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge. There will be extra.
**You can add extra confectioners sugar if you need a stiffer frosting!

That's all!

20 comments:

The Manly Housewife said...

Nice! I just printed out a copy of this recipe to try it out. Avocado cupcakes whodathunkit?

Jess-Sugar High said...

wow what a good idea!! i can't wait to try these!

Jillyann said...

These look wonderful. Ive used avocado to replace the egg in vegan cupcakes for years. It makes a lovely, dense textured cake.

Roxan said...

These look delicious and intriguing! I've been seeing more and more avocado recipes popping up. will definitely try this one, I love the use of the spices and cornmeal.

~Lisa~ said...

I love avocado's and what a great way to use them. I bet these are really creamy with a nice kick from the nutmeg and allspice. NIce job!

Monet said...

I started making avocado bread earlier this year. So so good! And it always surprises people when you tell them your secret ingredient. These cupcakes (with the frosting especially) look amazing!

CC Recipe said...

I love baking with avocado, I am with you on the nuts, when I make these I will omit the nuts!

Gourmande said...

That sounds delicious. I will try it someday. Thanks for the recipe.

Cannellette said...

What an original idea! I love avocado and spiced cakes as well, so this should be a winning combination.

La said...

At first I had to read it twice. Avocado. Cupcake.

Yups, your post said avocado cupcake.

I'm intrigued and might even be brave enough to try it...

L

The Cilantropist said...

I bet this would be great, my friend recently made an avocado cake and I was skeptical but it was awesome! Plus the color is super cool. ;)

I left you a Sunshine blog award on my site, please pass it on! :D

Baking Barrister said...

I've had chocolate avocado cake before and it was good with a nice texture. It seems so odd to bake with avocado, but they do it a lot in Brazil.

And tell your mom that if you add walnuts it is no longer a cupcake--it's a muffin.

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

I MUST try these! (Maybe with pistachios!)

Unknown said...

Isn't this something. I watched an Iron Chef episode on avocados and they said that you couldn't really cook them. Guess you've proven them wrong. They look amazing!

Magic of Spice said...

Very interesting, bet they are good:)

Ellen said...

what a great idea! I'm definitely trying these soon :) Great job!

Le said...

Ha! I love avocado in desserts! Have you seen my recipe for avocado frosting? This sounds yum! I have yet to actually incorporate avocado in the cake but will def book mark this!

Melody said...

I love avocados and never thought of mixing my love of cupcakes with my favorite dip. Guacamole cupcakes sound amazing!

Joy said...

OMG, great recipe. I love avocados and I actually drink avocados milk shakes. This recipe is up my ally. Thank you so much for sharing.

Jason Phelps said...

I'm starting to think that avacados could be a good form of currency.

Very cool!

Jason