People love Red Velvet.
But why does it have to only be red velvet? What about green velvet, purple velvet, or—dare I say it—blue velvet? When I was asked to make cupcakes for a boy baby shower, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try my hand at blue velvet cupcakes. However, two problems existed: One, I wanted the cupcakes to be natural (no blue food coloring). And two, I didn’t have a healthy chocolate cupcake recipe!
EDIT: There is finally now also a Healthy Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe.
Experiments are always fun when they include chocolate, because you get to eat the not-so-perfect trials. (Fortunately and unfortunately for me, I got this cupcake recipe right on the first try.) At first, I’d planned to use a recipe straight from the cookbook, VCTOTW. But as I worked, I changed it up completely!
Blue Velvet Cupcakes
(healthy and low-fat!)
- 1 cup spelt or white flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar of choice
- 1 and 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup yogurt (I used SoDelicious plain coconut)
- 3 tablespoons canola oil or melted coconut oil
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup blueberries (60 grams)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mash or puree the blueberries (or just leave ’em whole). Mix dry ingredients, then add in wet. Don’t overmix. Pour into 12 cupcake liners, and bake 22-24 minutes. The blueberries didn’t exactly turn the cupcakes blue; but they are blue in spirit… and when you bite into one, you can see the blue from those lovely–and antioxidant-packed–berries.
Click for notes about a fat-free version.
Since I wasn’t really a guest at the shower, I didn’t eat one of the final-product cupcakes. However, I did eat an unfrosted one (straight out of the oven) that morning as part of my breakfast! Someone had to be a taste-tester, right?
The Icing on the Cake
2013 EDIT: I frosted the cupcakes with Pillsbury (surprisingly vegan), but if I were to make them again I would use my new favorite frosting of choice: Vegan Cool Whip. Just add a blueberry or two for a vibrant frosting.
All I’ve got in my head is that really ancient song Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton, “she wore bluuuuuuueeee velvet, ooh, ooh ooooooh” 🙂
I know it’s weird but I don’t want children. I love my nephew, goddaughter and friends’ kids and really enjoy having them and being around them – but don’t want my own!
If I ever did though, I love Saffron or Siena for a girl and George for a boy.
Hope you’re feeling better x
Haha there was a Xerox commercial once, where they sang: “She wore… brown.” It was that song. And then they had a bunch of other color songs where they replaced “brown” (in a monotone voice) with all the colors as if to say, if the color is messed up, it doesn’t work very well. It was the funniest commercial!
Oooh, these look so delicious!
I definitely would like to have children – some day. My fiance and I are getting married next summer and I would like to enjoy a few years of “just the two of us” before we think about kids. I always thought I would want two, but one might be nice as well. I guess we’ll see what happens when we get there! As for names – I have no idea!
I’d love to try blue velvet! I’m all for blueberries. 🙂 They look beautiful, too!!
I’d love to have kids someday. I think 2, maybe 3..4 TOPS would be nice. 🙂
your photos are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST AMAZING!!!!!!
Emma, you are the SWEETEST!
What about a healthy chocolate cupcake with pink frosting in the centre? So I’ll know who to call when I’m having a baby shower for myself 🙂 waaaaay down the road though. I would love to have a girl someday, but I don’t know what I’d name her…yet.
Haha I wanted to name my daughter Dawn after I read all the Babysitter’s Club books! 🙂
I always wanted kids. A bunch of kids. Used to daydream about what I’d name them. I am BLESSED beyond words to have a bunch of them now. I hesitate to say on a blog how many I have because sometimes other people’s responses are downright rude in response. However, as my husband and I absolutely believe these children are blessings and we are thrilled to have them, I’ll gladly tell you we have eight. Yes. I said eight. Seven boys and one girl. I would not trade my LOUD, busy, crazy life for anything. I will also say to any of you reading to ENJOY your children – the years FLY by. Some days seem like years, but I guarantee you, you will blink and YEARS will have flown by.
Awww your comment was so sweet. It makes me so happy that, in this day and age with so many unwanted pregnancies, there are people who really do value their kids :).
I’m just getting caught up on bloggery after having been away all weekend and first wanted to say I’m sorry for your loss. I completely know what it feels like to lose a dog – they’re every bit as much a ‘family member’ as the parents, siblings, etc. But onto happier things – cupcakes! These look divine, and I love the idea of blue velvet, although I can’t hear ‘blue velvet’ without thinking ‘blue steel,’ which of course brings me to Zoolander, which of course brings a smile to my face. Sorry for the total stream of consciousness here, and thank you for the lovely cupcake inspiration 🙂
Haha don’t be sorry. I love that movie too… even though I’ve only seen it once (a long time ago!)
blueberries and chocolate sounds amazing! it reminds me of Trader Joe’s powerberries, which I’m pretty sure I can inhale in an hour.
I definitely want kids, but not now! As of the moment, I want a big family considering how lonely it was growing up as an only child. But I know that number is going to reduce after having one kid.
These look so cute…I bet everyone loved them! Not to mention I def took a little looks at that red velvet pancake recipe 🙂