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 1/2Â 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.
Love this idea! You’re a genius! 😉
Beautiful photos Katie!! Love the popping blue color frosting.
Oh yes I want kids, probably two.
Thank you, girls! P.S. Saw your mallomars on foodgawker. They look super-awesome! (Not that they didn’t look super-awesome back when you first posted them too!)
aww thanks sweetie!
I definitely want to be a mom someday too! Just like wedding plans, I’ve been thinking about baby names for years:)
I’d love it be able to pick that cupcake off the screen. Looks devine!
Another recipe I need to make. Blimey, my list is getting pretty long!
As for childrens names. We have three and choosing names was not an easy task. You not only need to like the name but, of course, your partner does too. Names he liked I did not, or names I liked he’d known someone by that name and didn’t want that association forever more. You’d think 9 months would well and be well and truly enough time to choose a name but it’s just not that easy.
We liked the name Xander (from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’) but didn’t want Alexander, as it’s always shortened to Alex and he have one of those in the exttended family. So we settled on Zander (pronounced ‘Zarnder’, as I’m British and ZAnder felt forced). Then came Anya (yes also from Buffy) and by the time our little boy Drew was born it was almost a given it would be another ‘Buffy’ name. Mind you it’s not as though so many other names around either appealed or weren’t already horribly popular.
We do, occasionally, have complete strangers ask if we are Buffy fans, once they hear us call to 2 of our children. 🙂 That’s ok. We like the names and I think they will endure. 🙂
I love Anya! It’s like Anna, but way more unique!
It is actually Russian for Anna. My mum’s father was born in Lithuania, so there is a connection.
You’re so fun and basically the master craftswoman of desserts. The cupcakes are beautiful and sound delish!
i am on a cleanse right now where sweets are NOT allowed. i can’t even look at your site right now, it’s killing me! but in a good way. 😉
Oh no! I’ll have to eat some extra chocolate to make up for all the sweets you aren’t eating. Must keep the world in balance ;).
Katie blueberries are a great idea!
This is fantastic! Love all natural recipe. Thanks for sharing!
This is fantastic! Love all natural recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome seeing these cupcakes on Foodgawker today! They look delish 🙂
I was so excited to get the first spot! Haha I’m usually down on page 2! (Not that I’m complaining about that; I’m honored that they feature my photos in ANY case.)