PUMPKIN SPICE PROTEIN CUPCAKES

November 17, 2018 2 Comments

These pumpkin spice protein cupcakes are beyond scrumptious! I can’t decide what I love most: the macros, the maple cream cheese frosting, or the moist spiced cake…. but at any rate, these are a must try if you’re a fan of pumpkin. I made these in the past but updated the recipe slightly to simplify the ingredients (replaced the applesauce for more pumpkin puree and added real maple syrup to the frosting). These tweaks didn’t change the nutrition much, but it did make frosting even richer and the cupcakes more pumpkin-y! I also updated the photos, because a recipe this good deserves beautiful photos 😉

Protein powder substitutions

I used Quest Protein Powder in Cinnamon Crunch for these cupcakes. You can use whatever whey you have on hand, but some work better than others. Whey blends (like Quest) that combine whey isolate, casein, and milk protein work best for baking! Whey concentrate comes in close second. Whey isolates are the absolute worst for baking. They always make baked goods come out spongey or dry (unless you use very little).

If you would rather not use protein powder, just double the amount of almond flour and coconut flour (use ½ cup each) and add more liquid (water or milk) if needed.

Flour substitutions

I opted for equal parts almond flour and coconut flour because it worked so well in that carrot cake last week (plus, it’s gluten-free)! However, you can substitute both flours for 2/3 cup of any of the following flours: all-purpose flour, brown rice flour, gluten-free baking blend, oat flour, spelt four, or whole wheat flour. If you only have almond flour, start with 3/4 cup and add more if the batter seems runny. If you only have coconut flour, use 6 tbsp. and add an additional tablespoon of oil or butter to avoid dryness. A note about coconut flour: the brand can make a huge difference in texture and flavor! I used Bob’s Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour.

I also added lots of fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, but you can just use 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice if you don’t have all of these.

Sweetener substitutions

To sweeten these decadent cupcakes without adding much sugar, I used Pyure Organic Stevia Blend. This can be substituted for an equal measure of Truvia Spoonable, Truvia Baking Blend or twice as much baking stevia or coconut sugar. For the frosting, I used Swerve Confectioner’s Erythritol because it has the texture and flavor of powdered sugar; not to mention it’s calorie-free and all-natural! You can order Swerve online through Amazon, or sub baking stevia or half as much Pyure Organic Stevia Blend or Truvia Spoonable. You can also use liquid stevia drops to taste!

Maple cream cheese frosting

The frosting is cream cheese based, but the Greek whipped cream cheese can be swapped out for a dairy-free vegan brand like Daiya Foods or Go Veggie, making the entire recipe dairy-free and vegan! I added pure maple syrup to the frosting to make the frosting even richer, but you can use maple extract or vanilla extract if that’s all you have. If you’re not a fan of frosting, these make awesome muffins, too 😉

Just look at that tender crumb and thick creamy frosting! So good 🙂 I’ve posted the printable recipe for these Pumpkin Spice Protein Cupcakes below – I’d love your comments below if you try these!

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