Dark Chocolate & Avocado Cupcake
By Lili Vanilli
Avocado meat replaces butter as the fat in this frosting. The cake is rich and moist with a hint of espresso. The frosting balances perfectly with it sweet with a hint of citrus and a definite avocado flavour. When topped with toasted walnut and dark chocolate shavings, this cake has a beautiful, slightly unusual flavour and texture and is rich in healthy fats. For the Chocolate Cake
Makes 12
Ingredients:
- Caster sugar 155g
- Butter 60g
- Large egg (room temperature) 1
- Vanilla extract ½ tsp
- Salt ¼ tsp
- Marriages Plain Organic flour 105g
- Cocoa powder 25g
- Baking soda ¼ tsp
- Sour cream 95g
- Strong espresso (cooled) ¼ cup
- Fresh ground coffee (optional) ½ tsp
- Toasted walnuts
- Dark chocolate shavings
Method:
- Sift all the dry ingredients together (flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt) and set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until very light and fluffy around 5 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until thoroughly incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the sour cream. Then slowly add the cooled coffee and espresso powder (if you're using it).
- Use an ice cream scoop to transfer to a lined baking pan, filling the cups ¾ full.
- Bake in the middle rack of a 180C oven for 15 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- When the cupcakes are cooled completely, top with a spoon of the avocado frosting (recipe below), a toasted walnut and some dark chocolate shavings.
Avocado frosting
Ingredients:
- Flesh of 2 large very ripe avocados or 4 medium avocados use the ripest you can find, and cut out any brown bits if necessary
- Confectioner's (icing) sugar 190g
- Lemon juice 1½ tsp
Method:
- Beat the avocado in a mixer with the lemon juice until you achieve a smooth consistency, beating out all the lumps.
- Slowly blend in the icing sugar, increasing the speed of the mixer as you go. Add more sugar if needed to achieve a consistency and taste that you like.
Originally published in British Baker Magazine. For more creative cake ideas, recipes and baking tips visit lily-vanilli.blogspot.com
