Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes

Because we all like a little balance in our lives, you have to try these Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes! I made them this way, because I've made the choice to use real and natural ingredients in my baking. Using these simple alternatives can be very beneficial to not only me but for my family who devours delicious treats. They can be a wonderful occasional treat-perfect for a birthday celebration or in my case my husband and son to enjoy together tonight while I'm away. I've also made this a nut free cupcake for those of you with little ones who have a nut allergy, or go to a school with a nut-free policy. Of course this is a gluten free cupcake. 

Made with coconut oil, this treat is dairy free as well. While I've always liked using coconut oil as you might know for the past year or so my focus has been on eating as much coconut oil as I can because of it's health benefits and as a healthy alternative to other oils.
And as much as my son and I like to bake together, him and I reap the benefits!
Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes

1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cacao powder 
1/4 tsp celtic sea salt 
1/4 tsp baking soda
4 large eggs
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey

1. Pulse together dry ingredients in a food processor
2. Pulse in wet ingredients
3. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners and scoop 1/4 cup into each
4. Bake at  350° for 15-18 minutes
5. Cool and serve 
5. Enjoy!

Makes 8 cupcakes

Paleo Chocolate Frosting

This dairy free chocolate frosting is super easy to make and so delicious you will need to prevent yourself from eating it by the spoonful, or in my case by the spatula! Made with milk or dark chocolate and coconut oil, it is a rich and creamy topping that can work on a variety of desserts.

1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tbs vanilla extract

1. In a small saucepan over very low heat, melt chocolate and coconut oil
2. Stir in vanilla extract
3. Place frosting in refrigerator for 15-30 minutes (only) to thicken
4. Remove from refrigerator and whip frosting with a hand blender until think and fluffy
5. Frost over Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes

*Note: If you forget about the frosting in the refrigerator longer than 30 minutes you may heat the bowl of frosting over a pot of water on low heat for a lighter consistency then fluff.