These Cavolo Nero and Orange Cupcakes from Veggie Desserts squeeze in a smidge of dark green leafy goodness into an otherwise decadent sweet treat.
First up, before we let you anywhere near the recipe for these scrummy cavolo nero and orange cupcakes, check out this gorgeous lady.
This is Katherine, aka Veggie Desserts.
She is the author of one of my favourite food blogs, Veggie Desserts, and creator of my most favourite vegan chocolate cake ever.
She also happens to be one of my closest blogging friends.
Today is a massive day in her career as she launches her first ever cookbook! Squeeee!
As the title of her blog suggests, she is the queen of sneaking vegetables into cakes, puddings and other sweet treats.
Before you turn your nose up at the idea, think about carrot cake.
Isn’t that one of the most flavourful, moist and delicious cakes on the planet?
So wouldn’t parsnip have the same effect, or even swede?
That said, I will admit to being just a little dubious about putting a kale puree into a cupcake recipe!
However (and I promise I’m not just saying this because she’s my friend) these cupcakes are really good.
Cavolo Nero and Orange Cupcakes from Veggie Desserts
The cupcake itself is green (which causes a hilarious reaction in those they are offered to!).
The flavour is sweet and citrusy from the orange juice and zest, and there is the slightest hint of a ‘green’ aftertaste.
Although it’s that subtle that I’m not entirely sure as to whether it’s imagined or not.
You can grab your own copy of this awesome cookbook on Amazon today! Just click on the pic below, and come join the Veggie Desserts revolution!
Congratulations Katherine, I’m so so proud of you :)
Janie x
- 40g cavolo nero (or kale, spinach or Swiss chard)
- 150g unsalted butter, softened
- 150g granulated sugar
- 2 large, free range eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 4 tablespoons orange juice
- 200g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 75g unsalted butter
- 250g icing sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
Preheat the oven to 170/150 fan/325/gas 3. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper cases.
Chop the cavolo nero leaves into bite sized pieces and boil or steam for a few minutes until tender. Refresh by running under cold water, then drain and squeeze out any excess moisture. Chop finely. Puree it with a hand blender - it will be a bit stringy, but you want it to be as smooth a paste as possible to get the best colour. If necessary, add the orange juice to make it easier to puree, then set aside.
In large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and beating each one in well, then beat in the cavolo nero, vanilla, orange juice and zest. The batter may split but it will come together when the flour is added.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, and stir gently to combine.
Fill the muffin cups three-quarters full with the batter and bake for 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy, then add the icing sugar and beat until thick. Add enough of the orange juice to make it a frosting consistency - you may not need all of it. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Spoon into a piping bag and pipe over the cooled cupcakes.
Kate Hackworthy (@veggie_desserts) says
Thank you so much for your lovely kind words and for helping to support my book! Your version of the cavolo nero cupcakes looks incredible :)
Ceri @Natural Kitchen Adventures says
I am SO intrigued to try these, you did a wonderful job baking them !
kellie anderson says
What a stunning recreation of Kate’s recipe! I adore Kate’s book so much and have tried two recipes – Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes with Cherry Icing *and* Sweet Potato and Salted Hazelnut Cookies. In fact, I’ve made three different sorts of tweaky batches of the latter! I just know that anyone who buys this book will get a lot of use – and joy – from it.
Kavey at Kavey Eats says
These look gorgeous, and on my list to try. I did the lovely pea and mint cupcakes with rosewater buttercream, also wonderful. Such a fabulous book, isn’t it?
choclette says
Great minds think alike. It had to be kale ;) I know know Kale goes well with apple so I’m sure it does with orange as well. Have you got any left? Perhaps I could pop along ….
Camilla Hawkins says
Your cupcakes are so pretty and don’t ask me why but when I see the words Cavolo Nero I want to sing that Bananarama song but no that was Robert De Niro LOL:-) I’m loving all these treats made healthier in Kate’s beautiful book-)