LEMON PROTEIN CUPCAKES

March 01, 2016

I haven’t done a lemon recipe for awhile so these Lemon Protein Cupcakes are for all you lemon lovers out there! Think fluffy sweet vanilla cake with just the right amount of fresh lemon flavor topped with cream cheese frosting. Not too sweet, not too tart. Even “non-healthy” eaters love them! My dad is the epitome of a “non-healthy” eater in that he grew up with my German grandmother’s baking (she makes the most incredible dream bars!). Anyway, yesterday he stopped by just as these were coming out of the oven, so of course, he got to have one. His first response was “Mmmmmm!” followed by “I need to come by more often!” Boy, was he shocked to learn these cupcakes are high in protein, low carb, low fat and low sugar 😉

Protein recommendations

To up the protein in these beauties, I used Quest Protein Powder in Vanilla Milkshake. You can use whatever you have on hand, but some work better than others. Whey blends (like Quest) combining whey isolate, casein, and milk protein work best for baking! Whey concentrate would be a close second. Whey isolates are the absolute worst for baking. They tend to make baked goods come out spongey or dry (unless you use very little).

You can try substituting vegan protein powder in this recipe, though I haven’t tested it. In my experience, you may need extra liquid to thin out the batter if using a plant-based protein powder 😉

Flour substitutions

To keep the carbs low, I opted for a combination of gluten-free baking flour and coconut flour. You can swap the coconut flour out for twice as much gluten-free flour (half a cup) if that’s all you have. You can also use all-purpose flour, brown rice flour, cake flour, fine oat flour, or white sorghum flour. All of these tend to result in fluffy, light baked goods. I would not recommend substituting almond flour (it can be a little mealy), but if you try it, start with 2 cups.

Sweetener substitutions

For just the right amount of sweetness with no bitter aftertaste, I used Pyure Organic Stevia Blend. This sweetener is an organic, calorie-free blend of erythritol and stevia that’s twice as sweet as sugar. If substituting baking stevia, granulated erythritol, granulated monk fruit, or sugar, you’ll need to use twice as much (half a cup).

Other substitutions

The remaining cupcake ingredients are pretty basic: lemon zest and juice, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, unsweetened applesauce, and egg whites. I used two medium lemons for this recipe, so you may need only one large lemon. If you’re allergic to eggs, try a vegan egg substitute! For extra decadence, add a tablespoon of melted coconut oil to the batter (this will of course, increase the fat and total calories).

Cream cheese frosting

The frosting is a simple combo of whipped cream cheese (my favorite for frosting!), nonfat plain Greek yogurt, confectioner’s erythritol (can use powdered sugar), a hint of lemon juice and vanilla extract.

Okay, here’s the recipe for these luscious Lemon Protein Cupcakes! Please leave a comment below if you try them 🙂

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