There’s nothing artificial about these dramatically hued holiday treats. Supermoist chocolate cupcakes get their blackout color from black sesame seeds and antioxidant-rich dark cocoa powder.
Ingredinets
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup goji berries
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 6 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Cupcakes:
- Baking spray with flour
- 1/2 cup black sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3.5 ounces whole-wheat pastry flour (about 1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Direction
Step 1
To prepare frosting, place goji berries and 1/3 cup warm water in a small bowl. Let stand 20 minutes.
Step 2
Place goji berry mixture in a blender; process until smooth. Pour mixture through fine-mesh strainer; discard seeds. Set aside.
Step 3
Place cream cheese and 1/2 cup yogurt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on high until smooth. Add powdered sugar; beat on low until combined. Add goji mixture; beat on medium until combined. Chill 30 minutes.
Step 4
To prepare cupcakes, preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin cups with liners; coat with baking spray. Place sesame seeds in a mini food processor; process until seeds form a paste. Place in a bowl. Whisk in eggs, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup yogurt, milk, oil, and vanilla.
Step 5
Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Add sesame seed mixture to flour mixture; whisk to combine.
Step 6
Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350°F for 17 to 19 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Spread frosting evenly on cupcakes, and garnish with black sesame seeds.
Step 7
SNEAKY SUBSTITUTION:
We skipped the artificial food dyes and instead used red-orange goji berries to achieve naturally colored frosting. Goji berries are packed with eye-healthy vitamin A and can be found at most well-stocked supermarkets in the dried fruit or bulk bin section.
Nutritional Information
- Calories 261
- Fat 13g
- Satfat 3g
- Unsatfat 8g
- Protein 6g
- Carbohydrate 32g
- Fiber 3g
- Sodium 275mg
- Calcium 14% DV
- Potassium 2% DV
- Sugars 21g
- Added sugars 16g