healthy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Healthy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Can you believe it’s December tomorrow? Where has this year gone! Perhaps it’s a sign I’m getting old? Or maybe just keeping busy. I would like to think it’s because of the latter haha! 

I bet you’re all as excited as I am for Christmas. I’ll be spending it with my husband and the in-laws in London. I think we both need a good break away from our routine and usual environment. 

Since the festive season Wayfair have asked me to create a healthy Christmas treat that anyone can enjoy. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean that we have to eat unhealthily. I’m hoping to prove that with these healthy Christmas tree cupcakes with a gluten-free cupcake base and a dairy-free cashew matcha frosting. 

healthy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

I created these healthy Christmas tree cupcakes for those of you who, like myself, are avoiding dairy and gluten. I know it’s probably the worst time to avoid not only one, but both at the same time! There are so many treats and temptations around, but the worst thing is when family or relatives try to feed you something and you’re there having to explain yourself while they’re probably thinking you’re just being awkward and fussy! 

healthy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

I had to play around with this a few times before I was 100% happy with both the cupcake and the frosting. I trialled the chocolate cupcakes with different combinations of flour and different amounts, but the outcome was either too dry or too dense. The recipe for these cupcakes are just perfect – not too dry but not too dense, just in between. 

When it came to the frosting, I first tried making a tofu based icing, but the result was way too soft and didn’t taste too good either. Then, I moved on to using cashews as the base and that worked like a charm. 

Of course I had to make the ‘trees’ green, or I wouldn’t be able to call them Christmas trees now, would I! I’m not a fan of using food colouring so never use it in my baking, especially when there are other more natural ways you can colour your food. So to make the ‘trees’ green, I used a bit of matcha green tea powder. Not only does it give the trees a pretty pastel colour, but also adds a hit of antioxidants, something we could all do with during Christmas! What with all the overeating eating, drinking and oh so tempting treats! 

healthy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Head over to Wayfair.co.uk to find the full recipe plus step-by-step instructions