Gluten Free Sugar Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes

Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes Recipe

OK, OK, OK! You have been asking me for more gluten free recipes that are also refined sugar free, low glycemic, low carb desserts and I have been listening. Honestly, I am not all about butter, sugar and starch.

It’s a classic dichotomy – we all want to eat healthier and yet we still want our treats. In essence, we want guilt free treats. And you know what? If you want it then I am going to get into the kitchen and do my best to figure it out for you!

This is a recipe for cupcakes that are so nutrient dense they almost qualify as health food! Notice I said almost. Remember, they are cupcakes! And as such, they should be light, moist and sweet. They should look pretty and feel celebratory. They should be indulgent!

These Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes are packed with fiber, good healthy fats and protein. What they aren’t packed with is gluten, dairy, starch and refined sugar. A combination of coconut flour, coconut oil and eggs can be remarkably transformed into moist cakes without having to combine a number of flours and without a lot of work. In fact the most time consuming and arduous part of this process is waiting for these babies to bake. Running through these cupcakes are little chunks of apple that have been simmered in a little coconut sugar, cinnamon and a bit more coconut oil. The result is homey and yet somehow elegant – they remind me of when I would see my Mom all gussied up for a night out with my Dad; so beautiful and sophisticated but at the heart of it all she was still just Mom.

The frosting is simple, the mixer does most of the work for you and the result is sweet and cinnamony, light and fluffy, yet easy to pipe and contains only four ingredients; egg whites, salt, vanilla and a new found favorite of mine – cinnamon flavored agave from Wholesome Sweeteners. I found a line of different flavored agaves in my grocery store and had to try them all out.

If you have been afraid to bake with coconut flour, don’t be. Yes, it is pricier than other gluten free flours but I made 12 cupcakes with just a mere ½ cup – a little goes a long way! And as I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to combine it with other flours, at least not in this recipe.

Unless you want a coconutty flavor to your cupcakes, be sure to use refined coconut oil in this recipe.

For me, cupcakes are all about having a high frosting to cake ratio so this recipe makes plenty of frosting. If it is too much for your liking, you can store the frosting, covered, in the fridge for a few days. The cupcakes and frosting can both be prepared ahead of time but are best stored separately and frosted the same day you plan to serve them. Store frosted cupcakes in the fridge.

So while I am not sure if you can have your cake and eat it too, I am certain you can eat healthy and still have cupcakes!

Gluten Free Dairy Free Sugar Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes

5 from 1 vote
Gluten Free Sugar Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes
Print Recipe

Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes Recipe

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 Cupcakes
Calories: 228kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes

  • 1 large apple (I prefer Fuji), chopped
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons refined coconut oil , melted – use divided
  • ½ cup coconut palm sugar
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon cinnamon flavored agave (Wholesome Sweeteners) – use divided
  • ½ cup coconut flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Frosting

  • ¾ cup cinnamon flavored agave nectar
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
  • Combine the chopped apple, 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, coconut palm sugar, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon flavored agave in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 8 – 10 minutes or until the apples are softened but still retain their shape. Let cool.
  • Whisk together the coconut flour, salt, and baking soda. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, remaining ½ cup coconut oil, remaining ¼ cup cinnamon agave, and vanilla. Add the coconut flour mixture to the liquid ingredients and whisk well until smooth. Stir in the apple mixture. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups, filling almost full. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until the cupcakes feel firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan. While cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting.

Frosting

  • Pour the cinnamon agave into a high-sided pan (use a pan a lot larger than you think you will need as the agave increases in size as it boils) and bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 3 minutes (it should have large bubbles or reach 225 degrees on a candy thermometer).
  • Combine the egg whites and salt, beat in a mixer on low until foamy then increase the speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. Turn the mixer to low, carefully pour in the agave then turn the mixer back to high and beat until cool, about 7 minutes. Beat in the vanilla.
  • To assemble, generously frost the cooled cupcakes with the frosting.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 228 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 82mg27%
Sodium 212mg9%
Potassium 59mg2%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 127IU3%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Apples Cinnamon Dairy Free Gluten-Free Gluten-Free Recipes Healthy Low Carb Low Glycemic
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  1. I loved the cinnamon flavored agave, too bad I didn’t have any left when I tried an apple muffin recipe today. Your cupcakes look tasty and gorgeous as usual.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 3, 2012

      Thanks Wendy, I love it and such an easy way to sweeten plus add cinnamon!

  2. April 3, 2012

    This sounds absolutely delicious and uber healthy! Just what I would like in my first gluten-free cupcake test. I’m not an agave fan tho…do you think it would work with honey or maple syrup mixed with cinnamon? May have to do some testing.

    These are lovely :)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 3, 2012

      Hi Alyssa, thanks and I think so. Certainly honey in the cupcakes would work, I have not tried to make the frosting with anything but agave but the same principle should apply, it is basically like making sryup and heating it so it holds the egg whites together and sweetens them. Report back :)

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  4. Donna
    April 3, 2012

    Oh my! I think I am in love – with a cupcake!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 6, 2012

      I understand Donna! Thanks :)

  5. April 4, 2012

    I can’t wait to try these!! Perfect treat for the diabetic celiac. Thank you for posting :)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 5, 2012

      Thank you, enjoy!

  6. April 6, 2012

    Oh my! I have the biggest cupcake craving right now. This recipe isn’t helping, it looks amazingly delicious! I must try this recipe out soon!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 9, 2012

      Haha Meg – sorry about that :) Enjoy!

  7. April 10, 2012

    Wow! These look and sound amazing!:)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 10, 2012

      Thanks Eleanor!

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  9. April 13, 2012

    A yummy cupcake with just the right amount of Carol’s panache! ;-) I love using coconut flour. Like you said, you usually don’t use a lot of it. I’ve had two bags of coconut flour last me a VERY long time and I’m using it fairly often these days. :-)

    Thanks, Carol!
    Shirley

  10. Lynda Abeyta
    April 13, 2012

    I am told by my nutritionist that Agave syrup is no good for you. Not healthy at all. Something to do with the process in making it into syrup and the chemicals they use to make it.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      May 1, 2012

      Hi Lynda – there are no chemicals used in making agave, at least not with the agave from Wholesome Sweeteners. I asked a representative of Wholesome Sweeteners to send me an explanation of how their agave is produced and here is what I found out –
      Basically the agave nectar is held in a part of the agave plant called the pina – the pina is pressed and the nectar collected. The nectar is then gently heated and the juice is physically filtered – raw agave is heated to no more than 118 degrees. Nothing is added to agave except Dicalite – Dicalite is a brand name for Diatomaceous Earth. This is a common filteration aid that is approved under the USDA National Organic Program. It helps filter organic debris from the agave juice. Dicalite is not a chemical but derived from fossilized single-cell algae. The filtered agave is them cooled and packaged.
      I hope this helps you better understand the process of agave!

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  12. Merlene
    September 24, 2012

    Hi there, the Cupcakes (Muffins) are great! Unfortunately mine are now muffins and not cupcakes… The frosting was liquid… and no matter how long i tried to beat the sh**t out of it, it just didnt worked out! Can you please tell me what I did wrong? And please dont get me wrong, I am sure your recipe is great but I am just NOT good at all in the kitchen! :-)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      September 30, 2012

      Hi Merlene – the only thing I can think of is that the agave didn’t boil long enough or that you didn’t let the egg whites get foamy enough before you statred to add the agave. My suggestion is that you get yourself a candy thermonmetor and check the temp on the agave. They are not expensive nor are they hard to find. Or just try cooking it a little longer. Good luck!

  13. aly
    November 22, 2012

    I’m in the middle of baking this, quick question…is it 1/2 teaspoon salt?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      November 24, 2012

      Yes!

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  15. Great recipe, tasty but healthy,perfect cupcakes.I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      December 21, 2012

      Thanks Vera and no worries! Happy Holidays.

  16. Pingback: Gluten Free Sugar Free Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes | Cupcake Recipes

  17. Sarah R.
    June 4, 2013

    Hey! Can these cupcakes be made into a cake?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      June 5, 2013

      Hi Sarah, I see no reason why not. You will need to cook longer, maybe 10 – 15 minutes longer – but check!

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  21. Misty Durham
    September 21, 2016

    Hi I was curious if you would have a carb count per cupcake for this recipe Thanks

    1. Gluten Free & More
      September 23, 2016

      Hi Misty,
      I unfortunately do not. I don’t include the carbohydrates or nutritional info because I often times have substitution options for dairy-free or other allergens, and it just leaves the door open for miscalculations that way. I figure it’s safer. :)
      xo,
      Carol

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