Monday, June 3, 2013

Gluten Free Quinoa Chocolate Cupcakes

John's birthday was on Thursday so I sent him off with his favourite cupcakes - rainbow chip - but also with a gluten free option since I know some of his co-workers are gluten intollerant.

Having recently become a big fan of quinoa (and also not having any rice flour or other gluten free flour to substitute), I did a quick google search for cupcake recipes using quinoa and found this one from Michael Smith.

For a flourless cupcake it was pretty good, although I did run into an issue or two.


(Original recipe found here)

You will need:

2/3 cup (160 mL) white quinoa
1 1/3 cup (330 mL) water
1/3 cup (80 mL) milk
4 eggs
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
3/4 cup (185 mL) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) sugar
1 cup (250 mL) cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp (7 mL) baking powder
1/2 tbsp (7 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt
  • Combine quinoa and water in a pot. Heat to simmer, cover and cook until quinoa is soft and has absorbed all the water, about 18 minutes. Spread flat to cool. Should produce about 2 cups (500 mL).
  • Start with all ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
  • In a food processor, combine quinoa, milk, eggs, vanilla and butter. Blend until smooth, about 5 minutes, scraping down sides halfway. Add sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt and puree 2 more minutes.
  • Pour into 9-inch silicone cake mold (or a similar-sized cake mold, greased). Bake for 25 minutes, rotate and continue another 25 minutes. The top should spring back when touched. A toothpick will come out sticky, but dark, instead of shiny.
  • Rest in pan for ten minutes before removing. Set upside down on wire rack to cool.
My major complaint was that the cupcakes stuck to the liners and worse - they came out very deflated.
Nothing that a little extra icing couldn't fix though!


If you're gluten sensitive/intollerant or you're just looking for something new to try, give this recipe a whirl. Quinoa is really good for you so you can almost rationalize eating several cupcakes in one sitting.
Almost.

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