semihomemade cupcakes.

In my quest to lighten/healthify food in my life I hit a roadblock. 

very hardly.

and that is with sweets. namely cupcakes.

they're just good ok? they have butter, and sugar and frosting and they're damn cute.

and they're individually portioned. 

they're really pretty perfect.

but if you're over 30 (like me), you're coming to realize, our waistlines don't like cupcakes.

neither do our hips, our bums, arms, thighs, etc.

A lot of that is because an average bakery cupcake has about 350-400 calories (sprinkles cupcakes 500!).

this makes eating hostess cupcakes sound better and better at 200 calories.

but you can make them at home for less calorie and minimal effort that still pack a tasty punch.

here's an old friend that will help:

don't runaway yet!
the dough boy is v. smart and his recipes are tested as genius.
granted, he's a bit doughy, so he may need a trim, and that's where i come in.

the keys to helping the dough boy do his magic....

egg whites

and a lemon

clearly i did not take this picture and clearly i forgot to take a picture of my own lemon and clearly i use the word clearly way too much.

that being said, when you google "lemon image" (mad google skills right?), you get some great images, including this sad fellow:

and his less acidic friend that is clearly (ahhh) having more fun.

Recipe: Semihomemade Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1/2 box cake mix of your choice (read: use funfetti)

1 cup water

4oz unsweetened applesauce (one of those little cup things)

2 egg whites

1 tablespoon softened butter

1 lemon

1/2 cup confectionery sugar

Method:

  Cupcakes--

-preheat oven to 350

-add half box of cake mix to a bowl, stir in apple sauce,water, 1/2 juice and zest of lemon till combined.

-in another bowl whip 2 egg whites for about 5 minutes

-in thirds, add egg whites to cake mix, incoporate s l o w l y as not to deflate the egg whites.

-fill 24 mini cupcake holders

-bake 12 minutes, rotating the pan half way through cooking time

-let cool

  Glaze--

-Add butter to a bowl with the other half of the lemon juice and zest, blend in confectionery sugar till combined.

-once cupcakes are cooled, display on cake stand and drip glaze over all of them

-don't individually glaze, these should look rather rustic in nature.