These delectable cupcakes will surely bake you happy. I use a straight-from-the-box cake mix—full disclosure: it’s not going to win any nutrition awards, but it does save time and effort. (Yes, I’m a nutritionist, but I’m also a busy mom and can appreciate the ease of boxed mixes!)

Here, I add a can of pureed beans to the mix, which boosts the fiber and protein content, along with eggs and applesauce. Trust me, if you don’t spill the beans, no one would ever suspect. I tested it out on more than a dozen nieces, nephews, and neighbors, and none had any clue. Top ‘em with this Avocado Chocolate Frosting for a surprisingly scrumptious finish!

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Sneaky Cupcakes

These delectable cupcakes will surely bake you happy. I use a straight-from-the-box cake mix with some hidden ingredients.
Servings: 21 cupcakes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 15 ounces white beans, drained and rinsed*
  • 14 ounces boxed yellow cake mix**
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • *For chocolate cupcakes, swap in 1 can of black beans and 1 box of chocolate cake mix.
  • **Most boxes of cupcake mix are about 14 ounces. That amount works perfectly for this recipe. Don’t worry if your boxed cake mix is slightly more or less than this amount.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 standard cupcake tins with paper liners and lightly mist the insides with non-stick cooking spray so the cupcakes don’t stick. Set aside.
  • Add the beans and one cup water to a blender and purée until completely smooth.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine bean purée, cake mix, eggs, and applesauce in a mixing bowl and stir to create a velvety batter (it’s okay if you have some small bumps throughout).
  • Pour batter into the prepared cupcake tin; fill cupcake liners ¾ of the way full (~1/4 cup batter in each) and bake according to directions on box (for cupcakes it’s typically 19-23 minutes).
  • To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the middle of one and they’re done when it comes out clean.

Notes

Nutrition provided for one cupcake without frosting. If topping with this Chocolate Avocado Frosting, add 45 calories per Tablespoon.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN

Nutrition Information per serving

Calories: 100Carbohydrates: 20gProtein: 3gTotal Fat: 1.5g— Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g— Saturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 170mgFiber: 2gTotal Sugar: 9g— Natural Sugar: 2g— Added Sugar: 7g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!