Looking for a healthier option for this holiday? Want to give the family less white sugar and more organic choices? Having a struggle with the colored food dye and worried about the effects it has on your loved ones? These Beet Lemon Cupcakes could just be the answer you are looking for! With nature’s answer to sweet and color the manmade processed choices are replaced with the healthier equivalent. And they taste so good no one will be able to tell the difference!
Beet Lemon Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 12.5 oz. all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 tbl. ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp. table salt
- 1 pound 3-4 beets, greens trimmed
- 1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
- 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
For the frosting:
- 8 oz. cream cheese soft but still cool
- 2 oz. butter soft but still cool
- 1 tbl. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
- 4 oz. confectioners sugar
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F with a rack in the middle position. Line muffin/cupcake pan with paper liners (recipe makes 2 dozen).
- Cook the beets in simmering water until a knife inserted comes out cleanly and the skins rub off easily. Remove the skins, and grate the beets on a box grater (I covered my work surface with plastic wrap; this is messy and beets stain). Add the lemon juice and zest to the beets and set aside.
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a bowl and whisk together.
- In another bowl (or the workbowl of a food processor) whisk the eggs and sugars together until the oil is frothy and the sugars are well-combined. Continue whisking quickly while slowly pouring in the vegetable oil (you’re making an emulsion, and the result should be thick and creamy looking; this is easier in the food processor although it is quite doable by hand.) Fold in the beets and dry ingredients until completely combined (no streaks of flour should remain).
- Portion equally in your 24 cupcake liners (about 3/4 full), then bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan(s) halfway through, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cook before frosting.
To make the frosting:
- Beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add the lemon juice, zest, and the confectioners sugar and beat until combined. Spread or pipe onto the cooled cupcakes and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
Conversion Information We get a lot of requests to help with conversions especially between various countries like Canada, the U.K. and Australia. These tables should help you make those conversions. For your convenience we have included a Conversion Chart.
Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.
I am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Don’t burn down the kitchen!! Let me help with my Kitchen Tips, Hacks and Recipes for all levels of Chefs.
This is my kind of recipe Marilyn and I’ve not used beets in cupcakes before. I might even go the extra step and substitute apple sauce for the sugar… super healthy then 🙂
Thank you for sharing at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring your beet lemon cupcakes recipe at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Thank you Kerryanne. I bet the applesauce will make a great substitution! Thank you for the pin and the feature!! Enjoy your week.
Hi Marilyn,
I love the combination for your delicious Beet and Lemon Cupcakes, I just love using beets in sweet treats! Hope you are having a great week and staying warm. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you Miz Helen. I love using beets for the sweet natual flavors. Have a great week!
I love the idea of beets in cupcakes. I can’t wait to try them. I’m sharing them.
Thank you Amy. They are very tasty and look beautiful too! Have a great week!
These look amazing Marilyn – congrats ! You are one of our Featured Guests at Inspire Me Monday #366 at Create With Joy!
Thank you so much for the feature! I am thrilled. I will be stopping by soon. Have a great week!
I never thought of beets in a cupcake and I’m always looking to eliminate chemicals in our food. Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJs!
Love the added health benefit of the beets! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Thank you Roseann. The beets make them sweet as well as a beautiful color. And I love they are natural and healthy. Thanks for the party. Have a great week!
You had me at cupcakes but this sounds really good and maybe even good for you. 🙂
Shared. 🙂
Dropped by from #BloggersPitStop today but always glad to be here. 🙂
Hope the week ahead treats you well. 🙂
Thanks Donna for taking time to drop by and check out these beet lemon cupcakes! #BloggersPitStop
AND thanks for linking up with us at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 29
You are welcome Sylvia. I love A.I.M. Have a good day!
Wow! Very Pretty! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Thank you Sylvia! Have a good day!
These look and sound so good – Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. I love the things you bring.
Thank you Helen. They are delicious. Have a good day!
New taste for cupcake for us to give a try. Sounds delicious. Found you on Grandma’s Briefs Link Party.
I am glad you like the flavors Candy! Enjoy.
I love lemon and cream cheese frosting is hard to beat (no pun intended), so these sound great! Pinned to try later.
I have always loved the combo of citrus with cream cheese. When I saw these beet cupcakes I was thrilled. No artificial food dyes and healthy even! Thank you for the pin. Enjoy your week.
Hi, this is Kristina from the Snickerdoodle party. What a great idea! I’m always looking for healthier ways to enjoy treats to share with my audience. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
You are welcome Kristina. I am glad you like this! Enjoy your week.
Beautiful cupcakes! xo Catherine
Thx Catherine! I just am trying to finally eat better and am so excited the food can syill look great and taste as good! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Looks really beautiful!
Thanks a lot for sharing this lovely cupcake
Thank you Michal! I am so glad you found me and commented! I love your blog. So many new things to try!
Love your blog too!
BTW, shared on twitter 🙂
Thank you so much! We could share nd like each others posts all day! You have some great foid!