Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Homemade Caramel

I volunteered to bring cupcakes to a party for some expectant mom friends, one of whom had gestational diabetes, so I needed a sugar-free option. These cupcakes hit the spot!

Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Homemade Caramel

Cupakes:

1/2 cup raw Almonds or Pecans, ground (or you can use Almond Meal)
3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
Pinch Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 cup Erythritol - I bought Z-sweet from amazon

Mix the above well, then add:

2 T Butter, melted
1 Egg, beaten
1/4 tsp Vanilla
2 T Water as needed

Preheat oven to 350*. Spoon batter into cupcake liners. It's enough for about 6 mini, or 4 regular cupcakes. Bake about 25 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Homemade Caramel with Agave:

1 1/2 cups Agave (I used light)

1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

3 Tbsp Butter

1/8 tsp Salt

Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan and heat on medium-high until it comes to a boil, stirring well. Reduce heat to medium so it still boils but isn't quite so violent, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently. If you cook it for less time, it'll be more of a sauce and you can store it in a jar in the fridge.

Homemade Granola Bars

My kids devoured these homemade granola bars in no time! Happy Mama over here!

Homemade Granola Bars

2 cups Granola
1/2 cup Raw Seeds / Dried Fruit (I used Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds, and Dried Cranberries)
1/2 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
3 Tbsp Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
2/3 cup Honey
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray a small jelly roll pan with cooking spray. (The medium bar pan from Pampered Chef is the perfect size for this recipe)

Mix granola, seeds/fruit and coconut in bowl, set aside. Combine almond or peanut butter, honey, vanilla and salt in large sauce pan and heat until melted and well mixed. Add granola mixture, stir to combine, and pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle some chocolate chips if you like. 

Bake for 15 minutes, then cool completely. Cut into bars and keep in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Salted Caramel Brownies

Did you see my Homemade Caramel the other day? I still can't believe I made that stuff with no white sugar.

Well I made my brownies too and those do have white sugar. But they seemed like the perfect thing for under a piece of melted caramel.

First make caramel and pour into parchment-lined dish, cool well and cut into pieces. The pieces will flatten over time at room temperature, so keep them in the fridge if you want them to stay nice-looking.

Bake brownies and let cool. Take one brownie and put it in the toaster oven, with one caramel on top. Toast for 2 minutes to melt caramel. Remove to a plate, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve. Heavenly.