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Green Smoothie Cupcakes

ByHiya, I’m Shashi
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Now you can have your Green Smoothie and your cupcake at the same time – with these Green Smoothie Cupcakes! And, check out that Vanilla-Coconut Frosting – it sure does balance off these cupcakes well!

Green Smoothie Cupcakes Vanilla Coconut Frosting #PurelySimple

If I were to ask you what’s one word that makes you happy – what would that word be?

For me, that word is balance!

The balance between work and family; between strength training and running; between green smoothies and cupcakes…

Yes – achieving that perfect balance can be priceless indeed – at least for me!

Green Smoothie Cupcakes Coconut Vanilla Frosting #PurelySimple

During my college years, I used to balance a job at an all-you-can-eat salad and soup restaurant, and, a job at a bakery that made the most exquisite “Ratatouille” (chocolate mousse mice) in Atlanta!

My reasoning was that my salad and soup on Friday night balanced off Saturday morning’s tastings of chocolate “Matignon’s” and “Napoleon Tiramisu.” After all, when customers asked me for my opinion as to what was in each and how they tasted, I had to be able to give them an honest answer – right?!  😀 

Green Smoothie Cupcakes

When I graduated and got a job in my field, I could not manage the other two as well and when I gave them up – my (food) balance was seriously compromised! I think I must have existed on coffee and oats for awhile! But, then, my daughter came along and the home-cooking and baking started and balance was restored!

Now, I’ve always tried to make treats and eats from scratch – but sometimes, when we have a million places to be and a million things to do, I try to maintain (my mental) balance by doctoring up a cake or cookie mix – with beets, or spinach, or berries, or some kind of fruit or vegetable. And these cupcakes are the result of my doctoring up!

Purely Simple Yellow Cake & Cupcake Mix

A couple of weekends ago, when my daughter and I were walking through Target looking for baking supplies for birthday cupcakes for a friend’s son; my daughter asked me if I could whip up some cupcakes for her too – for a meeting one of her school’s clubs were having.

Of course, I had to change my game plan and that’s when I came across Pillsbury’s Brand New Purely Simple cake and frosting mixes in the Baking Mixes aisle. As these had “no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives,” I figured they would be perfect to “doctor up” with a green smoothie – and there’d be plenty for both occasions – with some leftover – for me!

Spinach Avocado Cupcakes

The Process was really simple:
• I first made my green smoothie by throwing 1 cup dairy-free milk, 1/2 an avocado, and 2 cups of spinach in a blender, and blending it all up well!

Green-Smoothie-Purely Simple Eggs Yogurt

• I then Added the Smoothie, 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt, and 3 eggs to the Purely Simple Yellow Cake & Cupcake Mix and, using an electric mixer, blended everything up for 2-3 minutes.

• I then Spooned the mix into a cupcake tray and placed the tray into my oven (that had been preheated to 350 degrees per package instructions) and let the cupcakes bake for 19-20 minutes. I then let the cupcakes cool completely.

Purely Simple Pillsbury

• When the cupcakes were cooled, I made the frosting by mixing Purely Simple Simple Buttercream mix with 1/2 cup of softened butter, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes, with an electric mixer on low speed for 1-2 minutes till well blended.

• I also made some chocolate avocado cream to “garnish” the cupcakes with. The Chocolate Avocado Cream consisted of mixing 1/2 an avocado and 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate chips

• I then frosted the cupcakes with the Vanilla Coconut frosting and garnished them with some avocado cream and they were almost ready to be distributed – with only the “self-sampling” left to be done!

Naturally Green Colored Cupcakes #PurelySimple
Green Smoothie Cupcakes Coconut Vanilla Frosting #PurelySimple

Green Smoothie Cupcakes

5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24
Author: Shashi
Now you can have your Green Smoothie and your cupcake at the same time – with these Green Smoothie Cupcakes! And, check out that Vanilla-Coconut Frosting – it sure does balance off these cupcakes well!

Ingredients

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

  • 1 cup milk of your choice
  • 1/2 an avocado
  • 2 cups Spinach
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 pkg Purely Simple Yellow Cake & Cupcake Mix

FOR THE FROSTING

  • 1 pkg Purely Simple Buttercream
  • 1/2 cup of softened butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes

FOR THE CHOCOLATE-AVOCADO CREAM

  • 1/2 an avocado
  • 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate chips

Instructions

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • In a blender, blend milk, avocado, and spinach into a "smoothie"
  • In a large bowl, add the smoothie, Greek yogurt, 3 eggs & the Purely Simple Yellow Cake & Cupcake Mix
  • Using an electric mixer, blended everything up for 2-3 minutes.
  • Spoon mix into the lined cupcake tray and place the tray and bake for 19-20 minutes
  • Then let cupcakes cool completely.

FOR THE FROSTING:

  • With an electric mixer, mix Purely Simple Simple Buttercream, softened butter, water, vanilla extract, and unsweetened coconut flakes on low speed for 1-2 minutes till well blended.
  • FOR THE CHOCOLATE-AVOCADO CREAM
  • Mix 1/2 an avocado and 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate chips
  • Frost Green Smoothie Cupcakes with Vanilla Coconut Frosting and "garnish" with chocolate-avocado cream!
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @SavorySpin or tag #savoryspin so we can share your ceation.

As the CEOH (chief eater on here), I hope to cajole you to enjoy cooking at home more. To experiment with ingredients and have fun in the kitchen. And, I hope to do that by sharing mostly easy, dairy-free, budget-friendly, fusion recipes that can be made with ingredients from your local grocery store.

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67 Comments

  1. These are my kind of cupcakes, Shashi. I will have to blend a huge batch and use some for the cake, and some for the breakfast!

    Reply

  5. Balance is a great word Miss Shashi! Mine would be moderation. And I think they are pretty synonymous. Love you worked in a fancy bakery AND a soup and salad place simultaneously….love these green cupcakes. I was not aware of the Purely Simple mixes by Pillsbury. Great concept and these would be absolutely perfect for St. Patty’s day up here in Boston…the Irish would go ga ga!!!

    Reply

    1. Thanks bunches Allie! When I was working those 2 jobs, I don’t think I spent any money on groceries! Good Times! 🙂
      The Purely Simple mixes are new – don’t forget the Cartwheel offer if you go get yourself some!

      Reply

  6. Wonderful and creative idea Shashi. I have never used a cake mix but you are right when being pulled in a million different directions this is the way to go and your healthful additions are great. They look delicious.

    Reply

  8. These look incredible Shashi! What a beautiful green colour these cupcakes have!!!!! And what an amazing idea to make them with a green smoothie too – it definitely creates the perfect healthy/naughty balance!!! I love them!

    Reply

  13. Balance is so under rated. Extremes tend to sensationalize things, and unfortunately that sells. It’s important to be true to yourself and your beliefs! BTW, really digging the chocolate avocado cream!

    Reply

  14. I have a love/hate relationship with balance. I know it’s good, but sometimes I prefer the extremes… 😉
    Anyways, there are my kinda cupcakes: green as a leprechaun and super delish!

    Reply

  18. Oh balance! Achieving it really does make me so happy …. but it’s something I have to constantly work on at the same time!!

    And green smoothie cupcakes??? I mean c’mon! How cool!

    Reply

  19. I totally agree with you. Doctoring up mixes is necessary at times! I just made my caramel stuffed brownies using a brownie mix cause I was desperate! 🙂 Cramming in a green smoothie into a cupcake is gold. GOLD! 🙂 Pinning! (Breakfast, yes?) 😉

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Nagi! It’s pouring down cats and dogs outside and you have me wanting to go to the store to get a brownie mix to make some of those insanely mouthwatering caramel stuffed brownies with that gynormous layer of caramel!

      Reply

  21. Here we go! Hello, gorgeous Cupcakes which I’ve been waiting for so long! And sorry for calling you ‘pancakes’ the last time:) That’s amazing idea, Shashi! I’ve made few times spinach pancakes, and I loved them. So,I’m going to love these bad guys as well. Love the idea of incorporating avocado. And I totally agree with the idea of balancing out. I’m trying the same – eating chocolate ice cream only on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays and having ice cream without chocolate on the remaining days, haha:)

    Reply

    1. Hahahaha!!! Ben, LURRRVE your idea of balancing out your ice cream consumption!!!
      No worries – I’ve actually made and posted Green Smoothie pancakes on the blog too – sometime around March, I think. And Ben – thanks so much!

      Reply

    1. You know I would – but, somethings don’t last long in our house! Next time I make some I will have too – my daughter says these cupcakes are brain food 🙂

      Reply

  25. WOW..[S] I remember those days, but it warms my heart to read this and understand where you were then vs. now…you’re amazing my friend. Those chocolate mice were everything! Whaaat?

    Reply

    1. GUYIA!!!!! HEY!!!!!! So nice to “see” ya here! Those mice were amazing indeed! You know what – that head chef opened up his own little bakery in Alpharetta – and now sells those mice there, along with ALL his amazing creations! I’ve been meaning to go by, but weekends have been crazy busy – but, maybe if you came and visited we could go??? Speaking of which – when are you coming down to Atl?

      Reply

  26. Balance is a MAGICAL word, Shashi. This is what we need to master, and everything else will take care of itself. And these gorgeous green cupcakes — no words for these beauties. What a wonderful and innovative idea pf baking green cupcakes. Only you could do that! Shashi. These are SO GOOD!

    Reply

  31. This is genius, Shashi (as usual!) This is definitely one way to ease the guilt of eating too many cakes. I adore the green one, but I’m guessing that you could do this with any kind of smoothie!

    Reply

  36. This is a beautifully balanced cupcake—you have the indulgence of boxed cake mix balanced with the goodness of green smoothie. I love the creativity of this recipe! I am a fan of sneaking healthy ingredients in desserts.

    Reply

  37. Your cupcakes are so brilliantly green. I’m old enough to remember the days where if you wanted to colour a cupcakes, you just added food dye! I love how inventive you were in turning a good cupcake into an exceptional cupcake xx

    Reply

  41. Dear Shashi, this is a brilliant idea…I love that it is naturally green and it looks wonderful! Such a fun and festive treat..you always surprise and delight me with your recipes. xoxo, Catherine

    Reply
  42. Pingback: 10 St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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