Secrets from the Cookie Princess: Skinny Fudgy Chocolate Cupcakes

These cupcakes are rich, delicious and full of fudgy flavor, have a chocolate glaze and are just over 100 calories each. Let me give you a second to get up off the floor. Better? Yeah, I fell over too when I saw the stats on these figure friendly and amazingly delicious cupcakes. And fell over again when I tasted one. While the majority of what I post here would indicate otherwise, I do try to indulge in moderation and keep things healthy from time to time (so that I can indulge in the decadent and rich stuff on other occasions). My boss and a coworker have birthdays a day apart, and my cousin Angela enjoyed her 21st birthday a few days later, so these cupcakes where a hit all around. You'd hardly believe there are just four ingredients in these awesome cupcakes. There are five ingredients in the glaze! But I'm pretty sure I've found the perfect cupcake recipe for Girls' Night.

Low fat, low calorie and high on flavor and chocolate? Where could recipe magic like this come from? Gina at Skinny Taste came up with these little cups of heaven and I am thrilled. I'm looking forward to trying some other flavors, which should be pretty fun with combinations of boxed cake mix and sugar free pudding mix. Add some water and pumpkin and there you have it--a super delicious and calorie friendly cupcake perfect for celebration. I made all chocolate glaze, but you could top these with a vanilla glaze instead for a flavor change up. These cupcakes are so good, you'll want to have more than one. And lucky enough, you can have another without feeling guilty.

Skinny Fudgy Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients for cupcakes

1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/3 cups water
1.4 ounce box sugar free chocolate pudding mix
18.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a large bowl with a hand held mixer, beat pumpkin puree and water to combine.

Add pudding mix and mix well.

Gradually add in cake mix, beating to combine for about 2 minutes.

Line 2 cupcake pans with paper liners and divide batter among 24 cupcake wells, filling about 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-28 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes, while preparing glaze.

Ingredients for glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until smooth. The result will be a thick glaze.