Friday Night Dessert Night #5: Low-Cal Spring Cupcakes

     Okay, so these cupcakes are not the best cupcakes I have ever eaten but they are a nice alternative to a high calorie treat. Not only are these cupcakes super cute, they are low-calorie too! I found the original recipe in a cookbook called Hungry Girl 200 under 200. The frosting I used is also a low-cal recipe I adapted from the book.  If you're not interested in the low-cal version, use any cupcake and frosting you like!

Ladybug Spring Cupcakes 

Low-cal Chocolate Cupcakes 

2 cups chocolate cake mix (I used Devil's Food) 

1 packet hot cocoa mix 

1 1/4 cups water 

1 Tbsp sugar 

1/2 cup fat-free egg substitute 

Frosting

2  sugar-free vanilla pudding cups
3 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
powdered sugar
food coloring

Toppings 

crushed Oreo cookies 

strawberries

Directions

1. In a glass, mix cocoa with 1/4 cup hot water and let cocoa dissolve. Add 1 cup cold water and stir.
2. In a bowl, mix together cake mix, hot cocoa mixture, sugar and egg substitute.
3. Pour into prepared muffin tins.
4. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes (keep a close eye, original recipe said 15 minutes).
5. Allow to cool completely. Meanwhile, mix together cream cheese, pudding and some powdered sugar (I only used this to thicken the frosting). Separate frosting into three bowls and dye blue, green and some kind of black or gray color. Slice strawberries into circles. Crush up some Oreos.
6. Spread some blue frosting on the cupcake (covering the top completely). Add some "dirt." Then add the grass, ladybug, and last, the ladybug spots!

*I realize I could have just done a ladybug in a blue sky but Abby insisted on the dirt and grass! :)

This post is linked to:
Delicious Dishes
Sweet Tooth Friday
Feasting in Fellowship Fridays