Almond Flour Cupcakes (So sweet!)

Name: Almond Flour Cupcakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: Dry Ingredients; 2 cups almond flour; 1/2 cup gluten-free flour; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp xanthan gum; 1/4 tsp salt; Wet Ingredients; 1/2 cup milk, dairy or non-dairy; 1/4 cup applesauce; 2 tsp vanilla bean paste; 1 tsp apple cider vinegar; Frosting; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 2 cups powdered sugar; 1-2 tbsp milk, dairy or non-dairy; Optional: a few drops of food coloring

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Delectably sweet Almond Flour Cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, special occasion, or any day as a yummy treat!

A hand holding a frosted almond flour cupcake. A strawberry slice sits on top of the cupcake and a palm frond is in the background.

These Almond Flour Cupcakes are…

Sweet
Festive
Egg-free
Gluten-free
Vegan-friendly
So yummy!

Cupcakes vs. Cake

Cakes can be grand and beautiful, but cupcakes are pure fun! They are the perfect handheld size and don’t even require silverware. No forks and plates to wash! Most cake recipes can be easily adapted to cupcakes; just pour the batter into a cupcake tin and shorten the baking time.

An almond flour cupcake on a plate. A strawberry slice sits on top of the cupcake.

Baking with almond flour can sometimes be tricky, especially in a completely gluten-free recipe. In order for the batter to properly combine and rise, supplemental ingredients are used as binders and leavening agents. In this Almond Flour Cupcake recipe, we use a mixture of gluten-free flour, baking powder, and applesauce to make sure the cupcakes have a fantastic texture and fluffiness.

Ingredients for the Almond Flour Cupcakes

Almond Flour – Almond flour gives these cupcakes a light, chewy texture and slightly nutty flavor which compliments the sweetness so well.

Two large jars of gluten-free flour and almond flour. A hand rests on the gluten-free flour jar in the bottom left.

Gluten-free Flour – This gluten-free flour acts as a binder since almond flour cannot fuse the other ingredients on its own. You can try other gluten-free varieties, like coconut or oat flour, but the texture and baking time will change.

Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar is our choice for sweetening the cupcakes while keeping them light. You can swap for brown sugar but the cupcakes will be a bit heavier and have take on a caramel-like flavor.

Baking Powder – The first of the few leavening agents used in this recipe! Baking powder gives rise to the cupcakes and keeps them from being too dense.

Baking Soda – Baking soda works as a boost for the baking powder since almond flour mixtures can be heavy.

Xanthan Gum – Some gluten-free flour brands already contain xanthan gum, so double check the product bag before adding more.

Salt – A scant amount of salt is needed to balance out the sweetness and round out all the flavors.

Milk – Almond flour is very absorbent so just a bit of milk is needed to liquify the mix enough to pour into the cupcake tin.

Applesauce – Applesauce is used as both a binder and subtle sweetener for this recipe. Make sure to choose an unsweetened variety!

Vanilla Bean Paste – We enjoy using vanilla bean paste for its slightly deeper flavor, but feel free to use vanilla extract if that’s what you have.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is the propelling agent for the baking soda, causing a chemical reaction that will cause the batter in each cupcake tin to rise.

Frosting

Butter – Butter gives this frosting a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Yum!

Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar is granulated sugar’s classy cousin. It blends beautifully with the butter to create the fluffiest frosting!

Milk – Barely any milk is needed to smooth out the mixture, so start with the smallest amount first, then add more if needed.

Vanilla Bean Paste – Just a touch of vanilla bean paste is a lovely match to the sugary cream!

Food Coloring (optional) – Food coloring is totally optional and just adds a bit more fun!

Diet Compatibility and Allergens

Diet	Recipe compatible as written?	Recommended substitutions
Keto	No.	N/A
Paleo	No.	N/A
Whole30	No.	N/A
Gluten-free	Yes.	N/A
Vegetarian	Yes.	N/A
Vegan	Yes.	N/A
Low sodium	No.	Eliminate salt.
Dairy-free	No.	Use dairy-free milk and butter.
Mediterranean	No.	N/A
Low FODMAP	Yes.	N/A
Atkins	No.	N/A

Allergen	Present in recipe?	Recommended substitutions
Milk	Yes.	Use dairy-free milk.
Eggs	No.	N/A
Fish	No.	N/A
Shellfish	No.	N/A
Tree nuts	No.	N/A
Peanuts	No.	N/A
Wheat (Gluten)	No.	N/A
Soy	No.	N/A
Sesame	No.	N/A

How to Make Almond Flour Cupcakes

Step One: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prep your a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Step Two: Add all dry ingredients in a bowl.

Step Three: Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.

A bowl of dry ingredients for almond flour cupcakes. A wooden spoon makes a well in the center.

A bowl of ingredients for almond flour cupcakes about to be mixed.

A bowl of almond flour ingredients being mixed with a spatula.

Step Four: Scoop batter into the cupcake liners until 3/4 full.

A muffin baking dish with blue cupcake liners and scoops of almond flour batter in each liner.

Step Five: Bake in oven for 30-35 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a rack.

Step Six: While the cupcakes are baking or cooling, add all the frosting ingredients into a bowl and whip with a handheld mixer or stand mixer. Set aside.

A hand holding a large whisk covered with frosting.

Step Seven: Once cool, pipe or spread on the frosting, decorate with sprinkles & candles, then celebrate!

An almond flour cupcake cut in half on a plate. A strawberry slice sits on top of one of the pieces.

Watch the video version…

FAQ

What does almond flour do to cakes?

Almond flour works amazing in cakes (and cupcakes)! It provides a chewy texture and subtle nuttiness that adds to the delicious flavor profile.

Is almond flour gluten-free?

Yes, almond flour is naturally gluten-free.

How to bake with almond flour?

Make sure you have other ingredients that act as binders and rising agents. Also, be careful not to overmix the batter – only mix until the ingredients are just combined.

Can you bake with almond flour just like regular flour?

Kind of! The ratio for substitution of regular flour to almond flour is 1:1, however almond flour needs additional ingredients to act as binders. In almond flour recipes, you’ll most likely be adding a secondary flour, more eggs, or more wet ingredients.

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