My children love flipping through her book picking out the recipes they want me to make.....which is all of them I think! I love that all of Elana's recipes contain very few ingredients and can be made in a snap! Be sure to check out her blog too if you haven't already.
Although I can't share the recipe photographed above, I wanted to mention that I have substituted honey for the agave nectar called for in this recipe with great results. This particular recipe as well as many others are made with coconut flour. Great for those of you who are nut-free. I do have another recipe to share from the book that I think you'll like. And if you are interested in winning a signed copy of this book, please leave a comment below.
If you are interested in checking out another recipe in this book before purchasing it, you can read my friend Shirley's review from last April where she shares Elana's Marble Cupcakes.

Grain-Free Lime Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting
Yield: 10 cupcakes
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 large eggs
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons firmly packed lime zest, plus more to decorate (about 3 limes)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 10 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, grapeseed oil, agave nectar, and 2 tablespoons lime zest. Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined.
Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost, sprinkle with the remaining lime zest, and serve.
Vegan Coconut Frosting
Yield: 2 cups
Yield: 2 cups
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon water
1 cup coconut oil, melted over very low heat
In a medium saucepan, bring the coconut milk and agave nectar to a boil over medium heat. Whisk the ingredients together, then decrease the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, to reduce just slightly, stirring frequently.
In a small bowl, dissolve the arrowroot powder in water, stirring to make a slurry. Increase the heat under the saucepan to medium-high so the mixture is bubbling. Add the arrowroot slurry to the coconut mixture, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and turns opaque and shiny, about 1 minute. Once the mixture becomes shiny, remove the pan from the heat and gradually blend in the coconut oil with a handheld mixer until well combined.
Allow to cool on the counter for 15 minutes. The mixture will not look like frosting yet—don’t worry; this is okay.
Chill the frosting in the refrigerator for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the frosting fully solidifies and looks opaque white in color. Remove from the refrigerator and whip with a handheld mixer until thick and fluffy. The frosting will be sticky looking and lumps will dissolve during whipping.
Use immediately or store in a glass Mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow the frosting to soften a bit after removing from the refrigerator. Stir with a flexible spatula until spreadable.
(Recipes reprinted with permission from Ten Speed Press).
(Recipes reprinted with permission from Ten Speed Press).
Enter to Win!
For a chance to win a signed copy of Elana's book, Gluten-Free Cupcakes:
1. Leave a comment (please include your email address or make it VISIBLE in your Blogger profile by clicking edit and checking a box). If it were me, I wouldn't leave my email address out in the open on a blog. It is super duper easy to set up a Blogger account. And you can always uncheck the box that makes your email address visible. A very large part of the comments left on my last giveaway were not counted because there wasn't an email to contact you with if you won. Thanks! :)
2. Share this post on Facebook and come back and leave a second comment saying you did so.
3. Share this post on Twitter mentioning us (@nourishingmeals) and come back and leave a third comment. (When you mention us on Twitter I will see your tweet in my inbox and if you follow us I can send you a message if you won).
This drawing will be open until Friday (12/16/11) at midnight PST.
More Gluten-Free Cupcake Recipes:
Grain-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Creamy Yam Frosting
Grain-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes
Carrot Cake Muffins (vegan)
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oooh! i have wanted this cookbook forever!
ReplyDeleteI am making these for sure! I love cooking with almond and coconut flour, they just seem easy to me!
ReplyDeleteShared on Facebook on my personal page and on my nutrition page!
ReplyDeleteTweeted via @seasideliz !
ReplyDeletei would love to win this- thanks! nooshins [at] gmail [dot] com
ReplyDeleteThese sound fantastic! Bring on the recipes AND the giveaways! :-D
ReplyDeleteChocolate banana cupcakes! Yum! Adding chocolate may be the one way to get Toddler to eat banana. She rarely gets chocolate but love, love, loves it. Bananas on the other hand... well.. I love Elana's cookbook and enjoyed your review. (I have a copy but enjoyed your photos of the banana cupcakes so much i had to post!)
ReplyDelete-Sea
These cupcakes look delicious. I would love to win the cookbook.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the cookbook. The recipe looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteThese cupcakes look delicious. I would love to win the cookbook.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely can't wait to try this Grain-Free Lime Cupcake recipe! Many years ago I developed an attachment to a Tropical Lime Cheesecake recipe and requested that in lieu of my annual birthday cake. I no longer eat that unhealthy version so this sounds like a perfect substitute.
ReplyDeleteLB
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ali,
ReplyDeleteLove your website. I have tried many wonderful recipes from your site all with great results. I especially like the dark teff bread and plan to have your buckwheat cinnamon rolls ready to pop in the oven on Christmas morning. Love anything buckwheat.
I don't have a copy of Elana's cupcake cookbook, and it would be wonderful to have. It didn't say whether this was open to Canadians, but I like to comment on your blog anyway.
Look forward to viewing the recipes coming on your blog in 2012! There is always something interesting and very healthy.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a great book, and I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Blessings, Gail
These look so so yummy! Ive been really wanting to try coconut flour but Ive been worried it would taste a little funny subbed for regular flour - I love the idea of working with the whole coconut theme to make them! Do you think they would work with all coconut flour and no almond flour!?
ReplyDeleteI would love to win a copy of Elana's cookbook! I even ordered it once but it got lost in the mail!
ReplyDeleteI put a link to your giveaway on my Facebook page :)
ReplyDeleteI've made these before and they were delicious. I'd love to try more of her recipes.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Love all the recipes and ideas!
ReplyDeleteDeni
dbreitenbach@gmail.com
Shared your blog on facebook - group Living Gluten Free!
ReplyDeleteDeni
dbreitenbach@gmail.com
What a great giveaway!!
ReplyDeletedancingwillowphoto (at) gmail (dot) com
Shared on Facebook!
ReplyDeletedancingwillowphoto (at) gmail (dot) com
Tweeted! @dancing_willow
ReplyDeletedancingwillowphoto (at) gmail (dot) com
My GF grandsons would love all the cupcakes! So would I and the other 4 GF members of my family.
ReplyDeleteTweeted about your blog! http://twitter.com/#!/BreitWerk/status/146960362644848640
ReplyDeleteDeni
dbreitenbach@gmail.com
Not sure if this is an additional comment or the only one you will see, but I would love to win the cookbook.
ReplyDeletePosted to FB.
ReplyDeleteThese look beautiful! I'm interested in experimenting with some of the Gluten free options for cooking and we love coconut around here :) Thank you for the chance to win the cookbook, too!
ReplyDeleteI shared on my FB. During this time of year, the family thinks it's "enough" to be gluten free. It's been hard to make them see it as "grain free". Very excited for this and other recipes.
ReplyDeletemrsjonesbiz@gmail.com
Shared the post on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this recipe. We will be celebrating my son's 12th birthday soon and I am going to make these cupcakes. Yum!
ReplyDeletedessertkatherine@gmail.com
I love Elana's other cookbook and would really like to win a copy of her cupcake book! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteemail: michelle at michelleshort.com
I love easy and healthy and that's what these cupcakes look like. Plus, that coconut frosting is one of my favorites. I make it a little different, but coconut milk is a "go-to" of mine. I love Elana's recipes! Your photos look gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe chocolate banana cupcakes sound delicious. I would love to win this cookbook. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSign me up! YUM!!!
ReplyDeletePosted to facebook.
ReplyDeleteTweeted to my friends.
ReplyDeleteYUM! I LOVE cupcakes! These ones look even more delicious than their gluten-containing cousins.
ReplyDeleteThese cupcakes look even more delicious than their gluten-containing cousins. I can't wait to try this recipe! :D
ReplyDeleteThese would be great for all the parties we have in December.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to share this with my homeschool Moms who love healthy cooking! They love your website, cookbook, posts and the recipe resource!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to add to our ever-growing collection of GF cookbooks. My son, too, spends time looking through our books for the next recipe to try.
ReplyDeletethis cookbook would make a great christmas gift for someone special... {me}!
ReplyDeleteblessings
libertybain(at) onemain {dot} com
LOVE elana's recipes!! what a GREAT giveaway!
ReplyDeleteShared on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteTweeted it too!!
ReplyDeleteI have made this recipe a couple times and my family loved them! Great giveaway!!!
ReplyDeletefufi_nini02@yahoo.com
I shared on my FB!
ReplyDeletefufi_nini02@yahoo.com
These look fabulous! Thank you SO much for posting! This cookbook looks like something my family would LOVE!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! Can't wait to try!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try the Lime Cupcake recipe! I enjoy sharing all the gluten-free recipes with my co-workers & family - they don't believe that the delicious foods they're enjoying are gluten-free until I show them the recipes!
ReplyDeleteThese look yummy! :) I hope I can win this book!! :) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteposted on facebook! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to try out this book! Thanks.
ReplyDelete~heidi
You are tempting me! Cupcakes that are healthy? YUM!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kimnelsonwrites.com
I always teasingly call those books "The Almond Flour-Egg Cookbooks" since it's hard to work with almond flour without eggs. I really enjoy her cupcakes--too bad it isn't a reasonable baking project to whip up just one cupcake at a time :-). Maybe someday we'll be able to add eggs into our home diet again.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ali for sharing the recipe and hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThe cupcakes are stunning. I love making cupcakes because I can freeze them and have a quick dessert when needed.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this recipe. Gluten free is hard enough, dairy free doubly so. Even without the giveaway, I will definitely be looking for this cookbook.
ReplyDeleteWill definitely try these! Sneakfuzz at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThese sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another drawing, Ali! Happy Holidays to you and yours :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try these! I love the idea of vegan coconut frosting....
ReplyDeleteThis looks so so so so delicious! I can't wait to try this! I'm on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet while I'm breastfeeding my beautiful 7-week old baby! My email is shannonlynn.nutrition@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love Elana's blog & recipes and these desserts look so good!!
ReplyDeleteI just tweeted about this giveaway! @rebeccaablock
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to have found your wonderful blog! Thanks!
ReplyDeletetiffanyp672 at gmail (dot) com
I have been making a sweet little cupcake/muffin with just canned pumpkin, cashew butter, egg, honey, baking soda and raisins. It's a miracle they hold together!
ReplyDeletePosted on Facebook!
ReplyDeletetiffanyp672 at gmail dot com
Hi, I have been thinking about this cookbook for awhile. It would be great to win it.
ReplyDeleteI need this cookbook! I'm gluten free and DESPERATE! ;)
ReplyDeleteShared this giveaway and your website on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteWow, these look amazing. I'm in Costa Rica where lime cupcakes with coconut frosting would be so appropriate! alas, g-f ingredients are a challenge to find here. may have to wait til I'm stateside again.
ReplyDeleteI have tweeted this post!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have discovered your site through the GFE holiday extravaganza. Thanks for the new ideas!
ReplyDeletemmmmmmmmm Cupcakes.....nuff said! :)
ReplyDeleteWould *love* to win this cookbook! Thank you for the opportunity! Retweeted @laurendoko and Shared on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei love you guys!! Enjoy your cookbook and your blog! I have also been enjoying Elena's blog for a bit now, I would love this cookbook:)
ReplyDeleteAnd now it is on my facebook page:)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog, keeps me out of a food rut! :) I love Elan's blog too and would absolutely LOVE her cookbook!!
ReplyDeleteOoh, my Father is gluten free and he would sure enjoy some gluten free cupcakes like old times!
ReplyDeleteMy email is charissa@colourfulpalate.com
These cupcakes look delicious! I'd love to win!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! Just a question about coconut flour, I have never seen that in the shops here (Holland), can I use dessicated coconut? Thanks, I'd love to win this one :)
ReplyDeleteI love love love Elana's recipes.
ReplyDeleteThese look yummy! And I love using coconut oil! I am a little scared of using coconut flour, since I'e heard it can be hit or miss....
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great recipes!
I have shared this on fb. :)
ReplyDeleteAmanita, Tropical Traditions coconut flour is supposed to be really good and completely gluten free. Hope that helps! We have been having issues with coconut flour as well but have not tried the Tropical Traditions yet.
ReplyDeleteYummy! I love coconut!
ReplyDeleteThese look great! Yum!!
ReplyDeleteI am sharing on facebook too!
ReplyDeleteShared on FB!
ReplyDeleteI would love to own this cookbook. We have recently taken my son off of gluten and sugar, and the results in his behavior have been nothing short of remarkable. We are pretty much living off of recipes from Elanas site. I would love to be able to make some cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteAlison
My daughter is an AVID cupcake maker and was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease so we are dying to get our hands on this book! heidikubin@msn.com
ReplyDeleteI depend on your blog, and especially the yummy, healthy sweets!
ReplyDeleteI just found your site and am enjoying it so far -- just thought I would leave a review of these Lime Coconut Grain Free cupcakes since I just made them today. I will say that the cake part is quite delicious -- certainly sweet enough for mainstream tastebuds, and the texture is very dense, but otherwise nice (I like dense cakes, but I don't think it's best in a cupcake, personally, better as a loaf to be sliced maybe). So, my main gripe is the frosting -- really, I found it quite gross. Sure, it's sweet, but it is so oily and strange in the mouth. I would recommend to anyone making this cake, if you are vegan, then make a simple lime glaze for it -- powdered sugar/lime juice. If you're not vegan, find a frosting you like that would work with a VERY heavy cake.
ReplyDelete