What is the first image that comes to mind when you think of freshly baked cupcakes? We bet something straight out of the oven, steaming hot, those rough crisp edges, best when paired with a warm cup of hot chocolate milk... But hang on. What about the excessive calories you would be consuming with each sinful bite? Feeling guilty already? Fret not. Today we have Namita Arora, owner of the popular bakery - Sin, in Gurgaon, who shares with us two of her favourite lip smacking healthy cupcake recipes. The recipes call for healthy ingredients like bananas and zucchini, both low on calories and both welcome in any healthy eating plan. Bon appétit!

Healthy Banana Muffins

Nutrients Content:

• Calories 178.5
• Calories from Fat 65
• Total Fat 7.2 g
• Saturated Fat 1.1 g
• Cholesterol 31.0 mg
• Sodium 214.9 mg
• Total Carbohydrate 27.1 g
• Dietary Fiber 2.2 g
• Sugars 13.2 g
• Protein 3.5 g

Ingredients:

• 100gms brown sugar
• 50gms sugar
• 100gms curd
• 30gms wholemeal flour
• 145gms all purpose flour
• 100gms oil
• 50gms oats
• 2 eggs
• 11/2tsp baking powder
• 1tsp vanilla essence
• 1/2tsp baking soda
• 2pinch salt

Method:
 

• Line 12 muffin cases. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
• In a bowl, mix together both sugars, curd and oil
• Then add beaten eggs
• Now, add baking powder, soda and salt.
• Add vanilla essence. Fold in the flour.
• Pour into the muffin cases. Bake for 20 min at 180 degrees

Zucchini cupcakes

Nutrients Content:

• Calories 176kcal
• Calories from fat 36gms
• Total fat 4.0g
• Cholesterol 2mg
• Sodium 300mg
• Carbohydrates 30.2g
• Sugar 5g
• Protein 10g

Ingredients:
 

• 170gms flour
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1tsp  staranise
• 1/2tsp powdered ginger
• 1/4tsp ground cloves
• 100gms toasted almonds
• 50gms raisins 
• 2 large eggs
• 160gms brown sugar
• 107gms vegetable oil
• 220gms grated zucchini

Method:
 

• Line 8 muffin cases. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
• Mix together flour, baking powder, soda, toasted almonds and all spices
• Beat together oil and sugar. Add eggs. Beat till smooth. Add zucchini. 
• Add flour. Add raisins. Pour into batter.
• Bake for 20mins.

*Image courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images