• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Desserts
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Cake and Desserts
    • Vegan Dinner
    • Vegan Breakfast
    • Vegan Guides
  • Cookbook
    • About My Cookbook
    • Buy Veggie Desserts + Cakes
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram Posts
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Vegetable Desserts

    Cavolo Nero Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

    Published: Sep 17, 2018 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe

    These cavolo nero cupcakes have hidden veg, making them a wonderful bright green colour, but they taste like vanilla! The rich chocolate frosting complements the vanilla-tasting sponge and is a great contrast to the green cake. Cavolo nero is a brassica that is closely related to kale, and while originally from Italy is now grown in Lincolnshire.

    A dozen green cavolo nero cupcakes cooling on a vintage rack, with some being topped with chocolate frosting

    Recipe commissioned by Discover Great Veg.

    If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know I'm obsessed with creating vegetable cakes, vegetable cupcakes and vegetable desserts. I've spent the last four years tinkering with recipes in my kitchen, trying to get the maximum veg into cakes without the flavour overpowering. It's a fine balancing act that takes a lot of testing, and I love it.

    I started with beetroot chocolate cake, moving to chocolate butternut squash cake. That led to me creating this blog and eventually writing my cookbook, Veggie Desserts + Cakes. Today, I bring you cavolo nero cupcakes with chocolate frosting!

    The flavour of the cavolo nero fades away, leaving a bright green soft sponge that tastes of vanilla.

     

    A green (kale) Cavolo Nero cupcake with chocolate frosting. A bite has been taken out and others are on a cooling rack in the background.

    Cavolo Nero Cupcakes

    Cavolo nero is lightly cooked, chopped and then pureed before adding to the cake batter. It adds moistness and that vibrant green colour to these cupcakes, and leaves a bit of its green goodness behind.

    Cavolo nero is also known as black kale, Tuscan kale, lacinato kale, or dinosaur kale, and it's closely related to typical curly kale. It's versatile, healthy and nutritious. I love it in hot salads, stews and hearty Italian soups. It's easy to cook with and great to throw into many dishes.

    The rich chocolate frosting perfectly decorates these cupcakes and the colour contrasts with the green cakes well. The flavour of the chocolate works beautifully with the the plain sponge. My children (my official taste testers) loved these cupcakes and gave them some very enthusiastic thumbs up. Although there's quite a lot of cavolo nero in them, the flavour completely fades away.

     

    Ingredients laid out for cavolo nero cupcakes

    How to make Cavolo Nero Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

    You will need: 
    Cavolo nero
    Milk
    Butter
    Caster sugar
    Eggs
    Flour
    Vanilla
    Cocoa Powder
    Icing sugar

    HOw to make Cavolo Nero Cupcakes -puree the kale until smooth

    Briefly steam or simmer the cavolo nero, then drain, rinse under cold water, chop finely and puree with the milk

     

    How to make cavolo nero cupcakes - mix ingredients together until fluffy

    Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in pureed cavolo nero. Sift in the dry ingredients and gently mix.

    How to make cavolo nero kale cupcakes - spoon into muffin tray and bake

    Spoon into the prepared muffin tin and bake.

     

    A green (kale) Cavolo Nero cupcake with chocolate frosting. A bite has been taken out and others are on a cooling rack in the background.

    Discover Great Veg

    Discover Great Veg are passionate about celebrating the best British veg - including kale, cavolo nero, spinach and leeks.

    Cavolo nero can be used in the same way as it's cousin kale. It has a pleasant earthy green taste that works well in many dishes. You can steam, bake, stir fry, puree, sautee, boil or microwave it and it cooks quickly. It doesn't wilt right down like spinach, instead, like kale, it retains a lovely texture that works well in casseroles, soups and stews. It's also great added to slow cooker meals at the end.

    Cavolo nero can play an important part in a healthy balanced diet, and is a tasty and easy way to enjoy one of your five-a-day. Like kale, it's a good source of lutein, vitamins K, A and C, and a significant source of the B vitamins. It is also a source of fibre and calcium, as well as containing manganese, copper, iron and many other elements. - Discover Great Veg

     

    A bright green Cavolo Nero kale cupcake with a bite taken out, topped with chocolate frosting

     

    Made this recipe banner

    Get the Cavolo Nero Cupcake Recipe

    A green (kale) Cavolo Nero cupcake with chocolate frosting. A bite has been taken out and others are on a cooling rack in the background.

    Cavolo Nero Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    These delicious cavolo nero cupcakes are bright green, but the flavour of the leafy green fades away, leaving a vanilla sponge topped with a rich chocolate frosting. 
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    SaveSaved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, International
    Servings 12
    Calories 353 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 50 g (1 cup) cavolo nero leaves (thick stalks discarded)
    • 4 tablespoon milk
    • 150 g (⅔ cup) butter (at room temperature)
    • 150 g (¾ cup) caster sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 175 g (1 ⅓ cups) self-raising flour (or plain/all purpose flour with 2 teaspoon baking powder)

    For the chocolate frosting

    • 100 g (⅓ cup) butter (at room temperature)
    • 250 g (2 cups) icing sugar (confectioner's sugar)
    • 6 tablespoon cocoa powder
    • 1-2 tablespoon milk

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 170C/325F/(gas mark 3) and line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper cases.
    • Tear the cavolo nero leaves into bite sized pieces and boil or steam them for a few minutes until tender. Refresh by running under cold water to cool, then drain, squeeze out any excess moisture, chop up very finely.
    • Add the kale and milk to a tall container, then puree until smooth with a hand blender.
    • In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in pureed cavolo nero.
    • Sift in the flour and stir gently to combine.
    • Fill the muffin cups ¾ full with the batter and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    For the frosting

    • Beat the butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then sift in the icing sugar and cocoa and add the milk and vanilla and beat until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add another tablespoon of milk. If it’s too thin, add a little powdered sugar, sparingly, until it reaches a thick frosting consistency.
    • Spoon the frosting into a piping bag and pipe over the cooled cupcakes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 164mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 985IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 0.7mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

     

     

    Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes and also easy vegan desserts.
    Kate x

     

    Disclosure: This recipe for cavolo nero cupcakes was commissioned by Discover Great Veg. All opinions are my own. 

    More Vegetable Dessert Recipes

    • Sweet Potato Latte
    • Lemon and Cucumber Cake
    • Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
    • Butternut Squash Muffins
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie Merry

      September 20, 2018 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      I've made courgette cakes in the past, but that's as far as my veggie baking has gone - but these look amazing! x

      Reply
    2. Kara Guppy

      September 18, 2018 at 10:07 am

      Love that they contain hidden veg - the green makes them perfect for halloween too

      Reply
    3. Rhian westbury

      September 18, 2018 at 6:21 am

      I've never heard of that veg, but if you can get it in without it being an obvious vegetable even better x

      Reply
    4. Tanya

      September 17, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      5 stars
      The colour of the cupcakes are just incredible, this is definitely the best way to get me to eat vegetables. I'm a nightmare but hidden in a cake is the way forward

      Reply
    5. Sarah Bailey

      September 17, 2018 at 8:44 pm

      OK now these sound absolutely amazing! What an interesting idea for a cupcake! I have been tasked in making some cakes for a family get together - I may have to try these.

      Reply
    6. Beth Owen

      September 17, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      Oh wow these look amazing. My girls would be over the moon having some green coloured cupcakes! Delicious.

      Reply
    7. Mayah Camara

      September 17, 2018 at 6:45 pm

      These look amazing! I wonder if there’s a way I can try the recipe on my current eating plan.

      Reply
    8. Iryna

      September 17, 2018 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      What a fancy looking cupcake! I'd love to try it. Anything with chocolate and I'm in!

      Reply
    9. Jillian Wade

      September 17, 2018 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      I love the hidden veg in these cupcakes! I will definitely make them again and again!

      Reply
    10. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      September 17, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      These look so delicious - I love the green colour. I also love that they have hidden veg, perfect snack for the kids.

      Reply
    11. Lauren V

      September 17, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      I've never heard of cavolo nero, but anytime you can hide veggies into a dessert is a plus! I love that even the flavor of the vegetable disappears so kids wouldn't have a clue! So fun!

      Reply
    12. Jaclyn Anne

      September 17, 2018 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      Ohhh I love that these are secretly healthy - yet so tasty no one would even know!

      Reply
    13. Demeter

      September 17, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a gorgeous color! I love how creative this recipe is, good job!

      Reply
    14. Renee Goerger

      September 17, 2018 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      I've never baked a cupcake like this before, but I'm anxious to try. The color is spectacular and the sponge looks perfect in texture. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press
    • Veggie Desserts Cookbook

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for newsletter updates

    Disclaimers

    • Disclosures & Affiliate Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Kate Hackworthy / Veggie Desserts