Sweet Yam Cupcakes (Vegan)

I had 2 yams that were already cooked that I needed to do something with. So, I used things that I happen to have laying around the house. Yams for the muffins and the frosting, sounds crazy, but tastes good, I promise! And thus these (dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, almost sugar-free there is cane juice in the chocolate chips), cupcakes were born. They are very moist, and they are sweet, but not super sweet, I can't really tell if they are a muffin or a cupcake. I guess since there is a frosting, it is more of a cupcake.

12 cupcakes

Yam Cupcake/Muffin Batter
1 cup cooked yam
1/3 cup grapeseed oil
1 very ripe banana
1/3 c agave nectar (or sweetener of choice)
1/4 c almond milk
10 drops vanilla stevia
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 c spelt flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp maca powder
pinch of cloves
1/4 tsp RealSalt
1/4 cup (vegan) chocolate chips (I used enjoy life chocolate chips)
2 Tbs cacao nibs


Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all ingredients up to vanilla in a bowl with a blender. Then put in the rest of the ingredients up to the salt, mixing with a spoon. Once all mixed together, then mix in the chocolate chips and cacao nibs.  If you don't have maca, you can omit it, it just gives the cupcakes a little more depth, a bit of a malty flavor. Scoop into muffin tin with cupcake papers 3/4 of the way full.
Cook for 28-32 min.
Allow to cool before frosting. Frosting recipe below.


Sweet Potato Frosting

3/4 to 1 c cooked yam

1/4 c agave nectar

2 Tbs coconut sugar (optional)

6 drops liquid vanilla stevia

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons arrowroot powder

2 tablespoons coconut oil (or you can use butter) melted

1/8 teaspoon RealSalt

Place all ingredients up to vanilla, in a bowl and beat until smooth. Add melted coconut oil arrowroot powder and RealSalt, and beat again.  Arrowroot is a thickener, so you can use another thickener if you wish, and regular salt, though I love RealSalt.