Chocolate Chip Sourdough Cupcakes (w/Creamy Caramel Frosting!)

These better-for-you Chocolate Cupcakes are made with sourdough, Lilys chocolate chips, farm eggs, and coconut sugar. You can even add 2 Tablespoons of fresh milled oat flour to your cup before filling it with flour to nourish them up even more. I use that oat flour trick in with my organic all-purpose flour often, and no one ever knows the difference! So why not add it...right! Okay these are just what you expect; a nice moist & chocolatey, cupcake with the addition of that handful of Lilys chocolate chips to make them over the top, servable! I personally have found that Lilys semi-sweet chips are the ones that just fit for alllll my baking needs. From adding them into batters, to melting them for dipping things, to adding a scoop into our nuts for a homemade no-sugar trail mix! I know they are a little pricey, but they are the only alternative one I can win my family with in my baking, and the only way I can KEEP OUT that extra sugar from the regular brands! So my theory is: 1st- Sock up and buy them ON SALE! Not hard! 2nd - I am only using a handful in my baking that's kinda my rule. Most often recipes call for waaay more like 2 cups or more of chocolate chips in cookies, brownies or cupcakes, I've found that much really is not needed. So trying using LESS choc chips in your recipes and see if your family even notices! All that said, I am married to a man who LOOOVES chocolate chip cookies and loves "milk chocolate" no less, vs like dark chocolates of any kind! Milk chocolate is definitely a harder flavor to get right, trust me :) What that means is its a challenge to bake my recipes "health-ified" and still taste wonderful so he feels he's eating his beloved favorites! I have to just laugh because at times, I've thought gosh if only my husband didn't love food so much, didn't love milk chocolate.....but its the very reason I bake, bake and re-bake until its "perfected and tastes delicious!" If I didn't have that, I'd settle for mediocre recipes and results for sure :) :) :) Well maybe not, I do love food too, whom I kidding :) So whether I'm trying to make favorite mock store salad dressings, a hot cocoa filled with healthy collagen marshmallows or stew loaded with root veggies, I'm up for the challenge and something inside me just won't give in until I hear the words "Wow, you nailed it Hun, what's in it?" Something I would encourage you with is to start small, start slow, just one small change at a time! Part of the process I also believe is training our taste buds to enjoy "less sweetness to our tongues. Another way I added health to all our meals while I cooked for my family of 8 was to shake in the goodness here and there, wherever I didn't think they'd notice! After all its not about sneaking in things, its about adding health in and still having it taste GREAT so that everyone's the winner! What you find is its addictive😊 this shaking in health here and there. You get bolder and bolder in your shaking healthy benefits into all sorts of things you would have never dare do before. If you also want to gain confidence and encouragement, and learn How-To, go here check out my mini classes, called Shake On The Goodness! https://itsadelight.com/shake-on-the-... You'll learn 12 easy herbs and spices you can shake into your foods alllllll week long, adding wonderful health benefits and nourishing vitamins and minerals without any extra effort or extra pills to swallow at all! Best thing is you probably have half or more of these spices, already, in your cupboard!!! Why not learn about all the amazing health benefits they have! The videos are short, 7-10 minutes. Watch 'em while your prepping dinner! https://itsadelight.com/shake-on-the-... If you need something yummy and chocolatey, these check the boxes!❤️ Better-For-You Chocolate Chip Cupcakes 1/3 cup organic all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sourdough starter - active Soak 6-8 hours After soak time Add: Dry 1/4 cup Coconut sugar - or sweetener of choice 1/3 cup organic baking cocoa 1/4 teaspoon salt Wet: 1/4 cup real butter - melted & cooled 1 egg 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 /2 cup applesauce 1/ 2 cup Lilys semisweet chips (or your fav. choice) 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda Creamy Caramel Frosting 8 oz cream cheese - room temp 6T or 1/3 cup coconut sugar (yes all maple works & you won't need any water :) 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 Tablespoons peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 shakes salt & cinnamon 1 - 2 Tablespoons water - as needed