Fibro sufferers' gut problems eased by sticking with healthy diet; plus Reese's sunbutter cupcakes

Reese's Sunbutter Cupcakes

Easter is a time to enjoy family, friends and your childhood favorite treats. But can individuals with fibro and associated gut problems still have an Easter favorite, like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? You can have something even better if you are willing to make this copycat recipe for Reese’s Sunbutter Cupcakes.

These cupcakes not only remind you of Reese’s PB Cups but are adaptable to accommodate most food sensitivities. For instance, you can use whatever seed or nut butter or type of flour that works for you.

Individuals with fibromyalgia usually have irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and gut infections such as candida or small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). I have all of these problems but can keep my stomach problems under control (Hey, I didn't say perfect but manageable) by following a low fermentation diet. This means eating foods low to moderate in carbohydrates that are easily digestible. The amount of these foods eaten also is critical. See this post for additional information on a low fermentation potential (FP) diet. http://catsinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2014/02/scrutinize-carbs-for-fermentation.html

When holidays or other occasions come along, it is important to not stray from your diet. For instance, you can't say, "Just this once I'll have a piece of cake and ice cream." My plan is to be prepared for these times by cooking something that will satisfy my cravings but not sink the boat, so to speak. 

 Easter is one of those times where temptation will be everywhere for you to abandon your diet. My copycat Reese's Sunbutter Cupcakes should help you stay low FP as long as you eat just one per day or share the rest with others.

Here’s what you need for five cupcakes:

1 T. pumpkin puree or applesauce (unsweetened)

3 T. almond flour or gluten-free flour of your choice

1 T. sunbutter, peanut butter or alternative of your choice

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. apple cider vinegar

Dash of salt

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. powdered stevia or alternative sweetener, to taste

1 egg or egg substitute

¼ cup yogurt or milk of choice

Cupcakes ready for filling and decoration

Here’s what you do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line five cells of a muffin pan with cupcake wrappers. Mix all the ingredients in a food processor. Pour the batter in the cupcake liners. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Remove to cool.

In the meantime, prepare the filling and icing. Use an additional ¼ cup sunbutter, peanut butter or alternative of your choice, and mix with 1 T. softened coconut oil and 1 T. milk of choice. Pour this thickened mixture into a small Ziploc bag. Press the mixture to the bottom of the bag and remove most of the air before zipping the bag closed. Use a pair of scissors to snip off one corner of the Ziploc to make a substitute “pastry bag.”

Cupcakes and ziploc "pastry bag"

Once the cupcakes are cooled, use a knife to make a small hole in the middle of each cupcake. Fill each hole with the sunbutter/peanut butter filling. Use the remaining filling as icing for the top of each cupcake.

Cupcakes filled with sunbutter filling

As an option, you can decorate the tops of your cupcakes with Copycat Reese’s Eggs.

Copycat Reese's Eggs with chocolate glaze

Here’s what you need:

¼ cup sunbutter or alternative

2-3 dates, softened

1 T. softened coconut oil

2 T. cocoa + 2 T. coconut oil

Stevia or 2 T. agave or maple syrup

Reese's copycat eggs being dipped in chocolate

Mix the first three ingredients in a food processor. If too sticky, place in the refrigerator to firm up slightly. Shape the dough into 6-8 tiny egg shapes. Freeze for an hour or so on a plate lined with wax paper. Mix the cocoa and additional coconut oil plus sweetener to make the chocolate coating. Once the eggs are frozen, dip one at a time into the coating and freeze. Place one or two finished eggs on the top of each cupcake.

The finished product---yum!

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