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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Final Vegan Mofo Post: The Ultimate GF Chocolate Cupcakes


I was thinking about keeping this recipe to myself, but in the generous spirit of Vegan Month of Food, I'll share. This cake is rich without being overwhelming and not too overly sweet (despite all of the sugar), so it would be tasty with some frosting. The cake is a little extra work, but totally worth it. There are actually 3 recipes in one here - which helps make up for some of the days I've missed. I bring some of my baked goodies to work for coworkers to taste test. They've gotten really good at it! They said the texture and flavor were very good. It's very chocolate-y without being overly rich, and there is a very slight nutty flavor from the cashews that go into the batter.

The beets in the recipe sound a bit odd, and I can't claim that idea as my own. I often use vegetables and fruits to add moisture and texture to my gluten free goodies, but I found the non-vegan, non-gluten-friendly version of this recipe in the Hot & Hot Fish Club cookbook I was given as a gift. I know the recipe book isn't vegan, but I love free things, especially when it's easy for me to veganize it!

Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes
makes 2 dozen cupcakes
3 oz finely grated beets
1/4 c. Tapioca Flour
3/4 c. Teff Flour
1 c. Brown Rice Flour
3 oz cacao powder
6 oz sugar (preferably sucanat or turbinado to keep things vegan and minimally processed)
3 Tb ground chia seeds
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder**
3/4 tsp salt
5 oz melted coconut oil (about 3/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups Cashew Buttermilk (recipe below)
1 tsp coconut vinegar
1/2 cup Cashew Whipped Kreme (recipe below)


Cashew Buttermilk
1/2 c. soaked cashews
1 c. water
juice of 1 lemon

Cashew Whipped Kreme
1/2 c soaked cashews
1 Tb water
2 Tb agave

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cake assembly: Sift the teff flour, tapioca flour, brown rice, cacao powder, sugar, chia seed powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the cashew buttermilk, beets, and melted coconut oil until well combined and the lumps are gone. Fold in the Cashew Whipped Kreme and coconut vinegar. Put in a muffin tin with cupcake liners and bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.

I will try to write a review tomorrow about my new favorite cupcake liners, If You Care baking cups. They really make all the difference and they are bleach free!


** Allergy Tip: Baking Powder is often made using corn and gluten. Be sure to read labels carefully and choose a brand that specifically states they are corn and gluten free.

4 comments:

  1. So funny, just as I was hitting "Publish", I hear my husband in the kitchen singing "It's CUP CAKE TIME!!!!" while he poured on a little raspberry sauce and scooped up a little Coconut Bliss vegan ice cream to top.

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  2. Hi Cami,

    Read your post about candida....have you been eating cupcakes and pies and pasta salad?
    These will definitely cause candida issues...I'm confused...????Also you can get "contaminated" by gluten just by breathing it, in a restaurant, health food store, or a home you are visiting, also supplements, envelope glue, shampoos and other weird ways...

    Toni
    www.lupushope.blogspot.com

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  3. LOL! I can see where the confusion came from. I was tested back in October. That date and prior I absolutely was not eating cookies, pies, cupcakes, etc. I was on a hard core raw vegan phase I diet for many months with absolutely no baked goods (cooked anything), carbs, fruits, grains, etc. After that test (it took me over a month to get the results back) I most certainly fell off the wagon. My symptoms improved with the ketotifen, and have not worsened with the baked goods, but as of yesterday I have gone back on a very strict diet.

    As for the contamination, the only thing I can think of was being in a vegan restaurant that served gluten foods in addition to raw vegan. My husband is allergic to gluten now, so it's not in my home any longer.

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  4. Cami - Is there a link somewhere to the frosting you made? I have made frostings with similiar ingredients, but yours was superb. Will you share? Please..... :) Congrats on winning the gluten-free baking contesn - add that to your list of accomplishments!

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