Vegan Rainbow Cupcakes

Vegan Rainbow Cupcakes

I love to change up the style of cupcakes and play around, you don't want to get bored do you? Okay I don't think you can get bored with any kind of cupcake but its nice to change it up right?. Recently while checking my addiction...better named Pinterest...I came along the allusive rainbow cupcake. They take some time or labor of love but the outcome is really fun! So I took it upon myself to make a version we can all enjoy. This recipe will show you how to make these popular treats without worrying if they are vegan. With that yummy familiar flavor of a vanilla cupcake paired with that creamy and dreamy frosting...but with a corvul twist. This cupcake is different in all the right ways! I will guarantee you will not be disappointed. These cupcakes are great as a special party treat or on those occasion when you want to show someone you care. Pair the cupcakes with a big glass of vegan milk and wait for the big smiles that await as your loved ones see the surprise inside these cupcakes. Enjoy!

Vegan Rainbow Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon vinegar
2 cup vegan milk

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, (you can flavor these with anyone of your choice, I went traditional.)

Vegan Buttercream (Recipe Below)

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 Degrees.

Grease the top of your cupcake tin (so the cupcakes don't stick) and then line with your cupcake liners and set aside.

*The metallic lined cupcake wrappers are the best here because the color on the inside doesn't brown and dull.*

Place the vinegar in the bottom of a 2 cup measuring cup and fill the cup with the vegan milk. Stir well and set aside (the mixture will curdle).

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 

Once you are ready to make the batter, place your mixing bowl in your stand mixer. In the mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the vegan milk mixture, oil, and vanilla. Add in the dry ingredients to the wet and beat until smooth using a hand-held mixer, stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Once the cupcake batter is done, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. This mixture will become airy and light. Once you have your batter ready to use, this will be when you divide it up equally to make colors. 

Assembly 

Divide the vegan batter up evening within 7 disposable cups. Now you can add more or less colors, I went with traditional rainbow colors. Let your creativity shine here and make it your own. 

Next, you will need to add your colors one by one. You will want to make sure each color is dark enough to withstand baking, the color will stay vibrant in the end. Once your colors are added, you can start assembling the cupcakes. 

Rainbow Assortment

Starting out with your purple, adding 3 to 4 teaspoons of each color to the cupcake liners. Spread each color evening over each layer, being careful not to mix the colors together. This is time consuming but you will have a perfectly layered rainbow cupcake in the end...a labor of love.

When you have your cupcakes ready, place them in a preheated oven.

Ready to Bake

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes from the pan and place on a wire cooling rack. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting. Once they are frosted and decorated, these cupcakes are ready to share. These cupcakes are great as a special party treat or on those occasion when you want to show someone you care. Pair the cupcakes with a big glass of vegan milk and a big smile. Enjoy!

Ready to Frost

Vegan Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients 

1 cup vegan butter or shortening
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup vegan milk or cold water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Food coloring, color of your choice (optional)

Directions

In the stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the vegan butter or shortening and the exacts on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Once the vegan shortening mixture is creamed you can move on to the next step.

Add in your powdered sugar and switch the mixer to low, slowly adding in the lemon juice. Beat the frosting until incorporated, and then beat on medium high until the frosting is airy and thoroughly mixed, about 1 to 2 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

                          Ready to use Frosting
                              (Color Optional)

When the cupcakes are ready to handle and are cooled, using a piping bag (or with a spatula) frost the top of the cupcakes with the homemade vegan buttercream frosting. Decorate each cupcake with edible vegan sprinkles (optional). Serve and Enjoy!

-Amy

Homemade Sparkle Candy Apples

It's about that time again...no not just back to school time...CANDY APPLE TIME...Okay, okay I know, I'll calm down. But we all look forward to certain things. Me, I love the fall! The crisp air and the even crispier apples. The joy of picking and that first juicy bite, you are sure to have it remind you of your childhood. It's those nostalgic treats that bring us back to those treasured times in our lives.

Whether it's fall or the summertime, we enjoy certain treats. These treats could be homemade or bought, we still are nostalgic in it's enjoyment. Candied apples are the most nostalgic for me. I can remember any carnival or amusement park always choosing a big candy apple. To this very day I still choose these big candy apples as my treat and still feel the same way I did back when I was little. The excitement of the purchase, the smell as you unwrap, and the first sticky and difficult bite trying to break threw the candy shell. Before you know it, the apple is gone and you are pining for another one already. These apples are usually purchased premade from carnivals, fall events, or store bought. They come in many flavors, colors, and quality varies. I have got the occasional bad apple and I'm always disappointed when that happens.

This recipe shows you how to not only make but enjoy the process that is Candy Apple making. These candy apples are turning up the glitzy factor but including an extra beautiful candy shell. Candy apples can be fun and enjoyable while making them but also can be different than the rest. It's extra nice because it's an art, you can make them with your favorite apples and any of your favorite flavors and/or colors. These apples are different but so easy to master. A great treat for adults and kids alike because it's one of those treats we grew up enjoying over and over again. This recipe shows you how to make a perfect candy apple every time. Serve these at parties and event or just a special dessert on the weekend. Theme them with holidays or parties and enjoy year round.

Homemade Sparkle Candy Apples

Yields: 12 to 15 Candy Apples

Ingredients
Candy Apple Base

12 to 15 regular sized organic green (granny smith) apples (crisp & holds up to the heat)
3 cups organic raw sugar
1/2 cup organic light corn syrup
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vegan food coloring (any color you like)

(Sparkle Spray Below)

Equipment Needed

Candy thermometer

24 Popsicle sticks or thick pointed candy apple sticks

Directions

Wash and thoroughly dry the organic apples.

*You want to use organic apples, because not only are wax on apples not vegan but the wax on the apples prevents the candy coating from adhering to the outside. Organic or fresh picked apples work best in the situation. 

For this recipe I use granny smith (green apples), you want to use a crispy thick skinned apple. The candy coating can blister other apples and make for a mushy outcome. Once washed and dried, insert the lollipop sticks or Popsicle sticks so that they are firmly positioned in the apples. Set the apples aside. Prepare your cookie sheet, by lining them with wax paper and liberally greasing them. You do not want the apples to stick to the sheet after coated.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a boil and cook the mixture until a candy thermometer reaches 300 Degrees F (the hard crack stage).

*If you want to test your candy when it gets to this point, drop a couple a drops of the candy into a glass of cold water, you will instantly see the candy form into hard candy strings and it will be ready for dunking.
When the candy reaches 300 degrees (this will take time), remove the candy mixture from the heat and carefully stir in the food coloring and extract (it may splash, so stand back). You may have to add more than the designated 1/2 teaspoon, depending on the quality and strength of your food coloring. I used a vegan gel food color.

One by one, carefully and quickly dip the apples into the candy mixture, swirling to coat them thoroughly and allowing any excess to drip back into the pan. Transfer the coated apples to the prepared cookie sheet and allow them to cool until the candy has fully hardened.

Sparkle Spray

Ingredients

1 to 2 containers luster dust or pixie dust, .25 ounce (found at most craft stores and cake decorating sections, in many colors)

I/2 cup vodka

1 Food-grade paint air brush or spray bottle

Directions

Whisk 1/2 cup vodka into the luster or pixie dust. If the mixtures seems too thin or pale, add 1/4 teaspoons of pixie or luster dust. Keep adding the glitter dust in 1/4 teaspoon increments and whisking until the mixture has the consistency of ink or watery paint. Add this mixture into a spray bottle or air brush and use on candy apples. Spray each hardened apple liberally and allow to dry.

Once the candy apples are hardened and the sparkle "paint" is dry (at least 30 minutes but up to 24 hours), remove from tray, wrap, and decorate as desired. Not only will these be delish but they will almost be too beautiful to eat...almost! Enjoy!

-Amy