I’ve made Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s basic chocolate cupcake recipe several times, and they’re always just wonderous. That woman knows her cupcakes. To top it off, I found a dead simple icing recipe online (substituting the almond from vanilla). I haven’t had great experiences with making icing, so simple was what was I was looking for. To top them off I bought those little chemical-filled gel icing tubs to add the snowflakes. And a few inverted crosses. Hey, what’s the holiday without a little evil?

ingredients

Cupakes

• 1 C soy milk
• 1 t apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1/2 t almond extract or chocolate, or more vanilla
• 1 C all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 t baking soda
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt

Icing

• 1 1/2 C confectioners sugar
• 1/2 C vegetable shortening
• 2 T soy milk
• 1 t vanilla (or almond) extract

instrux

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin pan with liners*
2. Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl and set aside for a few minutes to let it curdle.
3. Add sugar, oil, vanilla extract (and other extracts, if using) to the soy milk mixture and beat until foamy. 
4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking sode, baking powder, and salt. 
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain
6. Pour into muffin tray, filling 3/4 of the way. Bake 18-20 minutes. Use a toothpick to test. Then set out to let cool completely before icing.*

Icing

1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl

MAKES: 12 cupcakes
CREDIT: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz for the cupcakes, and Vegan Machine for the icing.

*Ever since I made a batch of pumpkin muffins that ALL stuck to the foil wrappers I baked them in, I’ve foregone the lining. I know it may have been a fluke, but once I realized I could get away without wasting the paper, I’ve not gone back. Most of the non-stick pans just need a light coating of oil. Then use a butter knife to scrape them out. Just be careful not to over-bake. It does require a little extra cleaning but the money and environmental cost are worth it.