Happy Birthday!

This is going to be really short because I'm tired.

My friend's birthday was just last night and a group of us decided to make him birthday cupcakes instead of a cake. We made it vegan because he is a vegetarian but likes to dabble in veganism from time to time as well as some of the cooks are dairy-free (I'm vegan; Sarah is a dairy-free flexitarian).  We brainstormed with the things that we had in all of our apartments and we came up with these two ideas: Apple Spice Cupcakes with a Maple Brown Sugar Buttercream and Chocolate Pudding-filled Banana Cupcakes with a Peanut Butter Buttercream.

Here are the recipes:

Center: Banana; Sides: Apple Spice

Apple Spice Cupcakes

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flax oil or coconut oil

3/4 cup apple butter

1/2 cup almond milk

1 egg replacer

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup flax meal

1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose unbleached flour (or 50:50 AP:Whole wheat)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 cup shredded apples (optional)

1/3 cup chopped, toasted pecans (optional)

1. Cream together sugars and oil.
2. Add the egg replacer, then almond milk. Follow with apple butter and vanilla.
3. Sift in the rest of the ingredients. 
4. If adding optional ingredients, fold in now.
5. Bake in a prepared cupcake/muffin tin and cook for 15-20 minutes at 350.

Maple Buttercream

2-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup vegan margarine

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

1. Whip brown sugar and margarine in a large bowl.
2. Slowly drizzle in maple syrup and vanilla.
3. Add salt.
4. While mixing, slowly add powdered sugar until you reach the desired texture (for piping).

Since I'm being uber lazy and the banana one is basically the same, I will leave it at this. I do want you to know that the brown sugar in this icing recipe should not be substituted with more powdered sugar because it adds a slightly crunchy aspect to the icing, which sets it apart. Also the salt contrasts the sweetness and doesn't give you such a bad sugar rush. These were so good, and the birthday boy deep throated an entire cupcake in one bite. So, you know they are spectacular! Also, people at the party who did not know that these were vegan ate them right up. So, don't be afraid to bring this one to Thanksgiving or even a brunch. They tasted pretty much like a pancake cupcake!

Enjoy! This was a recipe that satisfied the la lengua de un vegan and so many others!