Peppermint Cupcakes

I asked for Vegan Cupcakes take over the World for Christmas this year to feed into my cupcake fetish and help me with baking lactose-free. I’ve tried one recipe from the cookbook before (Margarita cupcakes) and they were quite tasty. My What’s Cooking Secret Santa sent me the cookbook and I was so excited! Although my mom was bummed because she got me the book too!
I brought the cookbook with me to Illinois for Christmas because my 13 year old sister and I always bake together when I’m home. And because my 24 year old sister and I got my mom a KitchenAid Mixer for Christmas (yes, we did get it on KAM Day back in the summer!)

These cupcakes are multi-purpose. I wanted to participate in the Cupcake Hero for December and make a treat that my family could enjoy and prove to them that eating dairy free baked goods is just as fun as full-dairy baked goods. Since the theme for the Cupcake Hero is mint this month, that meant I could try the chocolate mint cupcakes or make peppermint cupcakes from the vanilla recipe. The family voted and decided on peppermint.

I simply followed the vanilla cupcake recipe except added 2 tsp of peppermint to the batter. Then I made a cream cheese frosting, added 2 tsp of peppermint, and some crushed candy canes. It’s not overly creative (check out the other Cupcake Hero entries to see what I mean!) but they sure tasty wintery.

These cupcakes turned out delicious. Everyone loved them and they had the perfect amount of peppermint in them. I also liked the texture of having the crushed candy canes in the frosting. My cupcakes did sink down while they were cooling. I think it’s because 1 – someone opened the oven while they were cooking and 2 – my mom’s oven temperature must be low. Everything all week took longer than expected to bake. But other than that, these guys were great. And very festive.
Peppermint Vegan Cupcakes (based on Vanilla cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World) – makes 12
1 cup soy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt (increase to 1/2 tsp if using oil instead of margarine)
1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened, or 1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond, caramel or more vanilla extract
(I used 2 tsp vanilla and 2 tsp peppermint)

Preheat oven to 350 and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

Whisk the soy milk and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside a few minutes to get good and curdled.

If using margarine: Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl and mix.

In a separate large bowl, use a handheld mixer on medium speed to cream the margarine and sugar for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy, but don’t beat past 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and other extract, then alternate beating in the soy milk mixture and the dry ingredients, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times.

If using oil: Beat together the soy milk mixture, oil, sugar, vanilla, and other extract in a large bowl. Sift in the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until no large lumps remain.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20-22 minutes until done. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Vegan Peppermint cream cheese frosting
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened
1/4 cup vegan cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp peppermint extract
1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Cream together margarine and cream cheese until just combined. Use a handheld mixer to whip while adding the confectioners’ sugar in 1/2 cup batches. Mix until smooth and creamy, then mix in the vanilla and peppermint extract. Stir in crushed candy canes. Keep tightly covered and refrigerated until ready to use.

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10 Responses to “Corn Tomato and Avocado Salad”

  1. #
    1
    Cate — June 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    This looks like such a perfect summer salad. I would definitely add a ton of cilantro. I love it!

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    2
    oneordinaryday — June 30, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Looks perfect. Yum.

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    3
    Colleen — June 30, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    Your pictures look great! I am glad you liked this – I need to make it again soon!

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    4
    Mermaid Sweets — June 30, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    oh Yum, I will have to try this. Way to improvise in the kitchen, looks like your kitchen is still in the works.

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    5
    thecookingnurse — June 30, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    I have seen this recipe floating around and I must try it!

  6. #
    6
    Ingrid — June 30, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    I’m in so long as I can pick out the tomatoes! 🙂 Not a fan of them.

    Btw, I made your 40 clove chicken in the slow cooker…..HOLY COW, was that good and so easy (best part)! I’d made it before but a different recipe and not in the slow cooker. My honey actually put it all in the crockpot. My Mom loved it!
    ~ingrid

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    7
    ellysaysopa — June 30, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    I saved this from Colleen’s site, too. It looks so good. A perfect summer salad!

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    8
    Jen — June 30, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    It is so good. For anyone who’s thinking about making it. DO IT! I also made it again the other day. I didn’t have an avocado around, so I just mixed in a packet of Wholly Guacomole instead. It was delicious.

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    9
    Katie — July 2, 2009 at 12:44 am

    YUMMY! It looks great and perfect for the summer!

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    10
    thecookingnurse — July 13, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Update! I made this and added a few additional ingredients. I love it!

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