Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes + Icing with DIY Food Coloring
The cupcake recipe comes from Chloe Coscarelli's cookbook, Chloe's Vegan Desserts.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Servings: 12cupcakes
Author: Jenné
Ingredients
1 1/2cupsunbleached all purpose flour or spelt flour
1tspbaking soda
1/2tspsalt
1cupsugar
3/4cupunsweetened non-dairy milksoy, almond, or rice
1/2cupcanola oil
2tbspvinegarwhite or apple cider vinegar
1tbspvanilla extract
colorful frosting (recipes below)
Vegan Icing Base
1cupvegan butterEarth Balance
3cupspowdered sugar
1tbspsoy milknot necessary for the yellow or red coloring
Red Food Coloring
1beetquartered
3cupswater
Yellow Food Coloring
1/2cupmango puree
1tspturmeric powder
Green Food Coloring
2tspculinary matcha powder
Purple Food Coloring
1/4cupfrozen blueberries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Line a cupcake pan with liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, non-dairy milk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.
Pour the wet into the dry, and mix. Be careful not to over mix it.
Fill the cupcake liners with the batter, two-thirds full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes.
Do the toothpick test: Stick toothpick in the center of a cupcake. If it comes out dry and clean or with a few crumbs they are done. Allow the cupcakes to cool at least 30 minutes before icing them.
Vegan Icing Base
Place the vegan butter and soy milk (or liquid coloring) in a large mixing bowl.
Use a hand mixer to cream the "butter" until smooth.
Slowly add in the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth.
Red Food Coloring
Bring water to a boil, and add the beet.
Cook covered for 30 minutes on medium heat, until the beet is tender.
Remove the lid and the beets. Continue to cook for another 20 minutes on medium-low to reduce the liquid––which will thicken the liquid and concentrate the color.
Set aside to cool.
Stir the cool food coloring into the icing––start with 1 tsp–– until your desired color is reached.
Yellow Food Coloring
Blend the mango puree and turmeric until smooth.
Stir or whisk into the icing base.
Green Food Coloring
Whisk matcha into the icing.
Purple Food Coloring
Thaw blueberries on the counter, stove-top, or microwave.
Strain the blueberries through a sieve.
If the liquid is warm, allow it to cool in the fridge.
Stir the cool food coloring into the icing––start with 1 tsp–– until your desired color is reached.