Rosewater & Pistachio Cupcakes

There's not a lot I'm going to write about this cupcake.  The recipe is from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, which I adapted to be gluten free.  One of the things I love about the vegan cupcakes is that they are already dairy free, so I don't need to worry about lactose.  And they are amazingly creative.

This is a gorgeous cake with chopped pistachios throughout, and a delicate rosewater frosting on top.  It's probably my favourite cupcake from the book so far, and that's saying something.  Although it's one of the most recent ones I've made, and I often think the latest cupcake is the best, so we'll see how long it stays my favourite.

Green Tea Cupcakes

Here's another set of cupcakes made from the Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World book.

This time they're Green Tea flavoured, with matcha powder in both the cake and the frosting.  Light and fluffy, and gently flavoured.  I made a batch of these for a picnic in little cupcake wrappers, most people managed to scoff down 3 or 4.

 

Vegan Pie in the Sky!

Thanks to one of my lovely twitter followers and fellow HR person, @charlie_elise, I discovered that Isa Chandra Moskowitz (author of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World) has a new book - Vegan Pie in the Sky!

A copy is now on it's way to me, thanks to Book Depository having it at a great price.

Look out for some awesome pies in the near future.

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

Before I continue any further, it's time to introduce my favourite cupcake recipe book, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.

I'm not vegan, and currently not even vegetarian, although I was a vegetarian for most of the years between age 13 and 26.  This doesn't stop me adoring all of the recipes in this book, they are so well planned, tasty and gorgeous looking.

Many of the cupcakes I post on this blog will originate from this book.  Out of copyright respect I won't be posting the recipes, but I would highly recommend you purchase a copy of the book if you like cupcakes which are more than just vanilla sponge with buttercream icing (not that there's anything wrong with that!).

There's also a companion book of cookies, called Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.  I have a copy of this too, but I don't adore cookies the same way I do cupcakes.  Still, I'm sure you'll see some cookie posts as I get going with the blog.

If you're not sure about buying the books just yet, you can read the Vegan Cupcakes blog for free - http://vegancupcakes.wordpress.com/

Lime & Coconut Cupcakes

Lime and Coconut.  What a classic, refreshing, summery combination.
These are from my favourite cookbook, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.  If you're ambivalent about coconut they aren't for you, they contain coconut milk, coconut oil, dessicated coconut and shredded coconut, plus a handful of limes and some other ingredients.

Instead of a recipe I'm just going to tease you with pictures.  As these are a firm favourite in my household and amongst my friends I've made quite a few batches.  The black and white polka dot ones were for a wedding, the others have been for picnics and other gatherings.