Vegan Earl Grey Cupcakes.
Perfect for Mothers Day, a special occasion, or just because you are in a cupcake mood (who needs an excuse to eat€¦
INGREDIENTS
- Dry Ingredients:
- 4 Earl Grey Teabags (or 4 teaspoons loose earl grey tea)
- 1¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ¾ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- Wet Ingredients:
- …” Cup Non-Dairy Milk (such as soy or almond milk)
- …“ Cup Canola Oil (or other light flavourless oil)
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Frosting:
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Shortening (I like Earth Balance non-hydrogenated shortening)
- ¼ Cup Vegan Butter (I like Earth Balance)
- 1½ Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Earl Grey Teabag (or 1 teaspoons loose earl grey tea)
- Boiling Water
INSTRUCTIONS
- For the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
- Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners, or lightly grease the pan and set aside.
- Cut 4 teabags open and empty the contents into a small bowl. If the tea is a fine grind, you are good to go. If the tea you are using is has big leaves or is coarser, pulse it in a food processor, blender, or grind in mortar and pestle until it’s a finer grind, but not powder.
- Add the tea to a large mixing bowl along with all of the dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix together.
- In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients: the non-dairy milk, canola oil, apple cider vinegar and vanilla.
- Pour the wet into dry, and using a spoon mix until the ingredients are just combined. No over mixing!
- Divide the batter evenly among the 12 cupcake liners and pop in the oven for 18-20 minutes until the cakes have risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- For the Frosting: Bring water to a boil. Put the teabag in a small mug and pour in the boiling water. You will only need about 2 tablespoons of the brewed tea, but make a bit extra just incase. Let steep until cool, do not remove the teabag! You want the tea to be very strong.
- In a mixer, blend the vegetable shortening and vegan butter, together until creamy. Add in the powdered sugar ½ a cup at a time. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the cold extra strong brewed tea. If you are happy with the frosting consistency, stop here, if you want it a bit softer, add in another tablespoon of the brewed tea until you are happy with the consistency.
- When the cupcakes are completely cooled, scoop the frosting into a piping bag, use a knife to spread the frosting, or do what I do, and cut a hole in the tip of a plastic bag for a DIY frosting bag. However you do it, frost as you please and enjoy your cupcakes!
