Easy vegan chocolate cupcakes. The iconic and reliable recipe from the cookbook Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. Basically, the best cupcake ever [|}
1/2teaspoonalmond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
1cupall-purpose flour
1/3cupcocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular
3/4teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonbaking powder
1/4teaspoonsalt
Cooking spray
Chocolate bar for shaving, optional
Instructions
Prepare the Mousse:
Crumble the tofu into a blender. Add the soy milk, agave and vanilla extract. Puree until completely smooth. Set aside.
In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. Obviously you don’t have a double boiler so take a small sauce pan and fill half way with water. On top of that place a small sauté pan. Fill the sauté pan with chocolate chips and bring the water to a boil. Use a rubber spatula to mix the chocolate as it melts. Once melted, remove from heat and let cool for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. (see the FAQ for microwave melting directions)
Add the melted chocolate to the tofu and blend until well combined, use the spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender every so often.
Transfer the mousse to an air tight container or a wrapped bowl and let chill for an hour.
Prepare the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with paper liners.
Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla extract to the soy milk mixture and beat until foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are OK).
Lightly spray the liners with cooking spray and pour batter into liners, filling 3/4 of the way. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
To assemble:
Once the mousse is chilled and set and the cupcakes have cooled, remove from the refrigerator and stir with a fork to a spreadable consistency. Fit a pastry bag with a wide decorating tip. Fill the bag with mousse and pipe it onto the cupcake in a spiral, starting from the outside in or in. Add chocolate chips or chocolate shavings if you are feeling especially fancy pants.
Chill the cupcakes or a half hour to let the mousse set again and serve cold.