Just take a look at this Vegan Green Granny Smith Cupcake. Doesn't it look just heavenly?
Unfortunately, an evil cupcake-poacher ate this before I could sample it, but I was assured it was an intensely delicious experience, and happily, the recipe was shared.
If you'd like to taste the magic for yourself, here's the recipe:
Vegan Green Granny Smith Cupcakes
Adapted from Sinfully Sweet Confections
Makes about 30 cupcakes
Ingredients for cakes
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 cups coarsely chopped Granny Smith apples
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup apple juice
- 2/3 cup canola oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 6 ounces plain soy yogurt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Ingredients for Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces vegan cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup nonhydrogenated margarine, softened
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Ingredients for Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup organic evaporated cane juice (sugar)
- 1/4 cup pecan pieces
- 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened
Procedure
- Preheat oven to 325ºF.
- Peel and chop apples coarsely.
- In a electric mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment mix together the canola oil, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, soy yogurt, vanilla extract, baking soda.
- Add flour and sugar; and mix on slow.
- In a slow steady stream add apple juice and continue to mix on slow.
- Fold in apples, oats, and pecan pieces. Pour into cupcake cups and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Make the frosting. In an electric mixing bowl fitted with a paddle cream together cream cheese and margarine until smooth and creamy. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar 2 cups at a time, mixing and scraping down the sides. Add vanilla, and mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Gently fold in chopped pecans.
- Make the streusel topping. Preheat oven to 450ºF. In a medium size bowl add flour, sugar, and margarine. Mix together with a fork to create crumbs. Add pecans and toss. Spread out evenly onto cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil. Bake until golden brown. Once cooled toss and break up crumbs, use as topping for cream cheese frosting.