Vegan Banana Coconut Cupcakes Food

VEGAN BANANA COCONUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• If using coconut milk rather than cream, put 2 tins of full fat coconut milk into the fridge for a minimum of 48 hours. The longer it chills the better so put it into the fridge as soon as you start thinking of making these cupcakes (mine was in the fridge for 10 days). After the time has passed, remove the tins from the fridge very carefully, make sure you do not shake them. Open the tins and scoop out heavy cream that should have risen to the top (see picture below). Leave the watery part for other uses (curries, smoothies etc.). Each tin should yield about 180 ml of cream. Choose coconut milk with no additives (mine is 60% coconut and 40% water) as stabilisers will prevent the cream from separating.
• Put desiccated coconut (no need to pan-roast) into a food processor. Process until coconut releases its natural oils and you get a fairly smooth coconut butter (similar to any nut butter). From time to time, stop the machine to scrape coconut of the walls with a rubber spatula. Depending on your food processor, it may take anything between 5-15 minutes to make this butter. I have a budget food processor and mine took about 8 minutes with a few breaks so that I don't kill the motor. 100 g of coconut should give you a bit under ½ cup of butter.
• In a mixing bowl, fold about 80 ml (3/8 cup or 5 tbsp) coconut butter into 1 and ½ cup coconut cream. Sweeten with maple syrup. Do not use an electric mixer or food processor to do this as coconut will continue to release its oils and the mixture will become very grainy. Fold it gently using a spoon. The frosting will have tiny bits of coconut in it, but I found the overall texture to be smooth enough. Chill the frosting for 1-2 hours before piping.
• Warm up the oven to 190° C.
• In one bowl, combine all dry ingredients. In another bowl combine all wet ingredients.
• Pour wet ingredients into the dry ones and stir until just combined - do not overmix.
• Grease standard 12 cupcake tin with a bit of coconut oil. Spoon the cupcake mixture into the tin.
• Bake for about 27-30 minutes, the exact time depends on the individual oven. Remove from the oven and let them cool down completely.
• While cupcakes are in the oven, make the caramel. Put sugar into a dry frying pan and let it dissolve gently on very low heat. Refrain from stirring it.
• Warm up coconut milk gently - this is not essential, but it will reduce splattering once you add coconut milk into dissolved sugar.
• Once the sugar melts completely and the sugar turns to an amber colour (careful not to overdo it - caramel burns very quickly), whisk 1/2 cup of coconut milk into the sugar until combined.
• Warm it up again slowly until bubbles start to appear on the surface, then add the rest of coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Stir the mixture well, let it bubble for a bit and take off the heat. Let it cool before decorating the cupcakes - it will thicken slightly as it cools.
• Using a bread knife, cut each cupcake horizontally into 3 pieces.
• Spread caramel on the first layer, then put banana slices on top. Repeat the same for the next layer and cover with the top slice.
• Pipe coconut frosting on to the top slice and sprinkle the frosting with finely grated chocolate.

VEGAN BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mash the bananas in a medium bowl with a fork, then mix in the oil and sugar until combined.
• Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and dried fruit and seed mix. Mix until well combined.
• Line a cupcake tray with 10-12 cupcake cases (the amount you need will depend on how big the bananas are) and fill them ¾ full of the mixture. Sprinkle with the oats and mixed seeds.
• Bake for 25 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

VEGAN BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your pan with paper liners.
• Throw your mashed banana in a blender or push it through a sieve to make sure there are no lumps in it.
• Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl, mix well. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the oil, soy or rice milk, vanilla, almond and mashed banana. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry, don't over mix or you'll get tough cupcakes. Small lumps are fine.
• Fill liners 2/3 full, top the batter of each cupcake with 1 tsp of finely chopped chocolate and use a toothpick to gently stir them inches.
• Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

VEGAN CUPCAKES WITH BANANA & PEANUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3½. Line muffin tins with 16 cases. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, ½ tsp salt and bicarbonate of soda. In a second bowl or a jug, mix the mayonnaise, mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a spoon until just combined (don't overmix or your cupcakes will be heavy). Spoon the mixture into the cases and bake for 20 mins.
• When the cupcakes come out of the oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips over - they will melt and then harden again, so don't touch them.
• For the icing, combine the vegan margarine and icing sugar in an electric mixer, then add the vegan milk and continue to mix on a slow speed until completely combined. Turn the mixer up and combine for a further 3 mins. Finally, stir in the peanut butter. Pipe or simply spread the icing on top of the cakes. Store in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.