Vegan Earl Grey Cupcakes
These days more and more people are opting to incorporate plant-based meals into their diet. Whether you're taking the full plunge, or just testing the waters with a Meatless Monday here and there, chances are you've had a few vegan meals in your life. The word "vegan" is slowly becoming less stigmatized as grocery stores and fast-food chains amp up their animal-free options. With so much accessibility and so many choices, it's easy to rethink how we do breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But what about dessert?
I'll be the first to admit that when vegan baked goods are bad, they're really bad. Every vegan has had that too goopy brownie or a cookie made with chia seeds when all you wanted was some good old fashioned unhealthy junk. When I first went vegan, I found myself constantly frustrated by disappointing desserts, so one day I decided to do something about it! I set out to create my own vegan baking recipes using everyday ingredients that most people (vegan or not) already have in their pantries. My goal was to get herbivores and omnivores friends alike instead or scared when I showed up to a party with food.
Five years later, I launched my own little business, Better Batter Bakery, so I can share my love of vegan baking with the world. If you're someone that's been wanting to give vegan baking a try but needed a little nod of encouragement, this one's for you! Here I'm sharing one of my fan favourites - Earl Grey Cupcakes! Perfect for a special occasion or anytime you fancy an indulgent dessert. They may sound fancy, but I promise they're easy as cake!
Ingredients:
4 Earl Grey Teabags
1 ¼ Cup of Flour
¾ Cup of White Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
½ tsp Salt
⅔ Cup Non-Dairy Milk of Choice (I like oat!)
⅓ Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Method:
Preheat your oven to 180°C
Combine all dry ingredients
Cut open your tea bags and empty them into a bowl (if you notice the contents of your teabags are a bit course, you may want to grind them up a bit)
Add tea leaves to dry ingredients
In a new bowl, mix all wet ingredients
Pour the wet into the dry and hand mix just until combined
Line a cupcake tin with paper liners, and fill about ¾ of the way with batter
Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean
You did it! Take those beauties out and let them cool
If you also want to whip up a tasty Earl Grey Frosting, follow these steps:
Brew a strong cup of Earl Grey Tea and set it aside (make sure to let it cool)
In an electric mixer, mix:
½ Cup of your Favourite Vegan Butter
1 ½ Cup Icing Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Brewed Tea
Mix until smooth and pop in the fridge while your cupcakes finished cooling
And there you have it- an easy vegan dessert, bound to satisfy veg-heads and meat-eaters alike!
Written by Shea Donovan
Hey! I’m Shea: a performer, coach, occasional playwright/poet and Artistic Director of Indigo Arts Collective. I strive to create work at the intersection of art, scholarship and activism and develop interdisciplinary performance for theaters and alternative spaces. When I’m not creating I can be found collecting degrees, running youth education programs, galavanting around the world, and reading classical literature to my cat, Dinah Louise.