Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing

To give you a little bit of insight into why I will be posting some gluten-free recipes I will tell you that both of my grandmothers (paternal and maternal) were diagnosed with celiac disease, and diabetes.  Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. My sweet grandma JoAnn passed away in 2008 of complications from celiac disease and diabetes. So needless to say it is very important for myself to eat a gluten free diet. My mother, sister and I have really tried to change our diets. Gluten free seems to be so much harder for me than for my sister and mother. Not because the food doesn't taste good. But simply because I've never thought much of myself as a good cook. But I know I need to try. This women who I got this cupcake recipe from seems to have it together. If you can't have coffee than I know a peanut butter icing would probably taste amazing. Please don't be afraid,  just try it out. I love her recipes and I know you will too, if gluten-free is for you. 

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing- also a Dairy-Free Vegan Recipe

Gluten-free chocolate cupcake heaven. Yep. And if you don't care for the taste of coffee, use rice milk or coconut milk in the batter in place of the coffee and make a vanilla, coconut, or chocolate flavored icing.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with parchment or paper liners.

Whisk together the dry ingredients:

3/4 rounded cup sorghum flour

3/4 rounded cup potato starch, cornstarch or tapioca starch

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup organic cane sugar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Add in and beat till smooth:

1 cup warm coffee (not too hot or it will make the potato starch gluey)

1 tablespoon Ener-G Egg Replacer beaten with 1/4 cup warm water

3 tablespoons light olive oil

2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon light tasting rice vinegar

Beat the batter for a full two to three minutes until all the ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth.

Using an ice cream scoop, plop the batter into the cups and smooth the tops.

Bake in the center of a preheated oven till done- about 20 minutes or so.

Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack (don't let them sit in the baking pan too long or they'll get soggy).

Frost when completely cooled. See recipe for coffee flavored icing below.

Karina's Notes on gluten-free vegan batter:

Gluten-free vegan batters are a tad different than wheat and white flour batters. They are stiffer at first, then stretch and get sticky as the xanthan gum and egg replacer do their thing.

If the batter "climbs" the beaters, slow down the speed and slightly lift the beaters to encourage the batter to move back down into the bowl. Move your beater around the bowl in figure eights, at a slight angle. Practice your technique- soon you'll be winging around gluten-free vegan baking like a pro.

Vegan Coffee Icing Recipe

2 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar

2-3 tablespoons Spectrum Organic Shortening or vegan margarine

2-4 ounces cold coffee, as needed

1 teaspoon bourbon vanilla

Starting with the least amount of liquid, beat the sugar to incorporate the shortening, coffee and vanilla. if you need more liquid, add a small amount at a time. beat for two minutes or so until smooth.

If you need to stiffen the frosting, add a little more confectioner's sugar.

Chill the frosting before using it. I chill it, covered, for roughly an hour.

Frost the cupcakes. Cover in an air-tight container until serving. best eaten the first day. If making ahead of time, chill frosted cakes briefly in the freezer before wrapping individually and freezing.

Cook time: 1 hour, total

Yield: Serves 12

Read more: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2009/07/vegan-chocolate-cupcakes-with-coffee.html#ixzz1ZfieObpR

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing