Purple-y Velvet Vegan Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting

How am I celebrating Valentines Day you ask?

Well…

You see, I have officially applied to grad school (MBA in case you’re curious)

I have completed the bulk of my papers (only one more 10 pager to go!)

So instead of celebrating a special someone who has yet to enter my life. I’m going to be my own valentine.

And I’m going to start by hand feeding myself a red velvet cupcake.

I wanted to get into the festive spirit, but I also wanted to put a little spin on things.

1. Make it vegan! Because, well, why not?
2. Use Carob! (It’s the only ‘cocoa powder’ I have, plus I prefer it.)
3. No artificial coloring. After learning about plant dyes in Botany class. That little bright red tube seems like a rip-off.

These cupcakes turned out in a more plum color, so I give you…

Purple-y Velvet Vegan Cupcakes:

makes about 12

• 1 1/4 c of flour (I used whole wheat)
• 1/4 c applesauce
• ½ c sucanat sugar
• ¼ c agave
• 1/2 c Yogurt of choice (I used coconut milk yogurt)
• red beet juice (for coloring) – I used all the juice in the can
• 2 T Carob powder
• Chia Egg
• 1 t vanilla
• pinch of salt
• ½ t lemon juice
• 2 T milk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine all ingredients and Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Mixin’

Pre Oven

Post Oven Valentines Day Lovin’

While they were baking I assembled the frosting.

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

– this stuff is like crack.

I tried the Tofutti cream cheese plain and it tasted like clay. But when I put it in this cream cheese frosting mixture….. heavennn

• 8 OZ  Tofutti cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 t vanilla
• splash of milk if necessary (I didn’t find it necessary)
• ¼ c sucanat (or sweetener of choice)
• 1 T agave

Combine all ingredients and frost once the cupcakes have cooled.

They lost their purplish color baking but that’s what I get for not using artificial

For the taste? Well, I have always experienced that red velvet cake has a ‘unique taste’ and I think my purple velvet cakes did as well.

I think I need to eat another to give it a proper review, but I am stuffed at the moment so we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.

UPDATE: I just tried another cupcake the day after and they are indeed AMAZING. I think I was just in a sweet overload this past weekend, but with a fresh palate: it is safe to say these babies are delectable! They pair perfectly with the decadent cream cheese frosting.

Weekend Recap

I am burnt out.

Yes I will be te first to admit it. I was spreading myself thin. All of these activities and commitments I had taken on were starting to overwhelm me. Usually I can’t tell, but I was starting to notice it taking a toll on my body.

I lost my urge to work out (though I pushed myself there anyways)

I had less energy during the day, I’m having a hard time waking up in the mornings, and I’ve lost a lot of my food cravings.

My cravings are what keep me goin’.

So I listened to my body. And my body said: sleep, you don’t get this opportunity very often anymore.

So sleep I did tried

Good thing I decided not to do that 5k because there was a lot of excess noise in our apartment last night.

So I got up and did my own run and I think I’m getting back to a normal state.

I didn’t get to run that 5k (I hadn’t paid yet so nothing lost there) But no worries there is another 5k in the same location in a few weeks and I’ll be completely de-stressed by then.

Prior to that….

I saw Kevin Nealon perform stand-up at Comedy Works this weekend. Hysterical.

My favorite line from his set was “Can someone please tell the people with the headphones on the treadmill that we can hear them farting?”

And on that note:

Happy Valentines Day!

Casey

What are your Valentines Day plans?

And if you don’t have any, what is your favorite Valentines Day treat? Sweets or Flowers?

Tags: agave, applesauce, beets, carob powder, chia, cream cheese frosting, cupcakes, red velvet, sucanat, tofutti cream cheese