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Chocolate-Orange Halloween Cupcakes

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Alisa Fleming in Dairy Free Desserts with 12 Comments

Alisa Fleming ~ Several years ago, I featured Sakura’s Chocolate Orange Halloween Cupcakes. Sakura was a vegan food blogger, but she has since moved onto new things and closed the virtual doors on her blog. However, her Halloween cupcakes recipe lives on, and it seemed like a perfect blast-from-the-past treat to feature once again.

Not only are chocolate and orange a perfect flavor match, but they also suit the colors of the Halloween motif quite nicely (especially with a drop or two of natural orange food coloring for a little hue boost – see my note below). This recipe uses the magic of orange not only in the vegan Halloween cupcakes themselves, but also in the unique frosting. The topping is a swirl of orange and chocolates frostings side by side, almost like soft-serve ice cream, only richer and dairy-free!

If you are concerned that I have sprung this recipe on you a bit too late for your party planning, have no fear. This is the ultimate last minute recipe, using everyday pantry items, and oh yes, it is perfect for your nut-free, egg-free, and soy-free guests too!

Natural Orange Food Coloring Note: Sakura opted to go with a faint orange color in the vegan frosting of her Halloween cupcakes. Using the optional orange zest will also add a little festive orange. For a slightly punchier orange hue, you can use carrot juice instead of orange juice. The flavor will be slightly different, but still sweet and tasty. For a professional touch, forgo the artificial food dyes for natural food coloring brands like India Tree.

Vegan Chocolate Orange Halloween Cupcakes with Dairy-Free Swirl Frosting

Chocolate-Orange Vegan Halloween Cupcakes

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Chocolate-Orange Vegan Halloween Cupcakes

Recipe and photo by Sakura, and originally shared with us from her vegan baking blog.

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

3/4 Cup Non-Dairy Milk (rice, soy, coconut, almond, etc. – your choice)
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 Cup Granulated White Sugar
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Orange Zest

Frosting:

1/8 Cup + 1/4 Cup Dairy-Free Margarine, divided (try select Earth Balance varieties for soy-free)
1/2 Cup + 1 Cup Powdered Sugar, divided
1/2 Tablespoon Orange Juice
Orange Zest, optional
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
Non-Dairy Milk, as needed (rice, soy, coconut, almond, etc. – your choice)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C/350ºF and line cupcake pan.
Whisk the non-dairy milk, orange juice and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside for a few minutes to get good and curdled.
Beat together the non-dairy milk mixture, oil, sugar, and orange zest. Sift in the flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and soda and mix until no large lumps remain.
Fill cupcake liners two-thirds of the way and bake for 22-26 minutes.
Transfer to a cooling rack.
While the cupcakes are cooling, make the two frostings.
For the light / orange frosting, beat 1/8 cup margarine until fluffy. Add 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar and beat again. Add 1/2 T orange juice and a little bit orange zest continue beating until fluffy.
For the dark/chocolate frosting, beat 1/4 cup margarine until fluffy. Add 1/4 cup sifted (unsweetened) cocoa powder and beat again. Add about 1 cup sifted powdered sugar (1/4 cup at a time) and beat again. Add non-dairy milk if necessary.
Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, put both frositngs in a piping bag, and frost nice swirls of frosting on the cupcakes.

http://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/dairy-free-desserts/chocolate-orange-halloween-cupcakes

Tagged birthdays, egg--free, Halloween, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian

About Alisa Fleming

Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Senior Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

View all posts by Alisa Fleming →

RickiOctober 14, 2012 at 2:23 pmReply

These sound totally fabulous–and I LOVE that two-toned frosting! Such a great idea. And YUM.

Brooke BernardOctober 14, 2012 at 5:46 pmReply

I so love that you shared with readers how to add natural, fake food dye-free color to these! Who cares if the cupcake is vegan if you top it with petroleum, after all?! Looks like a fabulous recipe! Thank you!

Chocolate-Orange Vegan Cupcakes - All Things CupcakeOctober 14, 2012 at 6:55 pmReply

[...] to go dairy-free for your Halloween cupcakes? These sound very tasty. I have always loved the chocolate-orange combination, and orange and black just [...]

Shirley @ gfeOctober 14, 2012 at 7:30 pmReply

There needs to be a gluten-free version of these! Just sayin’.

Shirley

Alisa FlemingOctober 14, 2012 at 7:46 pmReplyAuthor

I know! I thought about adding a gf suggestion, but since they don’t have eggs, I didn’t want to go out on a limb! GF always takes more testing when egg-free.

LindaOctober 14, 2012 at 9:04 pmReply

Would love to know your “almost-vegan” gf version using eggs! Thank you!!

SabrinaOctober 14, 2012 at 8:41 pmReply

I second the GF option too! I’m going to play with it and see IF it will turn out.

Sara SawochkaOctober 15, 2012 at 5:54 amReply

Thank you so much for the delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try it!

Black Bean Savory Cupcakes with Whipped Sweet Potato Frosting RecipeOctober 17, 2012 at 10:29 amReply

[...] in the week, many of you ooh-ed and aaah-ed about this enticing Chocolate-Orange Halloween Cupcake Recipe. Those are amazing, but Halloween isn’t just about sweets. No, really, it isn’t! You [...]

JoanneOctober 18, 2012 at 4:17 amReply

Chocolate and orange is one flavor combo I’ve never really explored. But what better time than NOW…and with these cupcakes!

Alisa FlemingOctober 18, 2012 at 7:25 amReplyAuthor

Wow, I thought you had explored EVERY flavor combo Joanne!!

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Ingredients, processes and products are subject to change by the manufacturer at any time. All products should be considered at risk for cross-contamination with milk and other allergens. Always contact the manufacturer prior to consumption. See Disclaimer

12 Comments

RickiOctober 14, 2012 at 2:23 pmReply

These sound totally fabulous–and I LOVE that two-toned frosting! Such a great idea. And YUM.
Brooke BernardOctober 14, 2012 at 5:46 pmReply

I so love that you shared with readers how to add natural, fake food dye-free color to these! Who cares if the cupcake is vegan if you top it with petroleum, after all?! Looks like a fabulous recipe! Thank you!
Chocolate-Orange Vegan Cupcakes - All Things CupcakeOctober 14, 2012 at 6:55 pmReply

[...] to go dairy-free for your Halloween cupcakes? These sound very tasty. I have always loved the chocolate-orange combination, and orange and black just [...]
Shirley @ gfeOctober 14, 2012 at 7:30 pmReply

There needs to be a gluten-free version of these! Just sayin’.

Shirley
- Alisa FlemingOctober 14, 2012 at 7:46 pmReplyAuthor
  
  I know! I thought about adding a gf suggestion, but since they don’t have eggs, I didn’t want to go out on a limb! GF always takes more testing when egg-free.
  - LindaOctober 14, 2012 at 9:04 pmReply
    
    Would love to know your “almost-vegan” gf version using eggs! Thank you!!
- SabrinaOctober 14, 2012 at 8:41 pmReply
  
  I second the GF option too! I’m going to play with it and see IF it will turn out.
Sara SawochkaOctober 15, 2012 at 5:54 amReply

Thank you so much for the delicious recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
Black Bean Savory Cupcakes with Whipped Sweet Potato Frosting RecipeOctober 17, 2012 at 10:29 amReply

[...] in the week, many of you ooh-ed and aaah-ed about this enticing Chocolate-Orange Halloween Cupcake Recipe. Those are amazing, but Halloween isn’t just about sweets. No, really, it isn’t! You [...]
JoanneOctober 18, 2012 at 4:17 amReply

Chocolate and orange is one flavor combo I’ve never really explored. But what better time than NOW…and with these cupcakes!
- Alisa FlemingOctober 18, 2012 at 7:25 amReplyAuthor
  
  Wow, I thought you had explored EVERY flavor combo Joanne!!
Episode 3: Decadent Truffle Frosting | The Next Exciting EpisodeJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:20 amReply

[...] Original recipe found at: http://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/dairy-free-desserts/chocolate-orange-halloween-cupcakes [...]