Double Chocolate Cupcakes With Salted Chia Pudding Frosting

PreparationMake the frosting: Combine the coconut milk, dates, and salt in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth. This might take a few minutes. If end up with small bits of dates, that's OK. But you don't want to see chunks or even white slivers of the coconut milk. The color should be a very light tan. Taste, and if you want to add more salt, do it now and then blend for a few more seconds (I really like the saltiness a teaspoon brings). Pour the mixture into a medium jar or container with a lid. Stir in the chia seeds. Put the frosting in the fridge, covered, for at least 6 hours (overnight is best). For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper liners. In a small bowl, combine the almond milk and apple cider vinegar. In another small bowl, make a flax egg: Mix the flax meal and water together. Let both the almond milk mixture and the flax egg rest for at least 10 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine the vanilla, maple syrup, flax egg, and almond milk mixture in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine. Do not overstir. Pour in the coconut oil and chocolate chips and give it a few more stirs, until just combined. Fill each cupcake liner with 1/4 cup of the batter. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a fork or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let your cupcakes cool on a wire rack if you have one. When they're completely cool, top them with the frosting. Sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top. Kitchen NotesBecause this frosting must be refrigerated, these are a little tricky to store and are best eaten freshly made. If you're taking them to a party, I suggest adding the frosting right before you head out or, even better, when you arrive. If these are just for you at home, keep the frosting refrigerated until you're ready for a cupcake and then add it. From One Part Plant: A Simple Guide to Eating Real, One Meal at a Time © 2017 by Jessica Murnane. Reprinted with permission by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.

PreparationMake the frosting: Combine the coconut milk, dates, and salt in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth. This might take a few minutes. If end up with small bits of dates, that's OK. But you don't want to see chunks or even white slivers of the coconut milk. The color should be a very light tan. Taste, and if you want to add more salt, do it now and then blend for a few more seconds (I really like the saltiness a teaspoon brings). Pour the mixture into a medium jar or container with a lid. Stir in the chia seeds. Put the frosting in the fridge, covered, for at least 6 hours (overnight is best). For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper liners. In a small bowl, combine the almond milk and apple cider vinegar. In another small bowl, make a flax egg: Mix the flax meal and water together. Let both the almond milk mixture and the flax egg rest for at least 10 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine the vanilla, maple syrup, flax egg, and almond milk mixture in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine. Do not overstir. Pour in the coconut oil and chocolate chips and give it a few more stirs, until just combined. Fill each cupcake liner with 1/4 cup of the batter. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a fork or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let your cupcakes cool on a wire rack if you have one. When they're completely cool, top them with the frosting. Sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top. Kitchen NotesBecause this frosting must be refrigerated, these are a little tricky to store and are best eaten freshly made. If you're taking them to a party, I suggest adding the frosting right before you head out or, even better, when you arrive. If these are just for you at home, keep the frosting refrigerated until you're ready for a cupcake and then add it. From One Part Plant: A Simple Guide to Eating Real, One Meal at a Time © 2017 by Jessica Murnane. Reprinted with permission by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.