Vegan Almond Joy Cupcakes

I think Almond Joy is a bit of a reject candy. They are the ones usually left in the bottom of your halloween bag. However, all of my friends that hate Almond Joy loved these cupcakes. A little girl I used to live next door to asked me if I could make Almond Joy cupcakes a few years ago, and I just remembered the idea this week. I imitated Almond Joy by making an almond cake with a coconut filling and a chocolate frosting. Make your filling first so that it has time to set in the fridge until the rest of the cupcake is finished.

Almond Filling

Ingredients

-6 oz soft tofu

-3/4 cup sugar

-5 tbs cornstarch

-14 oz coconut milk

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-3 tsp coconut extract 

-1/2 cup shredded coconut 

Instructions

1. Chop up your 6 oz tofu and put it in the food processor on high for 1 to 2 minutes, until it is smooth. If you don’t have a food processor you can put the tofu in a bowl and use a hand mixer. This may take a little longer.

2. Whisk together the 3/4 cup sugar and 5 tbs cornstarch for a minute.

3. Slowly add in the 14 oz of coconut milk. Stir until the mixture starts to get thick. After 5-7 minutes it should have a pudding like consistency.

4. Once the mixture is thick, add in the blended tofu, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 tsp coconut extract, and 1/2 cup of shredded coconut.

5. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set it in the fridge until it is time to fill the cupcakes.

Almond Cupcake

Ingredients 

-1 cup almond milk

-1 tsp apple cider vinegar 

-1/2 cup safflower oil (or any light oil)

-3/4 cup sugar

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-4 tsp almond extract

-1 1/4 cups flour

-1/2 tsp baking soda

-3/4 tsp baking powder

-1/4 tsp salt

-2 tbs cornstarch 

Instructions 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°

2. Combine the 1 cup almond milk and 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and set aside for a few minutes until it starts to curdle.

3. Mix the almond milk and vinegar mixture, 1/2 cup oil, 3/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp vanilla extract.

4. Once blended, add in the 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt and 2 tbs cornstarch. 

5. After the ingredients are all blended, add in the 4 tsp of almond extract. I accidentally spilt all of my almond extract on the counter after adding in 3 tsp. I added in a very small amount of rum to make up for the lost almond extract, it ended up working out but it would be better with 4 tsp of almond extract. 

6. Fill your cupcake lines 3/4 of the way full and bake for 20 minutes. 

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

-1/2 cup margarine (I use soy free Earth Balance)

-1/2 cup Crisco

-5 cups powdered sugar

-1 1/2 tbs almond milk

-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-2 cups cocoa powder

 Instructions

1. Start by beating together the 1/2 cup Crisco and 1/2 cup margarine.

2. Once the mixture starts to get fluffy, add in the sugar one cup at a time, usually around 5 cups but feel free to improvise if it seems too thick or thin.

3. Add in 2 cups of cocoa powder.

4. Finally add in 1 1/2 tbs milk, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, and 2 tsp almond. 

Assembly 

1. Cut a nickel sized hole into each of the cupcakes. 

2. Take the coconut filling out of the fridge and place a small amount in each cupcake.

3. Pipe your cupcakes with the chocolate frosting, or spread it on top with a knife. I then decided to garnished my cupcakes with some coconut shavings and salted almonds.