Vegan Chocolate Passionfruit Cupcakes
I believe in letting things line up as they will with minimal force or interference. Organic growth. I don’t like to push anything too much and sometimes this tendency accelerates the pace of life more than expected, and sometimes it forces certain elements to lie still. Never too eager to push things forward persistently, but not laid back enough to watch any shred of a plan go to pieces without intervening either. Often enough, I find that these subtly strong undercurrents bring a cluster of life events all to a head at once.
I don’t know how else to say it. I’m making a cookbook! I’ve been keeping it secret from you for so long. I almost slipped a handful of times too. Over a hundred new recipes to suit any season, time of day, or movement in life. All vegan of course with simple, natural ingredients. My aim was to offer a physical companion to this site that would carry on those familiar themes of nourishment, seasonality, and celebration.
Recipes that feel just as right to make for a Tuesday night with your partner as they do for a proper holiday feast with the neighbours and friends. Things to make that are simple enough, but elegant and feel-good at the same time. There will be tons of photos and anecdotes to encourage. It’s going to be published by Avery in the US and Penguin Books in Canada.
So now that I’ve got that out in the open, I can tell you that I’m beginning the work of testing the recipes and ideas to make sure everything lines up with tasty/beautiful results. My goal is to be photographing this thing all summer so that the pages are full of dreamy, golden light. My posts here might be a touch more infrequent in the next year or so, and I hope you don’t mind.
Publishing a personal collection of stories from my kitchen only entered the realm of possibility because of your kind attention over the years. I’m overcome with a constant and gentle appreciation for this chance at a fulfilling career that feels just right for this moment in my life. Like a warm lightbulb glow that touches everything and never goes away. The timing is right, and I’m glad that we get to enjoy it together.
I made a simple enough, but sort of unusual treat to celebrate. A one-bowl chocolate cupcake with an airy coconut whip frosting and some tangy and tart dollops of fragrant passionfruit for a little interest. I love chocolate and passionfruit together. I think it’s the stuff of winter dessert dreams–fresh and rich at the same time. It evokes that whole unlikely-but-delicious chocolate and lemon combo. There’s a lot of flavour and texture contrast with this one and I think that’s why it’s such an appealing combo for me.
To birthdays, cakes, books, projects, life! 🙂
vegan chocolate passionfruit cupcakes
cake recipe barely adapted from Not Without Salt
print the recipe here!
serves: makes 12 cupcakes
notes: Most grocery stores are cool enough that you can test the setting properties of coconut milk for the icing right in the aisle (at least I find this to be true in my part of the world). Give the can a shake and if you feel liquid sloshing around, move on to the next one. It might look silly, but it’s worth the time.
cupcakes ingredients:
1 1/2 cups light/refined spelt flour (or light whole wheat flour works too)
1 cup coconut palm sugar, natural cane sugar or maple sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup filtered water
icing etc. ingredients:
2 cans full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight
2-3 tbsp maple syrup
pinch of vanilla powder, or a splash of extract
3-4 ripe passionfruit
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper cups and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the light spelt flour, coconut palm sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the sunflower oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla, coffee, and water. As quickly as you can, stir the batter with a spatula until smooth and fully combined. Quickly divide batter evenly among paper cups in the muffin pan. (you want to act fast because the vinegar and acidic components start working together as soon as they’re combined.
Slide the tray into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until cakes spring back when lightly touched or a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake emerges clean. Cool cupcakes completely.
Open the cans of coconut milk and scoop out the top layer of solid cream, leaving the residual water in the can for another use. Place coconut cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. To the bowl, add the maple syrup and vanilla powder. Whisk on high until you have an airy and smooth cream.
Divide coconut cream icing among the 12 cooled cupcakes, smoothing it out and leaving little pockets at the top for the passionfruit.
Cut passionfruits in half and scoop out about one teaspoon of pulp per cupcake. Serve immediately.
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Read Full Article https://thefirstmess.com/2015/02/26/vegan-chocolate-passionfruit-cupcakes-recipe/
biggest congrats laura!!!! I’m so happy for you and your latest adventure!! to cupcakes, chocolate, passion fruit, cookbooks, and life!! ♡♡♡
I was so hoping that this was the project that you were hinting about in the Pure Green Podcast interview I heard with you and I can’t tell you how excited I am about the prospect of having some of that First Mess goodness in my hands and in my kitchen. Huge congrats to you lady, it never feels to inspire when I see someone who is so talented + so passionate really find their path in life.
PS happy happy birthday!! So far, I’m very much of the opinion that your thirties are way better than your twenties.
Congrats for the book! Looking forward to it!
Yeah!!! I can’t wait to see your book!!! Congratulation!!
Ps : does your coconut milk contain any other ingredients than coconut and water? I tried last year to whip the solid cream but it didn’t increase in volume :/
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR COOKBOOK! It’s going to be all sorts of gorgeous and lovely and tasty, I know it. Just like these cupcakes… SWOON SO HARD.
Yum, yum!! Congratulations on your book <3 Can't wait to read it!!
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Congrats on the cookbook! That’s so exciting, I’ll definitely preorder it because I’m sure it’s going to be as fabulous as your blog!
I always shake the coconut milk cans in the supermarket to see if the milk is really creamy. I probably look demented when I do that but hey, it saves me buying shitty cans of coconut milk. I also much prefer using coconut cream for cupcake icing — it’s so much tastier than buttercream.
And happy birthday!xoxo
Having just recently discovered your blog, you don’t know me, but congratulations on the book! 🙂 I don’t mind the less frequent posting, because that means I can explore your archives some 🙂
I love the addition of coffee to the cupcakes!
Happy Birthday Laura!
Turning 30 was a real game changer for me and by the sounds of it, the same seems true for you. Congratulations on all your success. I love reading your weekly posts. Your messages always bubble with wisdom and and optimistic realism. Looking forward to when I can purchase your cookbook.
In support,
Dina
Yes!!! (with air fist-pump). I stumbled onto your blog about two months ago and from the first reading I said (to myself and everyone else I told about your site), “If this girl writes a cookbook – I’m buying it!”. I’m so happy for you , and me. Happy Birthday and enjoy the journey. I wait with great anticipation.
Laura! First off, happy happy day to you! You have been such an inspiration for my cooking and I love coming to this space each week to read your stories and see what you’ve cooked up. I read cookbooks like novels, and I’ve never been as excited about one as I am for yours 🙂 Good luck and big hugs to you! xx
Congratulations! I look forward to adding it to my collection.
Happiest of birthdays my sweet Laura! Yeah, yeah, yeah – fuck yeah. I’m sure it feels awesome to let this news flow out into the universe. Your future is bright, your soul is beautiful and I can’t wait to watch this journey unfold. xo, sherrie
This is the best news!! Congrats on the cookbook – it’s about time! So love reading your posts and trying out new recipes. Happy, happy birthday too!
This is such good news! I’ve just come out the other side of the cookbook process (or writing at least anyway, book isn’t in shops til June) and it’s so much fun. Hard work and tiring and stressful at times but so rewarding to cook and eat and write and be paid for it! Enjoy every moment – I can’t wait to see the beautiful book I know you will produce x
Lovely, lovely! Hooray and congrats 🙂 Looking forward to seeing the book in all its gorgeous glory x
Happy Birthday! Thirties rock. So excited to hear about your cookbook! Here’s to a year of balanced work and golden light!
happiest of birthdays to you, laura. i’ve been embracing and loving everything about the 30s, so i wish you all the good things! couldn’t be more thrilled for this next journey of yours, you and your work are ever so deserving. big, big hugs to you! xo
Happy Birthday Laura!! And I’m so happy about your cookbook!!! I’m sure It will be awesome !!! Congratulations!! 🙂
So much good news in a single post! First off, happy birthday! I hope it’s full of friends, family, this cake, and lots of cocktails.
And CONGRATS on the book! That is such wonderful news. I can’t wait for the day when I can hold it in my hands (and, of course, cook from it).
This recipe looks incredible. I’m dying to try my hand at coconut milk frosting. Looks so rich and delicious. Thanks!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And the cookbook news made me do a happy dance. I have been hoping for this for awhile. Your blog has changed the way I cook and see food. I think you are brilliant and your recipes have added so much deliciousness to my life!
I noticed you’re writing a cookbook like two weeks ago or so when I saw the line cookbook in your notebook. Congrats lady! If you need recipe testers, let me know. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be the first person to preorder it.
XX, Prince Anze
So many congrats! I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.
I have always shied away from passionfruit, but these cupcakes make me brave – I’m very intrigued by the flavour combination.
Yes! Wishing you the happiest-ever entrance into a new decade of life. I had a lot of fun in my twenties, but the thirties are a great time in a whole human way. So far, they’re my favorite.
And you know I’m over the moon to hear about the book! It’s truly thrilling news, and so well-deserved. I love everything you do, and just know that you’re going to raise the bar even further with the book. Cheers to all of this really, really good stuff!
I’ve been waiting for this announcement for foreeeeeever! So, so excited for you, babe. This cookbook is going to be HUGE. Happy happy day! <3
Laura, happiest of birthdays and well wishes for the new decade! you are definitely kicking it off right… cupcakes and cookbooks!! Congratulations. This new decade and new project are sure to push you and grow you in ways you never dreams. Nothing but the warmest wishes for everything. xo
Congratulations! Can’t wait to get your book 🙂
YAY congrats!!! Can’t wait 🙂
Laura this is the best news! I cannot wait to hold it in my hands. It’s going to be sensational. Happy Birthday!
The biggest congrats to you, girl!!!! So happy this new is out into the world now!! I cannot wait to get my hands on it. It’s going to be one of those everyday types of cookbooks that can also stand up as a coffee table showpiece…I just know it! (No pressure ;)) Wishing you the happiest of days as you turn 30! The craziest times have hit since that age and the most growth within myself. I know you’re going to keep rocking life and I so enjoy following your journey. xoxo
This is so wonderful! For so long now, I’ve wondered when you might announce that a cookbook is on the horizon. I certainly am excited to see it come to fruition and would be so happy to recipe-test for you! Big big big congratulations, Laura! Also wishing you the happiest of birthdays!
congrats on the cookbook!! i can’t wait for it.. i know it’ll be amazing 🙂
Yay! I’m so excited for you. You bring so much beauty to the art of living well. I cannot wait to have a copy in my spelt flour dusted hands. And happy birthday, too! Eat all the cupcakes!
Yay! Congrats, Laura! The book sounds incredible. So happy for you.
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to check out your book. I’m sure it will be amazing <3
Oh my! This is such an exciting news! Proud of you, Laura! Wish you happy birthday again, and much of inspiration to complete the project at your greatest! Big Love,
An x
I’ve been swooning over your blog for a long time and just waiting and waiting for you to say you were doing a cookbook! I’m so excited for you and this cookbook cannot come soon enough!! A big huge happy birthday to you as well. 🙂 I hope it’s a fabulous, beautiful year!!
You KNOW I’ve been waiting for this day to come!! Soooo excited for you (and for us that we’ll all be able to have a copy of your book, in hand!). Well done, friend. And a super, duper happy birthday to you! Big hugs your way.
Great news! I’m so looking forward to your book – I’m sure it will be a huge success. Can’t wait to see what wonderful little morsels you’ll be cooking up for us!
HOOOORAY! I had a feeling this was coming and I’m so excited! Congrats!
I knew it. I just knew this day was coming. Can’t wait to sit back with a pot of tea and read it cover to cover. 🙂
Congratulations! I can’t wait to get my hands on your cookbook – I know it’s going to be beautiful and delicious! It’s so great that you’re getting to realize this dream of yours.
Congratulations on the book and Happy Birthday! I can’t wait to get your gorgeous photos and recipes in my hands! I too turn 30 this year and am excited for new opportunities!
Yay! I’m happy to hear this; I know it’ll be great. I’m keeping an eye out for your call for recipe testers too. I’ve done it before for another vegan cookbook, and it was really fun! 🙂
CONGRATS AND HAPPY B-DAY!!! Ive been following your blog for a little over a year now (don’t comment often thow) and i truly love it! Now cant wait to look at ur BOOK everyday IN MY KITCHEN!
Good luck! xx
Oh man – your words are just as beautiful today as your photos! Cheers to starting the new decade with a BANG! You are gonna kill this cookbook thing and I am going to be (/ already am) your biggest fan! Can’t wait to see your beautiful talent in tangible form that I can hold. <3 <3 <3 PS Happiest of Bdays to you as well!
I am so happy for you, Laura! Your book is going to be so beautiful. And Happy Happy Birthday!
Omg yayyyyy!!! Such beautiful news! You’re going to kill it at the book girl! I’m so so excited ahh best news! Had a feeling after that pure green mag pod. Happiest birthday girl!! xo
Happy birthday! And congratulations! I’ve been hoping you would write a cookbook at some point. 🙂
Big congratulations! And happy birthday! I’ve just started digging into your archives and finding such inspiration. You have a great writing voice and a lovely perspective on food and cooking. Can’t wait for the book.
Oh, Laura!!
What wonderful news! This post truly made my day. I cannot. wait. to get my hands on your lovely cookbook!
And the photos in this post… perfection. Seriously.
xx
Oh my goodness, this is the absolute BEST news, Laura!! I could not be happier or more thrilled for you (or for us, to have such a lovely cookbook coming into the book world soon!) Like Kathryn said, you’re an absolute inspiration. As these lovely words in this and these insane cupcakes just go to show. So, so excited for you. Happiest of birthdays and hugest of congratulations to you, friend!!!
Such thrilling news, Laura! I cannot wait to follow the journey and see this come to fruition. You have a true gift for storytelling that has always resonated with me (and I’m sure many more) in a very impactful way. Best of luck to you in the process + warmest wishes on your birthday 🙂 keep on killin’ the game. <3
Happy Birthday and congratulations on your book deal! Very well deserved! Looking forward to holding it in my hands some day! And I’m feeling with you, it’s so hard not to shout out loud about a cool project such as writing your own cookbook! I myself told my readers that I have a cookbook coming out in two month (very niche though, on fructose malabsorption and all things sugarfree and wheatfree 😉
Enjoy the process of writing this cookbook! You will be surprised, how much work and fun it is at the same time! Cheers from Istanbul!
Congrats on the cookbook (and the birthday! I’m just two weeks behind you on that one:) ! I’m certain it will be beautiful and filled with your inspiring passion for food. Also – I love the passionfruit topping on these cupcakes!
oh for joy!!!!!! happy birthday and congratulations!!! this is wonderful news and your book is going to kick major ass. just like the cupcakes 🙂
Happy birthday and congratulations 🙂 And enjoy your project!
Been hoping for a cookbook from you for AGES. So exciting! Well deserved and congrats!!! I can’t wait.
Laura! Happy birthday! How exciting. The big 3-0. AND a cookbook announcement?! I feel like you are giving us a gift on your b-day. Hope you super crazy enjoy the day, you deserve it, and I’m so stoked to see all you create in the next year! – xo
Happy birthday! Hope you’ve had an amazing day and these cupcakes look amazing, I especially love the simple coconut icing! ALSO, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A COOKBOOK OUT?! I nearly stopped breathing, that is so exciting and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!!
Oh, I knew you must be working on some secret book. I’m so excited for you! And, these photos are so so beautiful. And, happy birthday! Much love. xx
A very happy birthday to you, dear! Congrats on the cookbook – I will be buying one, and I couldn’t be more excited. I know it will be beautiful and full of excellent recipes and content.
Any suggestions on what to do with the leftover coconut milk/watery residue? I have several recipes that incorporate the cream, and I always feel bad throwing the rest down the sink. I usually add it to a smoothie, but I don’t always want a smoothie.
Congratulations! Such great news for you and us. I can’t wait for the book! How exciting 🙂
Laura! Do you know how long I’ve been wishing for you to make a cookbook?! Since like forever. I’m gonna pre-pre-pre order that beautiful piece of art with yummiest recipes ever! So excited and so happy for you! And these cupcakes! And your birthday! Gah, it’s just all so good!
Congrats lady!!!!! Super happy for you and cannot wait to purchase that thang. Also, happy bird day!
Big big congrats!!! Sending you the best vibes. I’ve been through the process of making a cookbook (not my own) and it’s trying, but remember to connect with why you love what you do in the moments you hit the wall.
Can’t wait see what you create! <3
Happy Birthday Laura! I can’t wait for your cookbook! All of your recipes are super inspiring so I can only imagine what a sunshine-filled delight those printed pages are going to be 🙂
All the best with this project, and put my copy aside now!
Happy Birthday Lady! And a huge congrats on the book — such an incredibly exciting endeavour. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
They look like pieces of art!
*does freak out happy jig in excitement* HEEEEEELL YEEEEES!!!! You completely deserve this. Penguin! Avery! *geeks out* I’m so happy for you and so ABSOLUTELY excited for your cookbook to come out so that I can devour every recipe with passionate gusto. This is such a dream. Can we all make cupcakes in your honor to celebrate?! Also, count me in for recipe testing when the time comes!
Ohhhhh happy dance + heart explosions and all of the above. Happy Birthday to you, Laura! You are so right, sometimes the best things in life need to happen on their own time, without rushing or fussing – so thank you for all the inspiration you have been bringing here every week, can’t wait to see what goodness the pages of your book will hold! So, SO deserving, a million congratulations xo
can’t freaking wait! so incredibly proud of you. I know it’s a big job and I’ll be sending you all the good juju for a smooth and inspired process. Big hugs!!!
Congratulations and happy birthday! What an exciting time 🙂
Congratulations and a very happy birthday! It’s about time you have your cookbook out there, I’m sure it will be inspiring and I’m soo looking forward to it!
All the best to you and cheers to a year full of beauty, excitement and creativity! **silvia
First things first–Happy 30!
Secondly, I am so happy to hear you are creating a book that I will be able to have in my home. I always prefer a book to a computer but have leaned in to the blogs for some time–when in Rome, right? Of all the blogs I’ve subscribed (and unsubscribed) to, however, yours stands alone for me in quality and ease. I love the humanity you bring to your narrative and recipes. Thank you for gracing my home.
This is so exciting. I would love to see what you come up with for some delicious summertime foods. Happy birthday, and I hope that this next decade brings you more happiness than you ever thought possible.
YAY SUCH great news! I LOVE your recipes! Good luck and can’t wait to get my paws on the final result! You are inspirational 🙂
I love passion fruit. These look so delicious!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Congratulations Laura! That’s fantastic news. I had a sneaky feeling it might be in the pipeline for you! I can only imagine what beautiful stories, photos and recipes it will be full of! Everything you write, make and capture is beautiful. I can’t wait! Hopefully I’ll be able to get my hands on one over here in the UK. Wishing you all the best for the process! And yum.. cupcakes : ) xxx
Yes! Here’s to a year of beautiful light, bountiful produce and good vibes for the making of your book. So excited to see more Canadian bloggers writing cookbooks!
YES! so excited
Many congrats and happy (belated) birthday, you!
Congratulations, Laura!
Happy belated birthday! You will like your 30s and will make the most of them.:)
I am so happy that you have arrived to this “Laura is working on her book” place. SO excited for you (and for all of us, your little happy fans)!
If you ever need just one more tester, I hope, oh I so hope that maybe I can be of any help to you. 🙂
Thinking happy thoughts and wishing best of wishes and sending all of them your way!
Happy Birthday, Laura, and warmest congratulations to you. This is very exciting! You’ll love working with Penguin and the team there. Yay!
WHOA I’m so excited about this!! Congratulations!!
Your blog has been a go-to for me for a loong time. This is the place where I find most of my favorite everyday recipes that go for both parties and simple weekday lunches. I SO look forward to dirty up and make dog ears in your cookbook once it’s out! Good luck with the work and big hugs <3 Oh and happy birthday! :)
Agnes
Hooray! I was wondering when this announcement will come. I’m confident your cookbook will quickly become a favorite of mine 🙂 xo
so so thrilled.
just, thrilled.
yaaaaaaayyyy!!!! i’ve been waiting and hoping and wishing for this great news!!! so exciting!
happy birthday girlfriend!!!!
Excellent. Another cookbook to look forward, I’m so happy it’s vegan. My hands are up to help test your recipes! Happy birthday!!!
it’s going to be beautiful! i have to say, i love the style of photographs you have on this post, and those you’ve been showing us lately. they are JUST stunning, and so different. i love that you dare to be so different and yet, everything is delicious, healthy and satisfying. carry on!!
I am so so excited to hear this news, yay! I know already that it will be my favourite cookbook on my shelf. I actually already have a cookbook of yours as well…I spent a whole afternoon at work printing off every recipe of yours from the blog and filing into a little folder!! Haha. Congratulations, you must be just bursting with excitement. xx
Congratulations!! I’m SO VERY EXCITED to hear the news. I’m trying to keep my cookbook collection very small, but since discovering your blog about a year ago I have been wondering why on earth my favourite food blogger does not have a cookbook to showcase her sumptuous cooking and beautiful writing and photos…I need wonder no more! I hope it will be easy enough to get my hands on it here in Australia, I will be ordering a few copies!
yeah lady! So excited for you!! I know the book is going to be a stunner. Happy belated birthday as well.
SUPER congrats and HAPPY birthday!
Eeeek! Happy (belated) birthday and congratulations!!! As a non-vegan or vegetarian who leans toward a plant-based diet, you are my go-to in the food blog world. I love your creativity and humility, it is going to be so awesome to have a compilation of your ingenuity in the flesh (ahem, well, paper). Also, cannot wait to see your photos for the book. It’s gonna be gorgeous and delicious!
My my, I’ll be looking forward to you new book Laura. This whole magnificent collection in print. This is what you’ve been doing with your spare time. Anyway how timely of this recipe to fall in my care. Just as the passion fruit tree is in bloom in my front yard. I’ve got my baking mittens on for this one. Thank you Laura.
CONGRATS!!! and these cupcakes look so freakin’ amazing..gah…looking forward to new book darlin!
Love coconut cream frosting!! Passionfruit cupcakes sound amazing 🙂
Gorgeous images and those cupcakes look delicious!
Laura, you beautiful soul. I was beyond excited when I first stumbled upon this piece of news on social media (Twitter?), and this post just left me teary-eyed. I love seeing you being so passionate about what you’re doing, and to have just a fraction of that passion in my home, on my kitchen counter, feels extra special. So thank you for being so awesome. Hugs and cheers! xoxo
These are gorgeous and unique! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Just a comment on these photographs. Such interesting dynamic of light and shadow. It complements these delicious chocolate passion fruit cupcakes very well. Keep up the good work and congratulations on the book.
GIRL!!! Been meaning to send you so many congrats. Jeanine may have spilled the beans in Austin. 🙂 Thrilled for you and cannot wait to see the undoubtedly gorgeous cookbook that you are creating. Hooray!
A little late here – but wanted to say congratulations. I am currently eating your recipe entitled “fall vegetable slaw with hot + sweet ginger dressing” and it is AMAZING! It’s probably the 5th or 6th recipe I’ve made of yours and they are always much more delicious than I expect them to be. Now I just trust I will like whatever recipe of yours I’m using whether I think I like the ingredients or not. I love your recipes because I get a CSA box and they allow me to use up my produce in delicious and creative ways. All of this is to say I am very excited about you publishing a cookbook and I will buy it as soon as it becomes available! Thank you so much for helping me eat delicious, healthy, wonderful meals!
Very much looking forward to your book! Congratulations!
These cupcakes also look divine – I wish I could get my hands on some passionfruit to make them! 🙂
A belated happy 30th and huge congrats on the cookbook! I find inspiration from your blog all the time and am constantly recommending it to friends. What a joy it will be to have a hard copy version on my cookbook shelf. Good luck!
Holy mackerels, this BBQ sauce is AMAZING! I just had some with tinned lentils on top of buttery toast.
Best cupcakes recipe ever. Fresh and with fruits and awesome look!
wow, these look mouthwateringly good! I live in Hawaii and we just reached the end of our passion fruit (a.k.a. lilikoi) season, and I’m so sad about it. Just a month ago I could take a five minute walk from my house and pick up a shirt-full of passion fruit from vines growing on the side of the road. I’ll keep this recipe in mind for next season. Thanks so much!
p.s. I made a passion fruit sangria a couple months ago, and it turned out a-maz-ing!
First of all: I love browsing through your blog, it’s full of inspiration! I have been a reader for a while and when I first saw this recipe, I couldn’t wait to finally try it myself. But unfortunately, the cupcakes didn’t turn out as imagined, I am quite disappointed. It took twice the baking time (40 minutes!), the consistency before was pudding-like. Furthermore, the cupcakes ended up not rising at all – they flattened more and more during the baking process and turned out dense (now it’s as much cupcake as topping). And the taste… in my opinion it should be more chocolatey. There is also some weird unexpected flavour, I guess it’s the vinegar. Not really happy with these cupcakes…
All the best from far away Austria,
Theresa
Hi Theresa,
I’m so sorry that these were a disappointment for you! I know at least a few people have made this recipe with good results. I’ll try to address some of the problems here, but I’ve only made these one way (as described in the recipe), so I’m not sure how helpful I can be.
Honestly, I can’t explain the longer baking time. Maybe my oven is hotter and I’m just not aware of it? Do you live at a higher altitude than sea level possibly? This observation is troubling to me because the baking time is such a crucial component. I don’t want to lead others astray. I wonder if your flour was fresher than mine? This definitely isn’t a poofy, super-domed cupcake, but they shouldn’t have flattened more as they baked either. Did the surface appear sort of mottled when they were done baking? These cupcakes rise because of the interaction between the baking soda and acidic components (cocoa + vinegar). Because I use that interaction as the leavening agent, as soon as you’re done mixing the batter, it has to be scooped into the cupcake tins and baked immediately. I just realized that I did not specify this in the recipe and will do so now.
I’m sorry they weren’t chocolaty enough to suit your taste either. I’m curious if you made any adjustments to the recipe at all? Or if European versions of tablespoons/teaspoons etc are different than the North American counterparts and THAT may have effected the recipe..? Any other feedback that you feel comfortable sending my way would be so appreciated! I might even try making these up this afternoon just to re-visit the recipe.
Thanks so much + all best,
Laura
These look absolutely stunning – and are suitable for a low FODMAP diet if I use gluten free flour so I’m over the moon! Can’t wait to try the coconut and passionfruit flavours together!
These look amazing, chocolate and passionfruit = heaven!!
I know it’s an older post, but, wanted to say how much I loved how these little cakes turned out. I even subbed plain old all purpose flour for the spelt and reduced the sugar by 1/4 cup… didn’t have coconut milk so made a simple passionfruit icing. These are my new go-to chocolate cupcakes. the coffee makes them so deep, aromatic, and delicious. Funny, but a local donut shop makes an incredible passionfruit curd filled coffee glazed donut and as I was eating these cupcakes I was completely reminded of them. So beautiful!