Not too long ago, I did a post on entertaining search terms that are used to find Keepin' It Kind. These search terms, along with the comments in the spam folder, give me great joy when I read them.
Now I've got a few more to add to the list.
To the people who found me with "Money Eating Beagle": Please elaborate. Was the beagle eating the money or the money eating the beagle? And do you think I could find it on Youtube?
To the person who found me with "sweet potato fries in my cabinet": Is "cabinet" slang for "tummy"? If that's so, I'd like to put some sweet potatoes fries in my cabinet too. If not, I think you need to rethink your food storage situation.
To the person who found me with "cylindrical cake fail": I feel you. Baking cakes is not one of my strengths either, but keep trying!
To the person who found me with "I like the taste of bitter rubber bands": I have no words...
With the seasons changing, I now have a new most popular search term! It seems that everybody is looking for sugar-free cream cheese frosting, so folks, I'm hooking you up! I wanted to make a more autumnal (I just love that word!) sugar-free cream cheese frosting so I decided to add a bit of cinnamon. With the frosting made, I needed something to put it on. Because I have the best boyfriend in the world (You know him- The Chickpea? Yeah, that Chickpea. He's so cute, right?), and he's always trying to help out, he suggested I make the cupcakes with chickpea flour too! I decided that cupcakes made with sweet juicy apples and nutty chickpea flour, topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting, sounded too amazing not to make. The result was better than I had imagined: the cinnamon-laced chickpea batter combined with chunks of baked apples reminded me of an apple fritter, disguised as a cake, and the sugar-free cream cheese frosting couldn't have accentuated these flavors better. I even topped them with some Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas and sprinkled them with cinnamon for a little extra flavor punch!
To the people who are searching for "apple fritter cupcakes" or "sugar-free cream cheese frosting," this one is for you.
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan buttermilk (1/2 cup non-dairy milk, mixed with ½ tsp apple cider vinegar)
- ¼ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour (use gluten-free mix if needed)
- 3 teaspoons Ener-g Egg Replacer
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- 3 small tart apples, such as Granny Smith, thinly sliced and then cut into pieces
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2/3 cup vegan cream cheese (non-hydrogenated)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 stevia packets (about ½ – 1 teaspoon powdered stevia)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly grease a muffin tin or fill the cups with liners.
- Make your buttermilk (1/2 cup non-dairy milk, mixed with ½ tsp apple cider vinegar) and let curdle for 10 minutes.
- Place your apple chunks in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.
- Use a whisk to combine all of your dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, mix together your liquid ingredients, including the buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the apple chunks and mix until the they are thoroughly distributed.
- Evenly distribute the batter into each of the cups of the muffin tin until each are about 2/3 – 3/4 of the way full. Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before removing and letting them cool on a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before topping with the frosting. I recommend also decorating them with Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer to fully combine. Mix until smooth.
- If using a pastry bag, pour the frosting into the bag, apply the tip of choice, and place in the refrigerator to chill. You can also use a large sealable plastic bag, and clip one corner, in place of a pastry bag. Whatever you choose, use your bag to squeeze frosting out onto each of the cupcakes.
- Alternatively, you can just use a rubber spatula or frosting spreader to apply the frosting. Just chill the frosting until ready to use.
Notes
If you like a big pile of frosting on your cupcake, double the frosting recipe.
To answer your questions: Yes, it was my first time using a real pastry bag. Yes, I realize it looks like a seven year-old frosted the cupcakes. Yes, I did pretend I was a fancy pastry chef while I did it and yes, I had a blast!
First time here? Check out the rest of my Chickpea Love Affair Vegan MoFo Entries!
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Photography by Chris Miller
Bex @ Vegan Sparkles
Ohhhh, these are adorable and gluten-free to boot! Your boyfriend is so versatile!! 😉 I will definitely be doubling the frosting recipe (and licking the beaters!) and I think your first time with a pastry bag was a huge success! They look scrumptious!
keepinitkind
Isn't he though? He is just always surprising me. 🙂 Next time, I'll be doubling the frosting recipe as well- just to have more to eat directly from the bowl. 🙂
Johanna GGG
these look great - I can't drive a piping bag to save myself so I am impressed with your frosting and I especially love your maple chickpeas on top - brilliant idea!
the search terms are very amusing - I get some odd ones too and just wonder what people are expecting when they put in such search terms and what makes them think my blog might have the answer - but gives me a laugh
keepinitkind
Thank you! I know- the search terms always make me think "What on earth did I say or do in order to be connected with this search term?" It's pretty funny!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
You get the strangest search terms Kristy, I'm a little jealous!
These looks so tasty! Don't worry I'm not great with piping icing either 😉
keepinitkind
Thank you. I don't know that it's something to be jealous of- I just wonder what on earth I did to be connected to bitter tasting rubber bands?
I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who is not frosting piping inclined. 🙂
Caitlin
these cupcakes are stunning! i love the little chickpeas on top AND i was actually thinking how adorably the cupcakes wee iced when i read it was your first time with a pastry bag!
plus, the are so healthy- what's not to love? i am very much enjoying this love affair!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Cailtin! Thank you for humoring me on the icing. 😉 I'm much more determined to get better now, though!
FoodFeud
I love reading searches to find people's websites too, haha! You have some good ones....but where is the beagle I came here for??
Fantastic looking little fritters!
keepinitkind
Thank you! They are always good for a laugh. Search terms, not beagles, I mean. 😉
Annie
Heehee! Love when you share the search terms - so funny, so weird. BTW, the photos are especially beautiful today!
keepinitkind
Thank you! I love sharing them with you. And Chris was very happy to hear that you like the photos today- he was "iffy" about them. 🙂
Shira
Very very creative - a total WIN! They loo fantastic Kristy! I am so with you on the funny search terms.....I've got a few goodies along with you 🙂 X
keepinitkind
Thank you, Shira! A good read through the search terms can brighten any day! 🙂
Shira
Haha - look 🙂
keepinitkind
😀
Vanessa
This had me laughing out loud. Bitter rubber bands... really? Cupcakes look great - can't wait to try this recipe!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Vanessa! I know- the day the bitter rubber bands term came in, I had to keep going back and checking it- I just was so confused! I hope you like the cupcakes! 🙂
Michelle
Im sorry but Mondays are strictly your cocoa bliss bowl some variation of it. My day off and after my kids are dropped off I make that...hubby had to meet a client so he wasn't happy he missed it.... lol
Anyway back yo these ..they'll have to wait til the weekend ...love the pix they look goooood
What's your new job?
keepinitkind
Thanks, Michelle! I hope you enjoy them!
I miss acai bowls! With work, I've only been able to have them on the weekends, but I guess that just makes me appreciate them more. 😉
I work as a Locations Coordinator (office coordinator for the Locations Department) for film/tv/commercials. Right now, I'm working on a film and my office is all the way in Glendale! It's a paycheck, though, and it will keep me working up until Christmas which is good and I get to work with my husband so it's pretty fun. 🙂 I'm very, very thankful for all of it.
Michelle
Check this out..didn't know sambazon was from orange county they just opened a cafe down the street. We went last night had an Acai bowl...talked to the guy about making them too ...they have a bar of fresh mangoes coconut granola ...
So cool....but still like mine spoiled I guess...
Great news on the job 🙂
keepinitkind
THank you, Michelle! And that sounds like an awesome cafe- Lucky you to live so close! 🙂
Melissa
These look amazing and delicious! I am so horrible at frosting cupcakes, so don't worry. I think you did a great job. 🙂
Once again your search terms are hilarious! I once knew someone that had a dog that liked to eat money... 😉
keepinitkind
Thanks, Melissa! I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one who isn't a natural at frosting cupcakes. 🙂
P.S. Is this your way of telling me it was you looking for that beagle? 😉
Courtney
Oh my goodness--these sound fabulous! I can't wait to try them 🙂
Courtney
keepinitkind
Thank you, Courtney!
Willow
Haha - wow, those search results are crazy. I used to think mine were pretty good, but now they're boring and tend to make sense. How disappointing. 😛
Those cupcakes sound right up my ally - love apples and cinnamon, and the nuttiness of the flour would work so well. Mmm!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Willow! Search Results do provide great entertainment, don't they? 😉
Richa`
money eating beagle .. i have no clue why anyone would be searching for that 😀
and these cupcakes surely need to come into my chickpea filled cabinet!:))
love that top shot with the crispy chickpeas on top!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Richa! From experience, I can tell you that these cupcakes make for very happy cabinets. 😉
Courtney Jones
*hehehehe* The search terms bit was sooooo funny! I snorted aloud! *hehe*
These cupcakes look incredible! Wow! I must try these this fall season. Yum!
keepinitkind
Yay! Another snorter! Now I don't feel so bad... 😉
Heather
You are so amazing! These are incredibly creative and look so so GOOD - can I move in with you and we can pretend we are fancy pastry chefs together?
keepinitkind
You don't know how much I love that idea! Can we wear tall chef's hats? Please? 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Heather- you always put such a big smile on my face.
Somer
Laughing my butt off and salivating all at the same time, Girl, this is a one-two punch! YUMMY!
Reia@TheCrueltyFreeReview
I'm a sucker for cupcakes, and the addition of sugar-free frosting just sealed the deal!
Your search terms are hilarious. I don't think I have any as odd, but I still wonder how some of the terms lead to my page. Oh well, traffic is traffic, right 😉
keepinitkind
Thank you, Reia! I'm a sucker for a good cupcake too. It always feels like such an indulgence, even if it's a healthy one like this. 🙂