Gluten and dairy free Cupcake Heaven
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Cupcakes - ideas for cupcakes and recipes to follow
Cupcakes are wonderful. Years ago they were the cakes favoured for childrens parties, lots of colour and decorations; designed to be fun. Nowadays they are the 'in' thing, a cake for every occasion; weddings, birthdays, hen nights, christenings and those 'just because you can' days.
They can be any size and arranged in the most imaginative ways to suit you. Not only are they wonderful to look, delicious to eat but they can also be made individually unique or a small part of a bigger picture. Step into the sweet and wonderful world of cupcakes, there are ideas galore for you to follow and adapt to you and it is a mouthwatering delve into sugar heaven.
The photo attached shows my wedding reception cakes, my mom made them, all gluten and dairy free and everyone thought they were the best they had tasted!
A quick guide to the page
Basic cupcake sponge cake recipe
Baking cupcakes
- Serves: 12 cakes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
This is a great recipe for making cupcakes, it can be adapted by adding lemon, chocolate, orange, infact anything you like but if you want a quick recipe to make some cupcakes to decorate, you can't go wrong with this!
What is great about this is that it is so quick and easy to make!
Ingredients
- 175g (6oz) gluten free self-raising flour
- 1 tsp gluten free baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 110g (4oz) soft dairy free margerine
- 110g (4oz) caster sugar
- 2 free range large eggs
- 2-3 drops of vanilla essence
- 1tbsp water
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190 C/ 375 F/ gas mark 5 and put 12 small cases into a tray.
Combine all the ingredients, except the water, together into a bowl and beat until smooth (1-2 minutes). Check the consistency if it is too stiff to come off the spoon add the water and beat again.
Using a spoon share the mixture equally amongst the cases ans smooth them off.
Bake in the oven, just above the centre for 15-20 minutes or until they are well risen and golden.
Remove them from the oven and leave them to cool on a wire rack.
The tools you use to bake the perfect cake
There are no right or wrong answers to the bakeware you use but as with everything you pay for what you get. It is worth reading up on each of the items you use, look at other people's reviews and see what is recommended and why. most people have a favourite brand or type of bakeware to use so it is very personal, however if you choose wisely and look after your items they will last a very long time. I use the same as my mom and this is often the way in families.I have the following items in my baking cupboard, it is not an exhaustive list but a great basic start.
A large and a small glass bowl
An electric whisk and a hand whisk.
2 wooden spoons and a metal spoon.
A measuring jug.
A large and a small metal sieve.
A set of measuring scales.
Paper muffin and fairy cake cases.
A muffin tray and a fairy cake tray.
Measuring spoons.
Greaseproof paper.
A metal cooling tray.
Apron.
I keep them all in one cupboard so they are easily accessable. I also have all the basic ingredients in just buying some of the more unusual ones as I go along.
Cupcakes aprons
Cupcakes for your wedding
Gluten and dairy free
I was married nearly two years ago and for my wedding I wanted cupcakes with a main cake on top. It was made by my mom, who used to be a professional cakemaker and the people were designed and made by my sister who had taught herself especially for me.It was a fantastic cake; the figurines were made in our image, a surprise to us and the cakes were gluten and dairy free. Everyone was able to take one home. they tasted divine and we loved it, it made our wedding day even more special. The cakes were vanilla sponge with buttericing and chocolate sponge with chocolate buttericing, our favourite flavours. We also chose to have the top cake as a vanilla sponge as neither of us like fruitcake, it was such success and people enjoyed them.
I would recommend a cupcake wedding cake as they can look amazing and there are some fantastic ideas out there. Cupcakes can be frozen up to three months so they don't have to be left until the last minute. People can take away a whole cake from your wedding and they can be personalised! They are not a cheap option but they are fabulous!
Cupcakes
Honeycomb creams recipe
Gluten and dairy free
- Serves: 12 cakes
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
This is one of my favourite recipes from Woman's weekly. The cake is so moist and addictive that it will possibly become one of your favourites too!
This can be made gluten and dairy free using gluten free flour, dairy free spread (I use the stork block) and a mixture of soya dream (a dairy free cream) and milk to replace the buttermilk. There is also a dairy free cream that can be whipped!
Ingredients
- 110g firmly packed brown sugar
- 75g gluten free plain flour
- 75g gluten free self-raising flour
- 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 90g dairy free softened margerine
- 1 egg (free range)
- 60ml (soya milk mixed with 1tbsp lemon juice)
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 50g dark eating chocolate coarsely chopped
- Topping violet crumble bars (I use plain honeycomb) and cream
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 170 C/150 C in a fan assisted oven. Put 12 paper cases into a muffin pan.
Sift dry ingredients into a small bowl and add the margarine, egg, soya milk and syrup. Beat mixture with an electric whisk on a low speed (this can be done with a hand whisk) until ingredients are combined.
Increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture has changed to a paler colour.
Stir in the chocolate (the best bit!)
Divide the mixture amongst the cases and smooth the surface.
Bake the cakes for 30 mins, (if they are bigger cook for 40 minutes).
Turn the cakes on a wire rack to cool.
Spread cakes with whipped cream and top with the violet crumble (honeycomb!)
Make a different cupcake for each of your dinner guests!
Dinner party
Create unique cupcakes for your dinner party.
How can I make my dinner party unique? How can I make it stand out from others and show that I have put time and effort into it? Create that special touch with a cupcake.Planning a dinner party can be stressful but hopefully enjoyable at the same time, otherwise why would we do it. They can all be gluten and dairy free and people can never taste the difference.
The starters and main courses I will leave to you, there are some wonderful pages and ideas on these elsewhere, I am going to suggest that there are many options for the dessert stage, a lovely pudding, rich in butter and sweetness can be a lovely way to end a meal but so can a cupcake. Then again I can also recommend both!!!
You can create a wonderful end to your dinner party, something a little different,. a cheesecake, a chocolate mousse and a lemon surprise can all be cupcakes. Not only can they taste rich and luxurious but you can personalise them for each guest. The letter of their name created in chocolate writing, a design that is significant to that person or a flavour that you know to be their favourite; the list is endless. Not only this but the cupcake is a perfect size to serve, with icecream, cream, sorbet or exquisitely on it's own.
I have put in a recipe below for chocolate and ginger cake, this is perfect for a rich finish to your evening and can be decorated however you like on top. The picture is for direction but a lovely swirly letter on top would be the wonderful finishing touch.
Chocolate and ginger cake recipe
Learn to cook this divine pudding, a cupcake masterpiece
- Serves: 12 cakes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
This is a rich and luxurious recipe, tasty and perfect to impress others with! It takes a little longer but it is worth the wait!
Ingredients
- 165g margarine coursely chopped
- 100g dark eating chocolate coursely chopped
- 295g caster sugar
- 160ml green ginger wine
- 60ml water
- 2tbsp gluten free self raising flour
- 2tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 free range egg
- 75g finely chopped glace ginger
- DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE (covers the cupcake)
- 125ml thickened dairy free cream
- 200g coursely chopped dark eating chocolate
- Whatever you want to decorate it with!
Instructions
Preheat oven to 170 C/330 F (or 150 C/330 F for fan assisted). Put 12 paper muffin cases into a muffin pan.
Combine the margarine, chocolate, sugar, wine and water in a small saucepan; stir over a low heat until smooth. Transfer to a bowl for 15 minutes until cool.
Whisk in the sifted flours and cocoa and then the egg. Stir in the ginger and divide the mixture between the twelve cases.
Bake the cakes for about an hour then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool.
Make the dark chocolate ganache by bringing the cream to the boil in a small saucepan, pour it over the chocolate in a small bowl and stir it until smooth. Stand it at room temperature until it becomes a thick pouring consistancy.
Pour the ganache over the cakes and set them at room temperature.
When they are set decorate the cake with whatever you want, chocolate pieces, a piece of ginger, some beautiful chocolate leaves, the world is your oyster!
Favourite cupcake
I assumed that everyone loved cupcakes so I have added some of my favourite flavours below, which one is your bit of heaven?
If you like my page don't forget to like it!
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Displaying your cupcakes perfectly
Every occasion is different
Displaying the cupcakes can be the difference between them looking lovely and looking amazing. In the attached photo, it shows my wedding reception cakes and the biscuits that my sister made. In a tin these would have looked lovely but on dispay as they are it looked amazing.The stands enable people to see the detail and the eye is drawn accross them to show the exquisite details. This can be achieved on a beautiful plate, a gorgeous tray or a stand. To save expense you can dress whatever you choose up with pretty paper and glitter, the things you probably have in your home already, if you have children.
This way they can be the main focus of a buffet table or on display as people walk into your house or something that binds together the theme of your party with the food.
For childrens parties, big, bright and bold displays of colour; they will love it however you do it!
Have fun with it and show off your hard work (or someone else's!)
Display your cupcakes with pride
buy a cake stand that enhances your cupcakes
I have done it both ways, on a stand and on a plate, either way is lovely!
eBay - sometimes a cheaper option
Other Gluten free recipes
Cupcakes for childrens parties
By making them gluten and dairy free evry child can have one.
Cupcakes are perfect for childrens parties, they can be made into simple butterfly cakes, decorated with fondant icing, royal icing and there are so many cheats now from the shop that even if your creative skills are not in making cakes, you can make them look fab!Children like colour and fun so they can be easy to decorate and what can be even more enjoyable is to get them involved, something they can be proud of and also they can have that unpolished look for a reason!
There is also the option if you are having a themed party for the cakes to fit in with them. Princess cakes, fairy cakes, pirate cakes (the ones in the photo are made by my friend Lucy), balloon cakes, the list is endless. I found that the easiest to make are butterfly cakes and they look and taste delicious. I have added the recipe below for lemon butterfly cakes but they can be any flavour you choose!
Have fun with baking and it will show in what you make. Remember that children like bright colours and fun and as long as they are tasty they are generally happy!
Gluten free cupcakes
Lemon butterfly cakes
- Serves: 12 cakes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Easy all in one mixture. I have put the recipe for buttercream seperately but it is also easy to make and delicious! These are one of my favourites to make and of course eat!
You can replace the buttercream with lemon curd, icing, jam and so on but buttercream is my favourite!
Ingredients
- 175g (6oz) gluten free self-raising flour
- A pinch of salt
- 110g (4oz) soft dairy free margarine at room temperature
- 110g (4oz) caster sugar
- 2 Large free range eggs
- 1 dessertspoon lemon juice
- Rind of 1 lemon grated
- For the filling buttercream (recipe below)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190 C/375 F/gas mark 5. Put twelve small paper cases in a fairy cake tin.
Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl until absolutely smooth (see it is this simple!).
Using a spoon, drop the mixture into the cases equally. Tap the tin gently a couple of times to settle the mixture if needed.
Bake in the middle of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cakes are well risen and golden.
Remove them and allow to cool on a wire rack.
Make up the butter icing.
When they are cool, take a sharp knife and cut the top off each cake at an angle in a circle about 1cm (1/2 inch) from the edge of the cake so you remove a cone-shaped round, leaving a hole in the centre.
Cut each cone in half and set aside.
Fill the cavity with the buttercream then sit the two halves of the cone-shaped pieces of cake on top like butterfly wings! Voila!
Dairy free Buttercream/ butter-icing recipe
Delicious tasty and so moreish.......
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Learn to make buttercream, it is a wonderful accompaniment to many cakes.
Buttercream is a wonderful addition to cupcakes. It is used in butterfly cakrs or like my wedding cakes above it can be made into a classy swirl that looks expensive. (The photo attached is my wedding cupcakes).
Buttercream can be frozen in the an airtight plastic container in the freezer for up to three months.
Variations
Chocolate - flavour the buttercream with eirther 100g (3 1/2 oz) of melted plain chocolate ot 1 tbsp cocoa ,ixed into 2 tbsp hot water.
Coffee - mix 1tbsp of instant coffee into a paste with a tbsp of water and add to the buttercream
Alternatively instead of vanilla add a different essence, peppermint, lemon, orange or almond.
Ingredients
- 250g (9oz) softened dairy free margarine (use vitalite if you like the buttery taste)
- 500g (1lb 2oz) sieved icing sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp hot water
Instructions
Place the margarine in a bowl and mix until light and fluffy.
Carefully mix the sugar, vanilla essence and the water and beat them well. If you beat it on a fast speed, it should turn virtually white and is great to manipulate into shapes on the cake.
Cupcake carry case
These is perfect for helping you get them from A to B!
Places to buy cupcakes
- Healthy Cake company
- All cakes are wheat, gluten and dairy free and can be ordered without egg or sugar.
- Cake Angels
- These are beautiful cakes and if you don't want to make them yourself this is the next best thing!
- Gluten free creations in Arizona
- Looking for gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or simply great tasting nutritious food? Then GFC Bakery and Good Food Café is your new home.
This bright and uplifting location is the very first totally wheat-free bakery/café in Arizona!
Cupcakes galore - my guestbook
Leave a message to say you've been here, would love to hear what you think and if you are a lover of cupcakes then say it proud!
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The_Micro_Farm_Project May 23, 2012 @ 7:21 pm | delete
- Looks delicious! Thank you!
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BLemley
May 2, 2012 @ 5:27 pm | delete
- I will have to find a conversion chart! All your lenses look beyond scrumptious! Delicious lenses! Great job ~ I am most hungry for a good piece of cake ~ any will do!
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LivingGlutenFree
Mar 11, 2012 @ 8:33 am | delete
- More and more of us are finding that we have to eat wheat and/or dairy free products and you have a great selection here for people to choose from!
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BlueObsidian Mar 3, 2012 @ 5:32 pm | delete
- Great lens! I used to bake wedding cakes professionally and always loved the idea of a cupcake tower instead of a traditional cake. Now I'm hungry!
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Mick
Feb 13, 2012 @ 6:40 pm | delete
- Love this page, loads of great stuff on it, I agree with the previous person, it makes me hungry.
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transcriptioncity
Feb 9, 2012 @ 6:17 pm | delete
- Enjoyed the lens, I'm hungry!
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Adrianna
Feb 9, 2012 @ 5:01 am | delete
- Love the look of the heart shape biscuits you had for your wedding, do you have the recipe for them?
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aj2008
Dec 5, 2011 @ 12:55 pm | delete
- Congratulations from me too on an excellent wheat free lens. You may like to consider adding the link to this page to my plexo for what free recipes on my Wheat Free dieting lens.
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PaulOnBooks
Dec 3, 2011 @ 4:35 pm | delete
- I can honestly say I didn;t see myself blessing a cupcakes lens but this is beautifuly written, congratulations.
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Bookworm25
Dec 4, 2011 @ 2:19 pm | delete
- Thuch, appreciate your feedback as always and I am so pleased that you liked it. :)
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My Lenses
by Bookworm25
I have been gluten and dairy free my whole life. When I was young it was fine as my Mom is a professinal cook. However as I left home I realised that... more »
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