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Ghostly Mocha Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (Vegan)

No Autumn is complete without baking at least one spooky treat. These mocha mint cupcakes are delicious year round, but are extra special when you give them little ghost faces.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower oil or preferred oil
  • 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup semi-sweet dark chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup vegan butter or organic vegetable shortening
  • 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips for the ghost faces

Instructions

Chocolate Cupcakes:

  1. In a small glass stir the apple cider vinegar into the coconut milk. Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C) and combine oil and sugar in large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Add vinegar/coconut milk and mix in espresso powder, salt, extracts, and soda, then cocoa powder and flour and stir until batter is just smooth (don't over mix). Fold in the chocolate chips last until combined.
  2. Line a 12-count cupcake pans with paper or silicone liners (I recommend the silicone)( or you can just grease and flour the pan). Divide batter among them, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 22 - 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in centers. Cool for at least 5 minutes then loosen cupcakes from pan and place on a wire rack to finish cooling before topping with frosting

Frosting:

  1. Beat butter in a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment until combined smooth then add 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, a few cups at a time, until combined. Add milk, salt, and extracts and slowly beat in. Scrape down sides of bowl and then beat on high for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy. If the frosting seems a bit too soft add a little more powdered sugar as needed to thicken.
  2. Assemble:
  3. Fit a pastry bag with a large round top and fill with frosting. Pipe the frosting onto tops of cupcakes as desired in medium to tall spirals to look like ghosts. Place 3 chocolate chips per cupcake to make the little ghostly faces and serve as soon as possible. Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days at room temp or 1 week in the fridge.