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Black Sesame Cupcakes (Vegan)[Try the Gray Stuff It's Delicious]

These cupcakes are inspired by the classic tale as old as time and will be sure to surprise everyone by their unique flavors.

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 12 - 14 cupcakes

Ingredients

Black Sesame Paste:

  • 1/2 cup black sesame seeds
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons water

Cake:

  • 1/2 cup 1 stick vegan "butter"
  • 1 cup organic cane sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream *see note
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup black sesame paste

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup 1 stick vegan "butter"
  • 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • remaining black sesame paste about 3 tablespoons

Instructions

Black Sesame Paste:

  1. Place the sesame seeds in a blender or food processor and blend for about 1 minute then scrape down the sides. Repeat last step, adding as much water as necessary to achieve a smooth-ish paste. (Mine was like wet sand when I got fed up and called it good.)

Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and beat sugar and "butter" together in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in coconut cream and milk until combined, then add baking powder, salt, vanilla, and 1/4 cup of your sesame paste. Mix in flour until batter is smooth.
  2. Divide batter into greased or paper lined cupcake pans and fill each cup all of the way full. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes (if using a mini pan cut the bake time in half) until toothpick comes out clean. Remove and cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

  1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, cream butter with 1 cup powdered sugar. Add sesame paste, vanilla, milk, and salt and mix until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar a little at a time until incorporated. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute until light and fluffy.

Recipe Notes

If you have trouble finding coconut cream at your local grocery store it's completely fine to use full-fat coconut milk and scrape the cream off of the top. Just be sure that it's cold enough to separate.