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 Passion Fruit Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 ½ cups light spelt flour
- 1 cup coconut palm or cane sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup brewed coffee
- ½ cup filtered water
Coconut Frosting & Assembly
- 2 cans full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
- pinch vanilla powder or splash of vanilla extract
- 3-4 ripe passion fruits
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.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°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.
Happy birthday! And congratulations! I’ve been hoping you would write a cookbook at some point. :)
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
I am so happy for you, Laura! Your book is going to be so beautiful. And Happy Happy Birthday!
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!
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
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! :)
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!
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.
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. :)
HOOOORAY! I had a feeling this was coming and I’m so excited! Congrats!
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!
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.
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!!
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
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to check out your book. I’m sure it will be amazing <3
Yay! Congrats, Laura! The book sounds incredible. So happy for you.
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!
congrats on the cookbook!! i can’t wait for it.. i know it’ll be amazing :)
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!
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
Laura this is the best news! I cannot wait to hold it in my hands. It’s going to be sensational. Happy Birthday!
YAY congrats!!! Can’t wait :)
Congratulations! Can’t wait to get your book :)
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
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
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!
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.
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
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!
This recipe looks incredible. I’m dying to try my hand at coconut milk frosting. Looks so rich and delicious. Thanks!
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).
Happy Birthday Laura!! And I’m so happy about your cookbook!!! I’m sure It will be awesome !!! Congratulations!! :)
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! Thirties rock. So excited to hear about your cookbook! Here’s to a year of balanced work and golden light!
Lovely, lovely! Hooray and congrats :) Looking forward to seeing the book in all its gorgeous glory x
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
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!
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
Congratulations! I look forward to adding it to my collection.
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
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.
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
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!
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
Yum, yum!! Congratulations on your book <3 Can't wait to read it!!
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
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.
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 :/
Congrats for the book! Looking forward to it!
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.
biggest congrats laura!!!! I’m so happy for you and your latest adventure!! to cupcakes, chocolate, passion fruit, cookbooks, and life!! ♡♡♡