Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

Gluten-free Vegan Samoa Cupcakes

by

Do you remember when I posted this picture up on Facebook of these deliciously looking Gluten-free Vegan Samoa Cupcakes? Some of you accused me of teasing and taunting {which to a certain degree I won’t argue with you}. Okay, okay I totally admit to being a cupcake bully.

Gluten-free Vegan Samoa Cupcakes - Fork & Beans

Remember when I said that the recipe was coming soon but that you would  have to wait for it? Remember that? And how I made you sit there, drooling over that raw caramel-oozing filling {thanks again, Isobelle, for introducing God’s nectar to me} for almost a week? Well, the wait is over! Now you can see for yourself just how GOOD this Gluten-Free Vegan Samoa Cupcake tastes!

Gluten-free Vegan Samoa Cupcakes - Fork & Beans

SAMOA CUPCAKES RECIPE

Makes 12 cupcakes

Gluten, egg, and dairy free

Date Caramel Sauce:

Ingredients

  • 16 dates, soaked in water for 1 hour
  • 1/2 c. agave nectar or maple syrup
  • 4-5 Tbs coconut oil
  • 7 Tbs water
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. De-pit and chop dates into thick chunks.
  2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until completely smooth. Takes a good 5 minutes to get the right consistency

Chocolate Cupcakes:

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c. sugar
  • 3/4 c. quinoa flour
  • 1/4 c. brown rice flour
  • 1/4 c. arrowroot
  • 1/4 c. potato starch (not flour)
  • 1/3 c. dutch-processed cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
  • 3/4 c. hemp milk
  • 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 c. oil
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line cupcake pan with muffin liners.
  3. Combine sugar, flours, starches, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together and whisk until evenly combined.
  4. Add hemp milk and apple cider vinegar together and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  5. Add oil and vanilla to “buttermilk” mixture (hemp milk and vinegar).
  6. Make a well in the center of the flour mix and add the liquid mix. With a wooden spoon, stir until combined
  7. Place approximately 1/3 c. of batter into each liner. Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center of cupcake

Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c. vegan cream cheese (I used Tofutti)
  • 1/2 c. vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
  • 3-4 c. powdered sugar
  • Dash of coconut or vanilla extract
  • 1/2 c. toasted coconut

Instructions

  1. With an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and butter.
  2. Slowly add powdered sugar until fully combined, light, and fluffy.
  3. Add extract of choice and blend.
  4. Fold in toasted coconut.

Caramel Coconut:

Ingredients

  • 1 c. toasted coconut (if you cannot find toasted coconut, simple bake shredded coconut on a baking sheet for 10 minutes at 350 degrees)
  • 4 Tbs caramel mixture

Instructions

Stir together until sticky, firm, and well combined.

ASSEMBLE:

  1. Cut out a 1″ circle out of the center of the cupcake. Be sure not to dig too deeply into the capitvity. Pipe caramel mixture into each hole (needs just about 1 Tb) by placing caramel into a Ziploc baggie with one corner cut out.
  2. Pipe frosting onto the top of the cupcake (use same Ziploc piping method).
  3. Top with caramel/coconut mix.
  4. Drizzle with melted chocolate stripes (pipe with a Ziploc and cut a small slit in one corner).
  5. Allow to set in fridge for 5-10 minutes.

Gluten-free Vegan Samoa Cupcakes - Fork & Beans

You can also mosey on down to the GoodVeg for this article. I’m passing out free cupcakes over there…

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jason R.

    So we had a Bake Sale in the office, and I thought I would do something different and try making something Gluten-Free and Vegan…. Came across this Blog, and was WOWed by this Cupcake…. Made a batch of 24, and they looked EXACTLY like the image you posted and I was VERY impressed!! Very Easy to make, and everyone LOVED them in the office. They were such a Big Hit!

    Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!

    Jason R.
    Gatineau, Quebec
    Canada

  3. Freeman Kujawski

    Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about Begging for Samoa Cupcakes | Fork and Beans .

  4. Hanh Kassa

    Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is excellent, as well as the content!. Thanks For Your article about Begging for Samoa Cupcakes | Fork and Beans .

  5. Jerrold Mahalko

    Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, as well as the content!. Thanks For Your article about Begging for Samoa Cupcakes | Fork and Beans .

  6. baju bayi

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is magnificent, as well as the content!. Thanks For Your article about Begging for Samoa Cupcakes | Fork and Beans .

  7. Jaime Noorda

    Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great, as well as the content!. Thanks For Your article about Begging for Samoa Cupcakes | Fork and Beans .

    • nick

      assuming you mean ‘soy’ free and are still looking for an answer, most of those substitutes are super expensive and hard to come by. there are a few websites ( dr-cow.com and awesomefoods.com ) that carry it, but i would honestly look into making your own ‘cashew cream cheese’. it’s amazing, cheaper and easy to make.

  11. delta

    Now that “we’ve” decided to make these, 😉 can you tell me about how many cups/parts of a cup the dates work out to be, I only have prechopped dates on hand.

    • Cara

      They are probably one of my favorite flavor combos in a cupcake ever, to be honest. They are sinfully good! Keep begging and you just might find one on your doorstep 🙂 xo

  13. Amanda

    How did I miss this post? These look amazing. Question- can I move in with you (or next store) so I can taste all of your amazing treats?!?! Every baker needs someone to taste-test and I’ll volunteer for that tough job! 🙂

    • Cara

      It would be a shame if you DIDN’T move in or next door, Amanda! I need help with this food. I think I am developing a sweets problem 🙂

  14. Lea

    I did it! The caramel is amazing. I’ve been in a sugar coma for the last two days but it may have been worth it. Pics are on my blog with a link to your recipe. Thanks again for this one ~ truly genius!
    Lea

    • Cara

      It really is a sugar coma, huh? But one definitely worth going through 🙂 So glad that you liked them. Excited to head over to your blog and check it out…

  15. Mary

    Can you use ALmond milk instead of hemp milk? Xanthum gum doesnt agree with me is their a substitute?

    • Cara

      Absolutley can use almond milk instead. I love hemp milk because it has a higher fat content for baking, that’s all 🙂 And the xanthan gum…are you the same way with guar gum? You can use that as an equal sub.

  16. throve

    I am so amazed at how good they look. I’m sure they taste as good as they look too. I have been thinking about your cupcakes all day. So I went out and bought one to put myself out of my misery. 🙂 One day I will make these.

    • Cara

      haha!!! That is hilarious–I so understand obsessing about food and having to eat it to get rid of the cravings! 🙂 Sorry for the torture… xo

      • throve

        I don’t have half your ingredients, but when I do, just you wait. 🙂 I’m only concerned at how many other cupcakes I will “have” to eat in the meantime.
        I have actually banned myself from making cupcakes at home as I know if I make a batch I will end up eating most of them. Trying to cut down on sweet things. But I do torture myself by reading food stuff, desserts and baking and I just can’t help myself!

        • Cara

          I should have prefaced this post with a warning. And I totally understand the ban–holy cow, I am going on a sugar strike after Easter! I have the tendency to eat everything I make {which is killing my waistline}. We are helpless creatures, aren’t we?? 🙂

  17. elise

    whoa buddy.
    im far too lazy right now, but the photos are making me star this recipe for SURE. one of these days ill be in a super baker mood and this will be the first thing i tackle. until then, ill be licking my computer screen. would it be weird to change this to my desktop background? (yes)

    • Cara

      They sound more labor intensive than they really are, I promise! You just soak the dates while you make the cupcakes and frosting. And it’s not weird at all to change this to your background. Your screen will be licked clean in no time 🙂

  18. ninaherbert

    I finally made these. Oh, my, hat! Talk about an indulgence.
    As my daughter shoved the last morsel of the last cupcake into her gob, she asked, “When will you be making these again Mummy?” :o)
    Thanks Cara!

    • Cara

      This just made me giggle. And I REALLY need to steal “Oh my hat!” <–I love that! So glad to hear that it was a kid pleaser, Nina. Now you have me thinking about them and I think I should make a new recipe…thanks! xo

  22. Molly

    Can I use GF all purpose flour instead of the other flours listed? And is there replacement for the potato starch? I want to make these so bad but don’t have the potato starch or the quinoa flour

    • Cara

      Hi Molly! You absolutely can use an all purpose flour mix. I cannot guarantee it will turn out exactly as the recipe just because gf baking is so finicky like that but definitely try it! Consider the flours and starches the all purpose mix so you don’t need to sub the potato starch with anything. Happy Baking! xo

  23. Isobelle

    BEJEEBUS! My stomach is kicking me right now.
    I want one of those buns (ahem, cupcakes)! And I don’t even like cupcakes!

    Man. Is this bakery of yours still happening, Cara?

    • Cara

      Hi beautiful! Look what you started. You teach me new tricks and now I make your stomach talk to you 🙂 The bakery is in it’s early stages {ie: very small steps} but yes, the dream is still alive! Come over and I will make you a cupcake… xo!

  26. Elaine Hart

    I just got done eating one. WOW they taste so much like the samoa cookies. Can’
    t wait to bake them again

    • Cara

      GET OUT, I am so happy to hear this–Woo-hoo!!! I am thinking about making me one too 🙂 So glad to hear you liked them, Elaine!

  27. Elaine Hart

    They look great. I’m making them as i write this .I have the cupcakes in the oven. I made the caramel sauce in my new vitamix. It’s amazing how it tastes just like caramel.Still have to melt chocolate and make icing.

    • Cara

      Okay, now you are making jealous with your VitaMix!! Isn’t that date caramel sauce awesome??? Sooooo much better than any non-dairy caramel I have ever tasted!

    • Cara

      Thank you Delish 🙂 I’m beginning to wonder now if I should start up my own group of girls and we could sell the cupcake version of the Girl Scout cookies… and instead of camping, sewing, or whatever you do to earn a badge, all of ours would be kitchen and baking themed. Ooooh, I think I am onto something here.

      Thanks for the comment–so appreciated! xo

  31. Willow

    Looks. So. Good. Can’t. Avert. Eyes…

    Beautiful post, Cara! And I love the title. I am putting this on my to-bake list, but I have to say I’m a little scared… I might have to do them for a party so I know I won’t eat them all. 😛

  33. Richa@HobbyandMore

    seriously.. too many teasers and trailers!! u can write a book too.. about how to eat what you want and how you want.. want a samoa cookie.. wait i give u a samoa cup cake, cheescake and a smoothie.. and a cookie of course! :D.. and u have to get thru these 10 pages of teasers of other things first! then skip to page 10998 for more pictures and a clue to the recipe!
    that center looks gorgeouss!

  34. Laurel

    You know your friends have been living in California too long when all you get from them are teasers and trailers filled with glamor shots. Want.

  35. ameyfm

    damn girl, these look so totally amazing. I was even looking for a xgfx sweetie idea… I might just make these! Mmmm. Samoas were always my A#1++ favorite girl scout cookie!

    • Cara

      You reall can’t go wrong with coconut, caramel, and chocolate right? AND the caramel is so easy to make and tastes better than any vegan caramel sauce I have yet to taste! {and healthier too!} Hope you can only eat just one, Amey–good luck 🙂

    • Cara

      Then the picture does the cupcakes justice 🙂 Thanks Caitlin! You are seriously the best–one of the most supportive people I know. xo

  38. Ashlae W.

    THESE LOOK SO GOOOOOOD! I’ve only ever made date caramel sauce with just dates and water, so I’m going to have to step it up and add a little sugar. YUM YUM YUMMO GET IN MY TUMMO. Seriously, I think it’s the early morning’s that bring out the weirdo in me.

    I WANT A CUPCAKE. BAD.

    • Cara

      I don’t think it’s the morning that is your issue, my love… hehe
      Can you repeat the yum yum tummo part again though?

    • Cara

      Yeah, I get problems with that often too. I wonder what in the world that is about??? But thanks for trying anying way! <3

  41. Gabby

    Oh wow. I’ve been looking for a vegan caramel sauce to add to something I’m working on, and this one looks perfect 🙂 Can I ask what kind of dates you used? I don’t need very much so I just want to make sure I get the proportions right when I try to scale it down!

Trackbacks