Notice I typed "almost," as I did end up eating this tasty morsel. I wouldn't normally consume an animal, but this one was entirely raw vegan, so I guess it was okay.
I don't know why I buy kid's cookbooks for my son, when he rarely has any interest in the recipes inside. I could just as easily entertain him in the kitchen, making things he already enjoys, but in a more exciting way.Amazingly, this particular cookbook actually ended up inspiring both of us. While he decorated his baked version of the cupcakes, I dolled up a raw one, similar to the book's "puppy cake." I just replaced the cooked toppings for raw ingredients I had in my kitchen.
Let's see; instead of using store-bought cookies for the droopy ears, I perked the little puppy up a bit with these apple wedge versions. I also stuck with the fruit theme by using a banana slice as one of the rings around his eye, as opposed to the suggested piece of candy.
I did use a cookie for the other eye circle, but this was a raw one I had stocked up in my freezer (I like to put the extras from my "unbaking" in there for when a craving strikes). This particular one was a raw gingerbread circle, similar to a ginger snap (they are more likely to "snap" right after you remove them from the freezer). I make them in a variety of shapes and sizes for snacking, decorating raw cupcakes like these or constructing raw ginger bread houses, such as this one.The pink icing was also leftover in my freezer from icing this cupcake, while the chocolate nose was piped from the frosting swirled on yesterday's model. But, I whipped up a quick combination of cocoa powder and agave nectar to draw on the mouth and the inside of the eyes.
Underneath all that decoration is just a basic spiced cupcake, but just in case you need the recipe, here it is again in celebration of Vegan Mofo.
Basic Spiced Cupcake*Makes one cupcake for those times you just want what everyone else is having. Feel free to make a larger batch if needed.
- 1/4 cup cashews, ground into flour
- 1/4 cup almonds, ground into flour
- pie spice
- dash of sea salt
- 1 Tbsp. date paste
- raw whipped icing (I used this whipped cream)
- whatever you have on hand for decorating
Next, add the date paste and a touch of vanilla. Whisk/mix to combine. The batter should be moist, but not so damp that it requires "baking" in a dehydrator (although you could if you desire). Form it into a cupcake shape.
Frost the top of the cupcake with the raw whipped icing and decorate as desired. Have fun :-)
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If you still want to make the baked version (try one of the cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World"), here's a list of cookie and candy options, courtesy of The Innocent Primate Vegan Blog. They may not be healthy selections (this is just for fun, so be nice with the comments; nobody's perfect all the time), but at least they're vegan.- Airheads Taffy
- Big League Chew Gum
- Blow Pops
- Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candy
- Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candy
- Brach’s Orange Slices
- Brach’s Root Beer Barrels
- Brach’s Star Brites
- Bubble Tape Gum
- Charms lollipops
- Chew-ets Peanut Chews (Original)
- Chick-o-Sticks
- Chocolove Dark Chocolate bar
- Chocolove Orange Peel (Dark Chocolate Bar)
- Cracker Jacks
- Cry Babies
- Dem Bones
- Dole Madarin Orange Fruit Gels
- Dots
- Dum Dums (these are my candy of choice to hand out at Halloween…and eat myself!)
- Entenmann’s Fudge Delights Fudge & Mint Cookies
- Everest Gum
- Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate)
- Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Oatmeal Macaroon)
- Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter)
- Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla)
- Ferrara Wafer Swirls With Chocolate
- Fireballs
- Food Lion Animal Cookies
- Food Lion Ginger Snaps
- Food Lion Oatmeal Cookies
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Assorted)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Creme)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Fudge)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Double Creme-O’s)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Duplex)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Mini Chocolate & Vanilla Cremes)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Vanilla)
- Food Lion Snack Crackers
- Food Lion Sugar Cookies
- Fruit By the Foot
- Ghirardelli Twilight Delight Intense Dark
- Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews (Original)
- Grandma’s Peanut Butter Sandwich Cremes
- Hubba Bubba Bubblegum
- Hubba Bubba Gum
- Jolly Ranchers (lollipops and hard candy)
- Jujubees
- Jujyfruits
- Keebler Animal Crackers
- Kool-Aid Gels
- Kozy Shack Jammin’ Gels
- Krispy Kreme Fruit Pies
- Lance Choc-O Cookies
- Lance Sugar Wafers (Strawberry Creme)
- Lance Sugar Wafers (Vanilla Creme)
- Lance Toasty Crackers With Peanut Butter
- Lance Van-O Lunch Cookies
- Mambas
- Mary Janes (regular and peanut butter kisses)
- Munchos
- Murray Butter Cookies
- Murray Cinnamon Grahams
- Murray Coconut Bars
- Murray Southern Kitchen Iced Oatmeal Cookies
- Murray Sugar-Free Vanilla Wafers
- Nabisco Double Delight Mint’n Creme Oreos
- Nabisco Ginger Snaps
- Nabisco Halloween Oreos
- Nabisco Iced Oatmeal Cookies
- Nabisco Oatmeal Cookies
- Nabisco Oreo Chocolate Ice Cream Cones
- Nabisco Oreo Cookies
- Nabisco Oreo Thin Crisps
- Nabisco Original Graham Crackers
- Nabisco Teddy Grahams (Chocolate and Cinnamon)
- Nabisco Uh-oh Oreos, Spring Oreos, Chocolate Creme Oreos
- Nature’s Path Deep Chocolate Cookies
- Nature’s Path Ginger Spice Cookies
- Nature’s Path Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
- Nestle Double Chocolate Thin Mints
- Now and Later
- Orbitz Gum
- Pure De-Lite Coconut Bars
- Ring Pop lollipops
- Smarties (U.S. version only)
- Sour Patch Kids
- Super Bubble
- Tropical Source mini chocolate bags
- Utz Puffed Caramel Corn
- VeganSweets marshmallows
- Velamints Mints
- Zotz
