Two years ago I joined a lovely online community of 70 food bloggers from around the UK.  What began as a group to share ideas and discuss the latest developments in blogging and social media has developed into a close-knit group of friends who chat, share life’s ups and downs, laugh, banter, and dish out virtual hugs when necessary.

So it was with shock and great sadness that we learned last month that one of the gang, the lovely Isabella King of Coriander Queen had lost her battle with cancer at the age of 29.

As a tribute to Izzie and to send lots of new readers over to her beautiful blog, members of the group have all recreated and photographed one of her recipes to post today.  I chose to make these lovely Gingerbread Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream, (the original recipe was intended as a Christmas treat, but I eat gingerbread men all year round(!) so decided they were totally April-appropriate).

I’ve included at the bottom of this post a list of all the other blog posts in Izzie’s memory, and hope you enjoy browsing these, and most importantly, head over to Coriander Queen for a minute or two.

Izzie’s original recipe Gingerbread Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream is posted over at her blog Coriander Queen.  I have vegan-ised the recipe using flax or chia seeds mixed with dairy-free yoghurt in place of the eggs, and have also increased the quantities a little, so that they fill deep cupcake cases rather than smaller fairy-cake cases.

5 from 5 votes

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Gingerbread Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream (Vegan)

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Course: Baking

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Author: Isabella King www.CorianderQueen.com adapted by Kate Ford | The Veg Space

Ingredients

For the gingerbread cupcakes:

• 3 tbsp ground/milled flax or chia seeds
• 135 g dairy-free yoghurt
• 170 g dairy-free margarine
• 170 g caster sugar
• 170 g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 3 level tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• pinch salt
• a little dairy-free milk

For the orange buttercream:

• 140 g icing sugar
• 280 g dairy-free margarine
• 6-7 tbsp orange juice
• a little grated orange zest

Instructions

1. Mix the ground flax/chia seeds with the yoghurt and place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes until turning gloopy.
2. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases and preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas 4.
3. Meanwhile, beat together the margarine and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the flax/chia and yoghurt mixture, along with a few tablespoons of the flour.
4. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and salt into the bowl and fold in gently to avoid knocking out any of the air.
5. Divide the cake mixture between the 12 cake cases and bake for 18-20 minutes until an inserted skewer or knife comes out clean. Leave to cool.
6. To make the buttercream, beat together all the ingredients until pale and fluffy. Pipe or spread onto the cooled cupcakes.

Here’s a list of recipes from Coriander Queen posted on friends’ blogs today in tribute to Isabella:

Easy 5 ingredient pesto tomato tart on Amuse Your Bouche (vegetarian)
Globe artichoke with balsamic dip on Natural Kitchen Adventures (vegan)
Cider, apple and sausage casserole on Farmersgirl Kitchen
Chocolate orange oat bars on Veggie Desserts (vegan)
Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies on Tin and Thyme (vegetarian)
Arancini (risotto balls) on Coffee & Vanilla (vegetarian)
Rich coffee cupcakes on BakingQueen74 (vegetarian)
Gingerbread cupcakes with orange buttercream on The Veg Space (vegan)
Marmalade and ginger loaf cake on The Crafty Larder (vegetarian)
Ginger and oat cookies on Kavey Eats (vegetarian)
Amatriciana pasta on Kitchen Sanctuary
Treacle tart on Patisserie Makes Perfect (vegetarian)
Crispy fried halloumi on Supper In The Suburbs (vegetarian)
Chocolate fridge cake on Jo’s Kitchen (vegetarian)
Chocolate almond butter cookies on Rough Measures (vegetarian)
Eggless chocolate chip cookies on Simply Sensational Food (vegetarian)
Boozy decadent hot chocolate on Fab Food 4 All (vegetarian)
Easy no bake blackberry cheesecakes on Casa Costello (vegetarian)
Best coriander / cilantro recipes on Fuss Free Flavours (some vegetarian)
Easy gingerbread popcorn snack on Celery & Cupcakes (vegetarian)
Elderflower and vodka cocktail slush on The Hedgecombers (vegetarian)
Fruit flapjacks on The Petite Cook (vegan)
Tomato, garlic and prawn spaghetti on Hungry Healthy Happy (pesceterian)
Lemon drizzle loaf cake on Penne For Your Thoughts (vegetarian)
Chicken ramen on It’s Not Easy Being Greedy
Stuffed Nutella cookies on Munchies And Munchkins (vegetarian)
Easy Berry Compote on Eats Amazing (vegetarian)
Caipirinha on Lovely Appetite (vegetarian)
Garlic and Lime Coriander Prawns on Travels for Tatse (pesceterian)