It may be hard to believe, but Oreos are vegan. So, let's take the already-sweet classic cookies, combine them with a lot more sugar, and turn them into cupcakes! This is proof of my firm belief that a dessert can never be too indulgent.
To be honest, I wasn't really into desserts until I started baking them. Sure, I enjoyed cake and soy ice cream as much as the next person, but I never really craved them. Now, I enjoy the science involved in baking. The satisfaction comes from getting the delicate balance among all the ingredients just right—now that is what I crave.
The chocolate cake recipe below is from The Grit's own bakery, where I once worked. Don't worry—the recipe was published in The Grit's cookbook, so it's not like I'm giving away any secrets. These cupcakes are delicious, with a rich chocolaty flavor enhanced by the strong brewed coffee used in the batter. Another added bonus is that the recipe is almost impossible to mess up. Guaranteed success sounds like as good a reason as any to try a recipe, if you ask me.
To find more foods that, like Oreos, are accidentally vegan and easily found in your local grocery store, visit the VegCooking Shopping Guide.
Grit Chocolate Cupcakes:
4 1/2 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1/8 cup vanilla extract
3 cups strongly brewed coffee
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. vinegar
•Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
•Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
•Add the vegetable oil and vanilla and mix until just combined. Slowly add the coffee, mixing for a few minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix again until very smooth.
•Add the vinegar and mix for 1 minute.
•Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full.
•Bake for about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before frosting.
Oreo Crumble Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup vegan margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup soy milk
10-15 crumbled Oreos
18 Oreos for garnish
•Using a hand mixer, combine the sugar, margarine, and vanilla. Mix in the soy milk.*
•Stir in the crumbled Oreos.
•Top each cooled cupcake with 1 tablespoon of icing and garnish with half an Oreo.
*Note: You may need more or less than 1/3 cup.
Makes 36 servings
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Comments ( 13 )
i read ingrid likes (f1) grand prix racing, are any of the drivers vegan?.. will they put a patch on there uniform?.. who is her favorite driver?..
Posted by gary fair | August 8, 2007 11:17 PM
Posted on August 8, 2007 23:17
I can't wait to try this one out! It looks so delicious...I absolutely love Oreos!
Posted by Jason Levy | August 9, 2007 1:08 AM
Posted on August 9, 2007 01:08
vegan cupcakes take over the wooooorldddd!
Posted by jess | August 9, 2007 9:32 AM
Posted on August 9, 2007 09:32
Gary, I did a little research and found that Ingrid's favorite driver of all time is Michael Schumacher who she met last year for the first time, on the eve of his retirement. Her current favorites are Mark Webber, who she says is a very decent chap, Sebastian Fedder, and Fernando Alonso (who responded when we asked him to stop mimicking a matador when he won, and started putting his hands up to become the bull instead). The patches and logos on the car all cost millions and no team will allow us to advertise free, although we have asked. However, Jenson Button has helped us against foie gras, Michael Schumacher and his wife have done countless things to help, including work with us to rescue starving horses in Turkey, dogs in Hurricane Katrina, and to fight experimentation in Germany. She knows of no vegan driver but many of the drivers eat "heathily," meaning a driver like David Coulthard may 'only' eat fish, not any other meat, for example.
Posted by Amy | August 10, 2007 8:37 AM
Posted on August 10, 2007 08:37
Are you sure about this? The Oreos being vegan, I mean. The last time I checked I think they contained whey, but I can't be sure. I know that the mini Oreos and the peanut butter kind are vegan, but I'd have to double check the regular ones.
Posted by Jillian | August 13, 2007 7:49 AM
Posted on August 13, 2007 07:49
Jillian,
I was thinking the same thing. There is some kind of milk ingredient, be it whey, or lactose, or something else in oreos. I KNOW this, because even when I wasn't vegan, I couldn't eat them because I am lactose intolerant.
But, the mint ones are vegan... I could always eat those. :)
Posted by Mandy | August 14, 2007 5:53 AM
Posted on August 14, 2007 05:53
Are the salt and baking soda amounts accurate? that seems like a lot to me...
Posted by chocoholic | August 14, 2007 11:34 AM
Posted on August 14, 2007 11:34
This is the recipe I always use to make chocolate layers and cupcakes. It has been tested many, many times and always turns out great.
As for the Oreo's, the package I used was definitely vegan. I still have it at home, so I will double check for you guys and report back.
-amy
Posted by Amy | August 14, 2007 11:46 AM
Posted on August 14, 2007 11:46
I double checked, even triple checked my package of Oreo's, and they are definitely vegan.
Posted by Amy | August 16, 2007 5:52 PM
Posted on August 16, 2007 17:52
i only made the icing from this recipe, but it was excellent and the cookie bits go soft and yumi.
Posted by sarsha | August 17, 2007 6:40 PM
Posted on August 17, 2007 18:40
Hi everyone. Oreo's may be vegan in the USA, but not in South Africa. They contain milk solids.
Posted by Trey | September 25, 2007 11:41 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 11:41
This recipe is amazing. All of my friends fell in love with it. How you get your pictures to look so extravagant is remarkable to me. Your recipes are fantastic and I can't wait to try something else! :)
Posted by Sarah | October 12, 2007 6:35 PM
Posted on October 12, 2007 18:35
It may not be 'formula one' racing, but the (sadly recently deceased) Australian race car driver Peter Brock was a vegan. He was a very big name here and, to me, it was very unexpected to find that he cared about animal rights, as I relate racing to the BBQ and meat culture of the country.
Also, Oreos, as someone pointed out above, are vegan in some areas and not in others. They 'are' Vegan in Australia. However, I try not to eat them often because they're heavily processed and owned by Kraft - but they're oh so tempting nonetheless.
Posted by Andrew | September 3, 2008 1:32 AM
Posted on September 3, 2008 01:32