Day 4: Chocolate Gluten Freedom Cupcakes

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days everyone (and by everyone, I mean Sherry). I've been kept busy and away from my blog, but I definitely have been making time for baking. So no worries, I'm still on track with my cupcake project.

On Saturday, I made Chocolate Gluten Freedom Cupcakes with the assistance of my lovely helper, Giulia, who bused herself in all the way from NYC to attend the weirdest party ever. The night was a hodgepodge of drawing with crayons, odd instruments, and Jewish ceremony. What an experience! Unfortunately, my cupcakes didn't quite hold up to all the excitement of the evening. They turned out...less than memorable.

Giulia and I went to the neighborhood coop to shop for ingredients and found everything but ground flax seeds and tapioca flour. So to substitute, I bought whole flax and amaranth flour, thinking the replacements would work out fine. Well, we managed to get the flax ground up in a blender after Giulia's unsuccessful attempt to mash them up in my mortar and pestle. But the amaranth flour...Bleh! The switcharoo resulted in super dense, hard cupcakes that cracked on top! Now, I realize I could just be blaming my inability to bake on amaranth flour, so I won't be biased against it quite yet and will give it another chance. But never again on an item meant to be distributed to guests at a party. Oh how sad. My reputation as a hostess has been marred!!

Thanks to Giulia for getting this picture of me and my creation!

The final product. We tried to make them prettier by dusting the top with some Halloween sprinkles Laura dug out of her cabinet. And on the two bottom cupcakes we split our last vegan marshmallow to place on top.

I have a few more days to catch up on, but I'm afraid if I don't go to bed now I won't wake up in time for work. Goodnight. ;)