I was recently accused of being a party pooper when it comes to holidays since the kids have gotten older. Seems that even if they are college-age and taller than mom, the lack of attention I’ve been paying to the traditions they enjoyed as young children and the giving away of the tacky Easter baskets to charity has been noted. That’s a challenge if I ever heard one. To help me get my holiday spirit back, I turned to a brand new book that arrived in the mail last week. One of my gluten-free blogging buddies sent me a copy of her new book Simply Gluten Free-Desserts. I’ll be trying several recipes and reporting on the delicious results, but with all my thoughts on bunnies, I first chose Carol’s version of carrot cake in cupcake form. Any recipe for carrot cake that starts with a pound of carrots gets this carrot cake lover’s attention. Carrot cake is always my choice for my birthday and I haven’t had a decent one since going gluten free. Topped with cream cheese icing it is the only cake I really like. Shopping for seasonal baking cups and gluten-free decorations was just as fun as I remembered from my kids’ younger days and I admit I missed it too. I chose Annie’s gluten-free bunny cookies and fruit snacks in bunny shapes and Jelly Bellies to decorate the cupcakes and bought some Easter grass in an effort to redeem myself in the holiday department.
Carol created her own gluten-free flour blend for dessert recipes in her book and gives the recipe. I blended up a batch and then made her recipe for Julian’s Carrot Cupcakes named after her grandson who laughed at the idea of dessert made with carrots. These cupcakes were full of raisins, walnuts, and of course the pound of carrots. They are also scented with orange zest. The best carrot cakes I remember had just enough ‘tender cake’ to hold the nuts and raisins and carrots together. Carol’s recipe is just what I remembered a good carrot cake should be. I whipped up a batch of the cream cheese frosting from her book and it was like having my birthday 4 months early. I can’t wait to try more of her recipes and do have to point out that while this cake used granulated sugar and I chose to top it with dairy-filled cream cheese, Carol does have other choices in her book that are not so festive and full of sugar and dairy. I’d have to say it is the best overall, good ‘basic to festive’ gluten-free dessert cookbook available and would be an essential addition to a gluten-free cookbook collection. Visit Lexie’s Kitchen to see how she adapted one of Carol’s blog recipes to use a different sweetener and the successful results.
This was also a test of the pretty Wilton baking cups to see if they stayed as pretty after baking. The flower cups did hold their color, but there was some oily staining after baking that wasn’t so attrative. I just popped them into a clean cup for a double petal effect. Next time I would bake in the plain unbleached baking cups I normally use and then place them into the flower cups. The mini baking cups that were so fresh and yellow with pastel flowers were more disappointing and didn’t retain those fresh spring colors at all.
These cupcakes are so pretty, Wendy. I had to laugh at the idea of you being a party pooper now that your kids are in college. I don’t believe it for a minute.
Tina.
Well, if I was, I think I redeemed myself with these cupcakes. Then they had the nerve to pick off all the jelly beans and bunnies. When they were little, they would have loved them.
I loved Carol’s book as well. I am off to see how Lexie used an alternative sweetener in one of the recipes.
Wendy, you crack me up! I have to admit though, that I remember when my mom stopped the Easter Baskets (like when I was in college) and it was a huge letdown. LOL Your cupcakes look beautiful. I love love those liners. I think you have redeemed yourself and are no longer a party pooper!
And Carol’s book is awesome! I cannot wait to have some time in the kitchen to play more with it!
Laugh all you want Missie. Just wait til you have these people towering over you and wanting to be treated like grown-ups and then giving you grief because you gave away their Easter baskets. It will happen sooner than you think. I’m trying the pumpkin creme brulee from Carol’s book today. Dairy-free and I have all the ingredients in my pantry.
Those are just gorgeous! Absolutely adorable. Thanks for sharing. I haven’t gotten Carol’s book yet and appreciate the nudge.
You’ve got to get a copy. I was surprised by how many dairy-free recipes she included. It’s going to be a GF classic.
Having spent a long weekend with you Seattle I would NEVER call you a party pooper! Thank you so much for the kind words my friend and I am happy you enjoyed the carrot cake. And just so you know, once those towering kids start to procreate you have to do all that holiday stuff all over again, except they will be responsible for the baskets! Those liners are sooooo pretty!
xo,
carol
We did have fun in Seattle! I never even thought about the grandchildren angle. I’m just trying to get these two through college. Just so you know, this is my all time favorite carrot cake and frosting combo–gluten-free or otherwise. Just the perfect ratio of carrot, walnuts, and raisins to cake and the frosting is fab. Don’t know, but I think it was my homemade butter that took it over the top. Thanks for stopping by and making my jeans a little more snug.
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First off, those cupcakes are a work of art! I did give up Easter baskets when my kids went to college, but everyone still gets Christmas stockings. I won’t tell you how old my kids are now, but they all say that (stockings) is their favorite part of Christmas. =)
I made some carrot cake cupcakes the other day as well. I love carrots in muffins and treats. Carrots are sweet, so it’s a good veggie to throw into the mix.
Melissa
P.S. Love the muffin cups and thanks for the laugh. Your blog posts always bring a smile to my face.
Melissa, I still do the Christmas stockings and I still make a big deal about them. Apparently that’s not enough for the youngest celiac in the house.
Your posts are always a sure bet for a good laugh, too, my friend.