Gingerbread Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup non-dairy margarine
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and margarine. Beat in the molasses, water, and vanilla, then add the dry mix to the wet and mix until a stiff dough forms. Transfer the dough to a sheet of wax paper, flatten into a disk, and place in a large ziploc bag. Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours (or overnight), then roll out to around 1/8" thick. Cut out the cookies with a cookie cutter and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before decorating.

Spiced Zucchini Bread

1 cup shredded zucchini

3/4 cup + 2 tbsp cane sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

1 chia, flax, or starch-based egg replacer

1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
10 grinds black pepper
1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup pecans

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, mix together the zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg replacer. In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together the remaining dry ingredients except for the pecans. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet, then fold in the pecans. Pour the mixture into an oiled pyrex loaf pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes.

Chocolate Silk Pie

1 14 oz. block of silken tofu
1 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 tbsp almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/8 tsp salt

In a blender combine the tofu, almond milk, vanilla, and salt. Add the coconut to a coffee grinder and pulse for 10 seconds until ground somewhat fine, then add to the blender.

Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler and add to the blender, then blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a graham cracker pie crust or the gluten-free crust below, then refrigerate at least 3-4 hours until firm.

Basic Chocolate Cake

1 cup non-dairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup cane sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.

 In a small bowl or cup, combine the non-dairy milk and vinegar and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the vegetable oil, sugars, and vanilla and almond extracts. In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the remaining dry ingredients. Add the non-dairy milk to the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined, then whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until the mixture just comes together. Pour the batter into a 9-inch cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool, then frost.

Banana Lemon Bread

1/4 cup non-dairy milk
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup cane sugar
1/4 cup non-dairy margarine
1 cup mashed ripe banana (from 2 medium bananas)
1/2 tbsp lemon zest (from half a lemon)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine the non-dairy milk and lemon juice in a small cup or bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. While it sits, cream together the sugar and margarine in a medium bowl. Add the mashed bananas, lemon zest, ginger, and vanilla, then add in the acidified milk. Mix until well combined.

Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt just until moistened the batter just comes together, then fold in the sliced almonds. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 70-75 minutes.

High altitude variation:

1/4 cup non-dairy milk
1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup cane sugar
1/4 cup non-dairy margarine
1 cup mashed ripe banana (from 2 medium bananas)
1/2 tbsp lemon zest (from half a lemon)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine the non-dairy milk and lemon juice in a small cup or bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. While it sits, cream together the sugar and margarine in a medium bowl. Add the mashed bananas, lemon zest, ginger, and vanilla, then add in the acidified milk. Mix until well combined.

Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt just until moistened the batter just comes together, then fold in the sliced almonds. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 70-75 minutes.

Malva Pudding

A sticky-sweet baked pudding, best served warm.

1/3 cup non-dairy milk
1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked
2 tbsp non-dairy margarine
1/4 cup cane sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract

In a blender, combine the non-dairy milk and the cashews (soaked in water for at least two hours) and blend for around a minute until no cashew pieces remain.  Add the thickened milk to a small pot along with the margarine, sugar, and vanilla and almond extracts.  Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and assemble the following ingredients:

1/2 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup non-dairy vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup apricot jam
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/3 cup non-dairy milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white spelt flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

Add the sugar, non-dairy yogurt, and jam to a large bowl and beat for around a minute, just until there are some air bubbles in the mixture.  Add the non-dairy milk, vegetable oil, and salt and beat until combined.  Add the spelt flour and baking soda in 2 batches, beating until the batter just comes together.  Pour into an 8x8 cake pan and bake for 25 minutes.

While the pudding bakes, heat the milk, margarine, sugar, and extracts mixture over low heat until the margarine has melted and the mixture is warmed through (the mixture should never even simmer; if it does, lower the heat).  When the pudding is finished, remove from the oven and use a fork to poke shallow holes throughout.  Pour the mixture over the pudding and tilt the pan to ensure that it evenly covers the pudding, then return to the oven to bake for another 18-20 minutes.

Note: If doubling the recipe, pour into two cake pans rather than a single larger pan.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cupcakes

3/4 cup non-dairy milk
1 1/4 tsp cider vinegar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup cane sugar
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 dry egg replacer

1/2 cup sorghum flour

1/4 cup white rice flour

3 tbsp almond flour
2 tbsp tapioca starch
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a small bowl or cup, combine the non-dairy milk and cider vinegar and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the peanut butter, vegetable oil, sugar, brown rice syrup, vanilla, and dry egg replacer.  In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the remaining dry ingredients.  Add the non-dairy milk to the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined, then whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until the mixture just comes together.

Use a 3 tbsp disher to portion the batter out into a 12-cupcake pan, then bake for 25-27 minutes.  Allow cupcakes to cool, then frost.

Chocolate Rum Frosting

2 tbsp refined coconut butter
2 tbsp dairy-free margarine
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp light rum
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
non-dairy milk as needed

Bring the ingredients above to room temperature, then beat together the coconut butter, margarine, and cocoa powder.  Add the rum and begin gradually incorporating the powdered sugar, adding the non-dairy milk as needed to bring to the desired consistency.

(Note: I go light on my cupcake frosting, so double the recipe above if you go hard with yours.)

Gluten-Free Chocolate Rum Cupcakes

3/4 cup non-dairy milk
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup cane sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 cup light rum or coconut rum
1 dry ener-g egg replacer
3/4 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp white rice flour
1/4 cup almond flour
2 tbsp tapioca starch
3/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, cocoa, and rum, then whisk in the non-dairy milk.  Sprinkle the egg replacer on top and whisk until incorporated.  In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the remaining dry ingredients.  Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until the mixture just comes together.  Use a 3 tbsp disher to portion the batter out into a 12-cupcake pan, then bake for 20-22 minutes.  Allow cupcakes to cool, then frost.

* Note - if you need to exclude nuts from the recipe, lose the almond flour and add 2 tbsp tapioca flour and 2 tbsp corn starch.

White Cake with Citrus Glaze

3/4 cup non-dairy milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg replacers
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cake flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a small bowl or cup, combine the non-dairy milk and lemon juice and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the vegetable oil, sugar, egg replacers, and vanilla and almond extracts.  In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the remaining dry ingredients.  Add the non-dairy milk to the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined, then whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until the mixture just comes together.

Pour the batter into a 9-inch cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Allow the cake to cool, then cover with lemon glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp + 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp tangerine, lime, or lemon zest

Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl and add the lemon zest.  Whisk in the lemon juice until the mixture is smooth.  Spoon the glaze in a thin layer over the cake.

Pumpkin Pie

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
3/4 cup cane cane sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 block water-packed silken tofu
1 1/2 cup cashew cream*
1 pie crust (graham cracker or dough)

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Combine pumpkin, sugar, spices, salt, tofu, and cashew milk in a blender. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°F and bake for another 45-50 minutes.  If there is any remaining batter, pour into a small ramekin and bake alongside the pie for a lovely custard.

*Note: To make cashew cream, soak 1 cup of cashews in water for at least 8 hours, drain, and then blend cashews with 3/4 cup warm water.