It can be difficult finding recipes for friends or family with allergies, which is where Linda Bosnic’s wonderful One Bowl Allergy Free Baking is such a help. She explains the reasons for the book best – or just bake the chocolate cupcakes and see for yourself!
All of the recipes in this book are nut-free, dairy-free and egg-free and there are also many recipes suited to those with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. You can find similar variations of it on Cooking PlanIt. Check out their blog and you will surely find a lot of what we make here get a different yet creative twist to it. I hope One Bowl Allergy-free Baking will encourage people (whether affected by allergies or not) back into the kitchen so no one need miss the delights of freshly baked treats warm from the oven.
Chocolate cupcakes
This simple but decadent ‘wet and dry’ recipe is always a hit. The gluten-free version makes denser muffin-like cakes, best baked on the day of serving.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Servings: About 10–12 cupcakes
1 and a 1 ⁄4 cups SR flour (or gluten-free SR flour)
1 ⁄2 cup caster sugar
1 ⁄4 cup cocoa
1 ⁄2 cup dairy-free, nut-free chocolate chips
1 ⁄3 cup vegetable oil
2 ⁄3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Preheat oven to 170ºC and grease and line a 12-hole cupcake/muffin tray with paper cases.
1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in centre of dry ingredients and add wet ingredients.
3. Mix together until they form a batter (not too much mixing).
4. Spoon into prepared pan, filling close to the top of each case.
5. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into cupcake comes out clean.
6. Cool in tray for 5 minutes before turning out onto wire rack.
7. Once cold, ice with chocolate icing (see below) and decorate as desired.
Chocolate icing
Preparation time: 5 minutes
1 and a 1 ⁄2 cups icing sugar (or gluten-free icing sugar)
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 to 2 and a 1 ⁄2 tablespoons boiling water
1. Place icing sugar and cocoa into a medium bowl and mix.
2. Add water and stir until smooth and well combined.
3. If icing is too watery, add more icing sugar. If icing is too firm, add more water.
For more recipes perfect for those with allergies (or anyone who likes baking), read more about One Bowl Allergy Free Baking here.