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Let me just preface this post by mentioning that I freaked out on my 10th birthday because it meant I would never celebrate a single-digits birthday again…so yeah, you can imagine how I’m feeling right about now now that I’ve reached 25.
In case you can’t imagine it, it sits somewhere between checking my forehead for wrinkles and a very real state of panic. Yet at the same time I’m feeling overwhelmingly proud for everything I’ve accomplished in my 25 years. No one mentioned that 25 brings a whole new level of confusion!
I’d always assumed that by 25 I would be a real adult. I’d have all of life’s questions answered and would be on a path to accomplishing all that I wanted for my future. Then again I always thought that that path involved med school and certainly not blogging so clearly I was way off.
And up until about 5 minutes ago I always thought that life was about checking off everything on your bucket list, but I have since discovered that I was very wrong about this too. This is evidenced by the multitude of goals and lists posted on this blog from which I have accomplished a whopping 5 of them. For the record I purposely added “drink more wine” to my 25-by-25 goal list because I knew I would accomplish that one. And no, I still haven’t seen a Harry Potter movie…
I’ve come to learn that life isn’t all about checking things off. It’s about enjoying the ride and those beautiful moments that happen when you’re not planning for the-next-best-thing.
It’s about defining your own success regardless of what other people might think.
It’s about trying everything and not stopping until you find what you love.
It’s about taking every opportunity and never comparing them to anyone else’s.
It’s not about a number and it certainly is not about having it all figured out.
And sometimes, it’s about making your own birthday cupcakes because you know no one will do it as well as you can.
About that…I’m really okay with making my own birthday treat. Partially because I’m picky and I know I am the only one who can give me exactly what I want and also because the best birthday treat is 2 blissful hours baking in the kitchen. Using the ultimate bday gift C got me for my birthday last year, of course.
It’s crazy to think about how much can change in a year, or 10 years for that matter. I am thankfully nothing like the obnoxious, unibrow sporting teen I used to be but one thing has remained the same, my love of baking.
Whether it be Betty Crocker cake mix, oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies or Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Frosting, baking has and will forever be my happy place. And is the only thing I know with certainty will be a part of my next 25 years and then some.
I am declaring today National Eat ALL THE CAKE Day (cupcakes count). I hope you’ll join me in the festivities 🙂
PrintVanilla Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Frosting
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (I used the flour blend from my Healthy Breakfast eCookbook*
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (left in fridge for at least 1 hour-do NOT shake)**
- 1 tbsp honey
- optional: 1/4 cup toasted coconut flakes for garnish
Instructions
For the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a cupcake tin with liners or grease with non-stick spray or coconut oil.
- In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl (or mixer) combine applesauce, coconut oil, almond milk, egg, honey and vanilla.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until combined.
- Divide batter evenly in cupcake tin and bake for 22-25 mins or until tops have browned slightly and bounce back when pressed.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 20 mins before removing and allowed to cool completely on a wire rack.
For the frosting:
- While cupcakes are cooling open coconut milk and scoop out cream from top of can. Place in a mixer bowl and using a stand-mixer with the whisk attachment or hand-mixer, whisk for 5-10 mins or until cream has reached hard-peaks. Cream should be very stiff.
- Add in honey and whisk for 1 more minute.
- Place frosting in piping bag and pipe over cupcakes in a circular motion. OR frost cupcakes using a knife. Top with toasted coconut, if desired.
- Keep in a cool place or keep in fridge to last longer (will dry out slightly in the fridge).
*OR use whole-wheat flour.
**I find Thai Kitchen brand works best.
HAPPY (slightly belated) BIRTHDAY!!! girrrrl you’re going to love the upper 20s (almost as much you’ll love the 30s one day 😉 ) hope your day was amazing! coconut cream frosting is the most amazing thing ever- very good choice 😀
Thank ya lady!!! I don’t think I’m quite ready to talk about 30 yet. Ask me in 5 years 😉
Having cupcakes that look like that make having a birthday and getting older TOTALLLLY worth it!!!
Looks amazing!!
BIRTHDAYS ARE MEANT FOR SWIMMING THROUGH BIRTHDAY CAKE FLAVORED CUPCAKE BATTER… AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DID JUST THAT – However… You’re supposed to do this in your BIRTHDAY SUIT. Lets hope you’re doing that RIGHT NOWWWWW!!
Well said and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday love!!!! <3
Thank you!!! <3
Happy Birthday!! Those cupcakes look amazing!!
Thanks so much Alicia!
You should be so darn proud of yourself Davida! You have accomplished so much and encouraged so many of us bloggers. It truly is about the moments that take our breath away, not the number of breaths (or years we’ve lived) that matter most. Happy belated birthday my friend, you rock!
And these photos look like something off of a magazine cover. These are some drop dead gorgeous cupcakes! Shouldn’t shock me coming from you 🙂
That was a beautiful line Mary Frances! I kind of want to get that framed and placed on my wall! And thank you SO much for the bday wishes. Means a lot <3
Huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You are wise beyond your 25 years with the things you’ve learned – life is about enjoying every second not crossing things off of a list (or not and then being stressed!!!). Enjoy every second of your day as you face a whole new year and quarter of a century to fill with fun wonderful experiences!!!
Such a sweet and thoughtful comment Kim!! Thanks so much for the wonderful birthday wishes.
Happy Happy Birthday!!! 25 was hard for me too! It totally felt like some major milestone, but its all good! Hope you enjoy your day!!
Thank you, love!!! Was a great day 🙂
Happy birthday, gorgeous girl!!!! I absolutely love what you said about life not being about checking things off of a list… so true! Love the recipe too!
Thanks so much, Kim!!! I guess a bit of insight comes with getting older 😉