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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.
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And here I thought the one thing that hasn’t changed about you was the unibrow! Just Kidding, Happy Belated Birthday my dear. I hope you had a fabulous day filled with all the cupcakes you could fit in your pie hole.
Also, at 36 years old, I can tell you I still don’t feel like an adult, and I’m still trying to figure it out.
P.S. Stop knocking my beloved lists. Geesh, what did they do to you, other than provide emotional support and comfort?! 😉
DUDE I turn 26 in a couple weeks and for some reason it’s scarier than 25…I will be closer to 30 than 20. GAH.
I should probably make myself a cake too to drown my sorrows 😉
I am SO happy and relieved to know that “It’s not about having it all figured out.” There are some people here at college who know EXACTLY what they want to do in life, and I’m just like…uh…where’s the peanut butter in this dining hall? I don’t know where the heck life will take me, but I hope I can follow my passions just as you are, Davs.
Happy belated 25th and happy cupcakes!!!!
girlfriendddddd lemme tell you that those people are gonna have a mental breakdown sometime post-college. I can tell you because I was one of them!!! Keep being you lady and everything will fall into place! xo
I hope that you had a fabulous birthday lovely!! I totally hear you on goal setting. I think it’s important to set goals and work hard, but then on the other hand, it’s important to ENJOY LIFE and just live in the moment 🙂
Welcome to 25!! The panic wears off sooner than you think. These cupcakes look and sound fantastic! I must try them! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN.
Happy birthday lady! It looks like you had a fun day if social media is any judge! 🙂
Just wait until you turn 30…oh man the stuff I thought I would have done already!
Your life lessons are great and you’ve figured out a lot of things that take people way way longer to figure out!
Social MEdia is the ultimate judge 😉 But yes it was fab!!! And I’m starting to get the sense that I may never have it all figured out. Learning to be okay with that!
Happy birthday lovely! Sorry I’m a day late. Work has been insane and not muh time to read blogs. Hope you had a great day!
No worries, my dear! Really appreciate the bday wishes. It was a great day!!