Request: Gluten Free, Vegan Cupcake Frosting Recipes?

[dray]

Anyone have any tried-and-true gluten free/vegan frosting recipes for cupcakes? I'd like to make some cupcakes for my coworkers to celebrate a semi-fancy engagement. I don't often bake, but frosting sans-dairy (and eggs? It's been years) has always been a bug-bear. Anything you've tried with substitutes for butter that isn't overwhelmingly coconut-oil flavoured would be helpful.

Thanks!

Comments

use a glaze instead??

[harmonic_tabby]

My coconut oil doesn't seem overwhelming when I use it as a substitute for shortenings/oils but guess folks have different taste sensitivities. If you add a flavoring to the frosting; peppermint for a chocolate cupcake?? that might reduce any notice of coconut.

Moving on to the glaze...many of those recipes are nothing more than milk, confectioners sugar and a flavoring like vanilla. So, substitute a nut milk or rice milk or something similar to glaze the tops and then sprinkle with something to add festivity: chopped nuts, sugar sprinkles, crushed candy like cinnamon redhots.

I don't know what kind of flavors you're planning to use but layering flavors is certainly an option that adds complexity and enriches the taste experience.
1) chocolate cupcakes with hazelnut glaze sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts.
2) carrotcake with cream cheese frosting sprinkled with chopped pecans (yes, I know these have dairy but they're just an illustration.)
3) pumpkin cake with caramel glaze
4) apple coffee cake with almond glaze and slivered almonds

Hope these tips spark an idea for you,

Tabs