Pumpkin Pie Spice Bars with Biscoff Crust

Pumpkin spice is a flavor my family can't seem to get enough of this time of year.  When munching on a Biscoff cookie, it dawned on me that they'd make a perfect cookie crust for a fall bar or pie.

While it has been ruminating awhile, today I finally got around to making a recipe. It is pretty quick if you are using a food processor or Vitamix to make it. Just check out that delicious cookie crust!

Pumpkin Pie Spice Bar with Biscoff Cookie Crust

1 15 oz. can pumpkin purée
1 package of Silken Firm Tofu
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1Tbsp. Corn starch
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Biscoff Cookie Crust 

1 package of Biscoff Cookies
4 Tbsp. Earth Balance Buttery Sticks

Preheat oven to 350. Put entire package of Biscoff cookies into the food processor, and grind until large chunks are gone. Add in melted/softened Earth Balance margarine and combine. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Mix tofu in food processor or Vitamix until creamy. Add the remaining ingredients and blend well. Pour over crust in pan and spread evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Pumpkin Shaped Bars: Use a pumpkin cookie cutter to make pumpkin shaped bars. To create a jack o'lantern, slice up chocolate into triangles and a mouth.

Kitty Cat Halloween Cupcakes

My latest creation for our Vegkins Annual Halloween Party. I wanted to do something simple, but festive. The head of the cat was made using a 1M frosting tip, but you could replicate it by using a large sandwich bag and cutting a large hole in the corner utilizing a 'homemade'  frosting bag.

To make the eyes, I used vegan "M & Ms," but Skittles would work well too. The pupils were drawn on using an edible ink marker (Wilton makes these). The nose is simply lightly dyed pink vanilla frosting. The ears are chocolate wafer disks cut into quarters*. These were from Trader Joe's. Lastly, the whiskers and nose were made using vanilla frosting.

*Tip: In glass measuring cup boil water in the microwave. Put the knife in it for a few seconds before quartering the chocolate.

Chocolate Wacky Cake Recipe

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups cool water
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients. Mix in wet ingredients, being careful to scrape the sides of the bowl. Only mix until well combined. Fill lined muffin/cupcake pan with liners and fill them 1/2 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely until frosting.

Makes 3 dozen cupcakes

Fluffy Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 tsp. vanilla
4-6 Tbsp. non-dairy milk
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Cream together the margarine, vanilla and shortening. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, cocoa powder and non-dairy milk, alternating between the two. Once mixed well, beat for about ten minutes until frosting is nice and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar or soy milk to obtained desired texture.

Vegan Wolf Pupcakes with Pecan Butter Frosting

Wolf pupcakes are what I made for my sister's baby shower. Why wolf pups you say? Her baby was nicknamed "Little Wolf," because both parents have a lot of hair. The theory was their baby would too. It turns out they were right, and my adorable little nephew Oscar was born with a full head of dark hair.

My sister really loves the pecan butter frosting recipe I created, as well as veganized "butter" cupcakes. There were also chocolate flavored cupcakes, utilizing the infamous chocolate crazy cake recipe.

The inspiration for the pupcakes came from ones I saw fashioned like dogs. I had to made a few adjustments to made it more like a wolf, such as a longer nose. It was not too complicated to put together, but it did take time. The bottom cupcake was frosted like a sunburst, starting at the middle. Then a mini-cupcake was attached sideways onto the large one using a toothpick.

The nose and ears are made from Dandy Marshmallows cut into noses and ears, which were also attached with toothpicks. I made the eyes from vegan white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips attached together with a small bit of frosting. The nose was also a small chocolate chip attached with a bit of frosting.

To make the face, first attach the ears and nose with toothpicks. Then frost around ears and on the face. Lastly, attach the eyes and nose chocolate chips. Viola, you've got yourself a wolf pupcake. Enjoy!