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Fragrant & delicious Festive Vegan Cupcakes! Orange scented, studded with juicy, jewel red cranberries & crunchy, vibrantly green pistachios & finished with a swirl of vanilla cream.

Have you heard of the Vegan Mystery Box Challenge? No? Neither had I until a few weeks ago. I read about it in a Facebook group that us bloggers tend to frequent and volunteered myself as it sounded like a fun thing to do.

Basically, a group of vegan bloggers are given the same three mystery ingredients and have to come up with a recipe which uses them. Then all the bloggers in the group publish their recipe and photographs on the same day at exactly the same time. Included in that post should be links to all of the other bloggers and the recipes they created so that you lovely readers can take a little tour around and check out all of the wonderful recipes!

Our mystery ingredients turned out to be cranberries, pistachios and coconut milk. I was thrilled when I found out what they were as I love all three of them. I thought long and hard about what I would make and had so many ideas. Cookies, a cake, a rice dish...But in the end I decided on vegan cupcakes.

And so, I created these wonderful Festive Vegan Cupcakes. I would never have come up with this flavour combination if it hadn't been for this challenge and I am so grateful that I found out about it and joined, otherwise I would have gone my whole life without ever trying one of these awesome muffins. Oh and 'one' is just a figure of speech. You probably know me well enough by now to know that I didn't stop at just one!

These Festive Vegan Cupcakes are totally and utterly delicious. They are fabulous just as muffins with no topping, but the Vanilla Bean Cream takes them to a whole new level.

Start off by soaking the dried cranberries for a little while in some orange juice. This makes them plump and juicy and gives them a lovely orange flavour. Then to make the muffins, all you have to do is add all the dry ingredients to one bowl and all the wet ingredients to another. Then mix. Simple as that!

The Vanilla Bean Cream is made with a refrigerated can of full fat coconut milk. When at the grocery store choosing the coconut milk for the cream, shake the cans. You don't want a really sloshy one. You should choose one that feels like there is something solid with a little bit of liquid in there. It is the solid bit that you need to make the cream. I tend to find that I have more success with the organic varieties. Once you get shaking you will see what I mean. It really must be full fat or the cream won't work at all.

So there you have it. My Vegan Mystery Box Challenge recipe creation is Festive Vegan Cupcakes and aren't they pretty?

Those colours....

It is fascinating to see how everyone's mind works and how so many different recipes can be made with the same key ingredients. I am really excited to check out the recipes from all of my wonderful fellow vegan bloggers, as I am sure you are too. I have so enjoyed taking part in this challenge. A big thank you to Sam from It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken and Andrew the One Ingredient Chef for setting this Vegan Mystery Box Challenge up. You can check out their recipes, along with all the other bloggers who have taken part under my recipe at the bottom of this post. Show them all some love folks!

And for more recipes suitable for the festive period check out the Christmas recipes section of my recipe index.

Cranberry, Orange & Pistachio Cupcakes With Vanilla Cream Melanie McDonald Light & fluffy orange scented muffins studded with juicy, jewel red cranberries & crunchy, vibrantly green pistachios all topped with a swirl of vanilla cream. Festive, fragrant & delicious! 5 from 2 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 25 mins Course Baked Goods Cuisine vegan Servings 10 muffins Calories 386 kcal Ingredients 1x 2x 3x 120mls | 1/2 cup orange juice , You will need 1 maybe 2 oranges, (zest the orange before you juice it) 120mls | 1/2 cup orange juice , You will need 1 maybe 2 oranges, (zest the orange before you juice it)

120g | 1 cup dried cranberries 120g | 1 cup dried cranberries

260g | 2 cups all purpose unbleached flour (sifted) 260g | 2 cups all purpose unbleached flour (sifted)

2.5 teaspoons baking powder 2.5 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon salt

100g | 1/2 cup sugar (any light granulated sugar will work, as will coconut sugar) 100g | 1/2 cup sugar (any light granulated sugar will work, as will coconut sugar)

50g | 1/2 cup pistachio nuts , chopped, (see recipe notes) 50g | 1/2 cup pistachio nuts , chopped, (see recipe notes)

2 tbsp orange zest , a little more or less is fine (use the zest from the oranges you juice) 2 tbsp orange zest , a little more or less is fine (use the zest from the oranges you juice)

120mls | 1/2 cup coconut oil , in liquid form, (mild olive oil would also work) 120mls | 1/2 cup coconut oil , in liquid form, (mild olive oil would also work)

240mls | 1 cup non-dairy milk 240mls | 1 cup non-dairy milk

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (white wine vinegar can also be used). 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (white wine vinegar can also be used).

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon vanilla extract For frosting 1 400 ml can full fat coconut milk , you just need the hard cream on top, (the whole can needs to be refrigerated for at least 12 hours before using). 1 400 ml can full fat coconut milk , you just need the hard cream on top, (the whole can needs to be refrigerated for at least 12 hours before using).

62g | 1/2 cup natural powdered sugar 62g | 1/2 cup natural powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean powder ( You may sub this for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you do not have vanilla bean powder but I do recommend you try to get the powder as the flavour is so much better). 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean powder ( You may sub this for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you do not have vanilla bean powder but I do recommend you try to get the powder as the flavour is so much better).

1 - 2 tablespoons orange juice (what was left when you drained the cranberries) if the cream is very thick and needs loosening. 1 - 2 tablespoons orange juice (what was left when you drained the cranberries) if the cream is very thick and needs loosening. INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Line a muffin tray with liners. I love my silicone liners . They can be used over and over and nothing ever sticks in them. Line a muffin tray with liners. I love my silicone liners . They can be used over and over and nothing ever sticks in them.

Put the cranberries in a small bowl and cover with the orange juice. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes. Put the cranberries in a small bowl and cover with the orange juice. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes.

Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and suagr into a large bowl. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and suagr into a large bowl.

Put orange zest, melted coconut oil. milk, vinegar and vanilla into another bowl and mix together. Don't worry if the coconut oil goes a bit clumpy. Just mix it all up as well as you can. Put orange zest, melted coconut oil. milk, vinegar and vanilla into another bowl and mix together. Don't worry if the coconut oil goes a bit clumpy. Just mix it all up as well as you can.

Drain the cranberries (keep the leftover juice and set it aside for now) and add them to the wet ingredients. Drain the cranberries (keep the leftover juice and set it aside for now) and add them to the wet ingredients.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well but not too much. You want it to be just combined so you can't see any dry flour. Over mixing can affect the rise & texture. Then gently fold in the pistachio nuts. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well but not too much. You want it to be just combined so you can't see any dry flour. Over mixing can affect the rise & texture. Then gently fold in the pistachio nuts.

Spoon into muffin cases and put into the oven immediately. Spoon into muffin cases and put into the oven immediately.

Bake for around 25 minutes or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean. Bake for around 25 minutes or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean. For the cream While the muffins are cooking or cooling, open the can of coconut milk. While the muffins are cooking or cooling, open the can of coconut milk.

Scrape out the hard cream and put in a bowl. Keep the leftover water and add to a smoothie or curry later. Scrape out the hard cream and put in a bowl. Keep the leftover water and add to a smoothie or curry later.

Beat with an electric hand held whisk or in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat with an electric hand held whisk or in a stand mixer until light and fluffy.

Add the powdered sugar and vanilla bean powder or extract and beat again until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla bean powder or extract and beat again until well combined.

If too stiff add a drop or two of the reserved drained orange juice to loosen. If too stiff add a drop or two of the reserved drained orange juice to loosen.

If you accidentally add a bit too much orange juice then just add a little more powered sugar. If you accidentally add a bit too much orange juice then just add a little more powered sugar.

The cream will get a little bit loose as it warms up while being whipped. If it's too loose to pipe put it in the fridge to set up a bit, or even the freezer for a little while if you are in a hurry. The cream will get a little bit loose as it warms up while being whipped. If it's too loose to pipe put it in the fridge to set up a bit, or even the freezer for a little while if you are in a hurry.

Either pipe or spread onto the muffins then decorate with some chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. Either pipe or spread onto the muffins then decorate with some chopped pistachios and dried cranberries.

If you have any leftover orange juice you can save it to add to a smoothie rather than waste it. If you have any leftover orange juice you can save it to add to a smoothie rather than waste it. NOTES If you cannot find natural pistachio nuts then it is ok to use salted pistachios. I purchased mine from a bulk bin and they were labelled unsalted and natural but when I got home and tasted one they were actually salted. They worked absolutely fine in the recipe. Just reduce the salt to 1/8 of a teaspoon to compensate if this is the case. NUTRITION Serving: 1 muffin Calories: 386 kcal Carbohydrates: 49 g Protein: 5 g Fat: 18 g Sodium: 188 mg Fiber: 2 g Sugar: 27 g Vitamin A: 1000 IU Vitamin C: 12.4 mg Calcium: 90 mg Iron: 1.8 mg Nutritional information is provided for convenience & as a courtesy only. The data is a computer generated estimate so should be used as a guide only. Tried this recipe? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram and hashtag it #avirtualvegan Get my Top 10 reader's favourite recipes e-Cookbook FREE!





Links to all of the other bloggers who have taken part in the Vegan Mystery Box Challenge:

Vegan Cranberry Pistachio Loaf by It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

Magic Fruit Cake Bars with White Chocolate Drizzle by One Ingredient Chef

Cranberry Cheesecake & Pistachio Stuffed Vegan French Toast by Connoisseurus Veg

Pistachio Crusted Cranberry Cashew Coconut Cheese by Lemon and Coconut

Jolly Bollywood Holiday Curry by Sexie Veggies

Cranberry Pistachio and Mango Salad by Veggies Save the Day

Cranberry Cointreau Coconut Ice Cream with Candied Pistachios by Vegan Yack Attack

Cranberry Pistachio Donuts by Two City Vegans (Casey)

Cranberry Pistachio Gingersnap Truffles by Two City Vegans (Alix)

Warm Barley Bowl with Roasted Brussels, Sweet Potatoes and a Coconut Curry Dressing by Taste Space

Whole Wheat Cranberry Pistachio Vegan Biscotti by Veggie Inspired Journey

Coconut Pistachio Cashew Cheese Panini with Cranberry Jam by Peppers and Peaches

Toasted Pistachio Rice Pudding with Candied Cranberries by The Lazy Vegan Baker

Pistachio and Cranberry Cream Sandwich Cookies by Love Me Feed Me

Vegan Meringue Nests with Cranberry Coconut Whip and Crushed Pistachios by The Viet Vegan

Vegan Coconut Quinoa Salad by Beets Not Meats

Gourmet Lazy Cabbage Rolls by Choose to Cook

Sweet Potato Coconut Curry with Cranberries and Pistachios by The Tofu Diaries

Lebanese Semolina Pudding (Layali Lubnan) by Lands and Flavors

Vegan Chocolate Cranberry Cake by The Seasonal Diet

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