Combing two top Christmas flavors: chocolate and gingerbread into one super moist cupcake. Loaded with spice, but tempered by the chocolate this allergy-friendly dessert is sure to please even regular eaters. These Gluten-free Vegan Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes are free of: wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts, making them top-8-free too!
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I know Christmas usually goes to the cookies, but there is something more indulgent and pretty about a cupcake. So set aside your baking sheets, and pull out your muffin tins!
I have to admit–I’ve never been a gingerbread fan. I know–call me the grinch, but it was just TOO spicy for me. I couldn’t get behind it.
But, I knew I had to make peace with it. So, I thought–how could I get myself to like it…and the answer is almost always to add chocolate. Boom…it’s magically better!
Chocolate is not only amazing on it’s own, but it helps tone the spices down so it has just the right of kick without kicking in your teeth, if you know what I mean.
And don’t worry–I had my ginger loving husband try these, as I knew I wouldn’t be the best taste tester, and with my first batch he told me to add a little bit more spice, which I did–to make sure it still meets the approval of gingerbread lovers.
I think it’s a fun twist, that not everyone has that can make for an extra special treat, whether as a neighbor gift or taking it to a party.
Since the cupcake has so much flavor, I kept the frosting simple with my “The Best Dairy-free Vanilla Frosting“ . I didn’t want too many flavors competing. My baby just loved them plain (because a one year old and frosting don’t really go together if you know what I mean! I’m all about less mess, thank you!)
These cupcakes are crazy moist, so I usually store them at room temperature, uncovered. I find that covering them for too long can make them even more moist–so depending on where you live, just keep an eye on the texture if you’re planning on storing them for more than a day.
You’ll see in the video that I make this all in one bowl. No need to mix the dry and wet ingredients separately. And, I’m usually a big KitchenAid fan, but you can do this one by hand, as you don’t want to over mix the cupcakes.
And, if you’re not a gingerbread fan–then try my Eggnog Cupcakes that are THE BOMB.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THESE CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES ALLERGY-FRIENDLY:
I know that I’ve made these to the lowest common denominator, so if you don’t have as many allergies as we do, here are some work arounds:
If I’m not gluten-free, can I use regular flour?
Yes! Just use regular flour 1:1 and omit the xanthan gum.
I can’t use canola oil, can I use another baking oil?
Yes!
I don’t need it to be egg free, do I have to use the flax eggs?
I would still recommend this. #1 because it’s healthier, #2 because it makes for a super moist cupcake, and #3, because otherwise you’ll have to do 1 and 1/2 eggs, which is a pain–if you must–use one egg, and one egg yolk.
What gluten-free flour blend do you recommend?
Mine! If not, Better Batter or Bob’s can be used in a pinch, just know it might affect the texture.
Do I have other gluten-free Christmas treats?
Yes, I do! I love to bake, but especially at Christmas time. Here are some gluten-free Christmas bakes you should look into:
- Reindeer Rice Krispies
- Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Frosting
- Cherry chocolate thumbprint cookies
- Maple cookies with maple glaze
- Soft, roll out sugar cookies
- Chocolate orange cookies
- Rice Krispie Christmas Trees
- No Bake Chocolate Pretzel Bites
- Chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies
- Dairy Free Fudge
- Dairy Free Peppermint Patties
- Homemade Oreos
- Christmas Rice Krispie Roll
- White chocolate dipped peppermint cookies
- Peppermint Pie recipe
- Slow Cooker Vegan Hot Chocolate
Or, if you can have egg, check out these gluten free gingerbread cookies by my friend Erin from meaningfuleats.com.
One of the best things about the Christmas season is baking up a storm in the kitchen! I hope these Gluten-free Vegan Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes will add another safe recipe to your list that you and your family can enjoy baking and eating! Happy holidays from my family to yours! Please be sure to share this with any other allergy families you know!
Gluten-free Vegan Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes (Top 8 Free too!)
Combing two top Christmas favorite flavors: chocolate and gingerbread into one super moist cupcake. Loaded with spice, but tempered by the chocolate this allergy-friendly dessert is sure to please even regular eaters. These Gluten-free Vegan Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes are free of: wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts, making them top-8-free too!
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 and 1/2 Tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 3 and 1/2 Tablespoons water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 and 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 6 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 cup gluten-free flour
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin.
- In a large bowl, place your brown sugar, sugar and oil. Stir.
- Add the molasses, ground flax seeds and water. Stir.
- Add the baking soda, salt, xanthan, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cocoa powder. Stir.
- Boil water in a small suacepan.
- Add half of the gluten-free flour and half of the boiling water. Stir.
- Add the remaining gluten-free flour and the remaining boiling water. Stir
- Pour 1/3 cup of batter into each of the muffin tins.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the middle springs back when you touch it lightly with your finger.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes.
- Turn out onto a cooling rack.
- While they cool completely, make the frosting.
- Pipe the frosting onto each cupcake. Store at room temperature.
Notes
Adapted from: Bird on a Cake
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 210Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 214mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g
DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT, SO YOU DON’T LOSE IT! BE SURE TO ALSO CHECK OUT MY OTHER ALLERGY-FRIENDLY PINTEREST BOARDS.
Looking for other Christmas desserts that are allergy-friendly? Check out these favorites:
Christmas Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
Allergy-friendly Reindeer Rice Krispies
Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Frosting
wonderful cook
These chocolate gingerbread cupcakes were amazing! Light, airy and delicious. Thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe.
Megan Lavin
Thanks so much!!
Lia
Hello! I tried these on Christmas Eve and they sunk and were dry and crumbly. I followed your recipe but the only thing I can think of is the flax egg. Most recipes I see you mix the flax and water separately and then add. I just put it all in the bowl as you instructed. Any ideas on what caused the sinking in the middle and the dryness?
Thanks! Love your site otherwise!
allergyawesomeness@gmail.com
Hi Lisa. I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve never had anyone else comment that theirs turned out that way, so I’m not sure what to tell you. Did you use a different flour? Different flours absorb the liquids differently. I never separate out my flax seeds, and have never had a problem. Did your batter look as wet as mine did in the video before baking?
amber
DO you think it would work to use applesauce in place of the flax egg?
allergyawesomeness@gmail.com
I’ve never tried it. You’re welcome to try. I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Kathy
Love the recipe ideas. The popups on this website make it almost impossible to read the recipes or navigate the site.
allergyawesomeness@gmail.com
Hi Kathy! I appreciate your feedback and am so glad you came to my site. I do offer ads because all of the content on my site is free, so this is a way to offset the time and costs it takes to maintain a site.
Secondly–I would like to know more, so I can improve this. Are you viewing the site on mobile or desktop? And, the only pop up I allow on my site is of my video player, so that you can view videos without having to click on them. The rest should be static ads, with a few spread throughout the post, and a banner along the bottom, which shouldn’t obstruct anything. If you had a different experience than this, please let me know so I can investigate further.
allergyawesomeness@gmail.com
One more thing Kathy, just so you know that you were heard–I did move the amount of my ads down. It used to be every 2 paragraphs, and now it is 3. While that will lose me income, I want my site to be a positive user experience!