After Eight Cupcakes

What do you do when you're having a really, really bad day?

You know, one of those days where the universe seems to be working against you, and everything is going wrong, and you end up crying because you can't work out how to turn up the volume on your laptop.

When I'm having a very bad day, cupcakes are the answer.

These cupcakes are, for lack of a better word, ridiculous.

I mean, look at them...they've got green edible glitter on them for goodness sake!

But sometimes needs must.

I loved After Eights before going vegan, and thankfully Divine now do a vegan version! Hurrah!

Makes 12 large cupcakes

1 1/2C self raising gluten free flour (I use Dove's Farm)

1C sugar

1/2C dark cocoa powder

1/3C oil

1C water

1tsp balsamic vinegar

1tsp peppermint extract

1/2C vegan margarine

2-3C powdered sugar

Dairy free milk

1tsp peppermint extract

1/2tsp natural green food coloring

150g dark chocolate

Edible glitter

12 Divine mint thins

Preheat the oven to 175/350. Line a muffin pan with 12 muffin cases and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine all the cupcake ingredients and mix until no big lumps remain. Using a tablespoon or ice cream scoop, fill the muffin cases 2/3 of the way full and bake in the oven for 20mins. Place on a wire rack to cool while you make the frosting.

In a stand alone mixer or using an electric hand mixer cream together the margarine, peppermint and coloring. Then add the powdered sugar 1/2 a cup at a time, adding milk when the mixture gets too stiff. Once everything is combined whisk on high speed for around 3mins, until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Transfer into a piping bag and carefully pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I like a lot of frosting on my cupcakes, but you can use as little or as much as you want!

Once each cupcakes is frosted, melt the chocolate in the microwave for around 1 1/2-2mins, and drizzle over the top of each cupcake. Then sprinkle over a little edible glitter and finish each cupcake with a mint thin.