Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vegan Raspberry "Cream" Frosting for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrating 25 years of Awareness, Education, and Empowerment.  To support the cause, I made Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vegan Raspberry 'Cream" Frosting, a couple of weeks ago. Probably most people know someone who has had breast cancer. Because of the strides made in breast cancer research, a breast cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.  I lost a dear friend to the disease, Jo, two and one half years ago. unfortunately, I didn't have any pictures of Jo in my new camera.  I also have other friends, who have fought their fight, and are in remission, Marcia has been in remission  for 14 years. Marcia is on the right, and a Team member on my Relay for Life team.

Breast Cancer, like other types of cancer, has many different strains of cancer, and varieties with many factors involved in life expectancy.  The key to breast cancer or any other type of cancer survival is early detection, if possible. There are some form of cancer, however, that don't have early warning signs, but you just have to remain vigilant, and be your own advocate.

Besides the Susan G Komen Foundation Foundation, TheAmerican Cancer Society offers support and programs for Breast Cancer, as well as,  any other type of cancer. If you are a cancer patient, and need a ride to chemotherapy, the American Cancer Society, ACS, can arrange for rides for you at no cost.  Also, if you need a wig, the ACS can give you one. Both organizations offer Hope for the cancer patient, their families and friends, fighting this terrible disease.

I found this quote from Maya Angelou that sums up my involvement with the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society, as a Melanoma Cancer Survivor.

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."

Make these wonderful  Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vegan Raspberry "Cream" Frosting for someone you love or a friend or neighbor that has cancer, and give them Hope!

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes from Crazy about Cupcakes by Krystina Castella

Makes 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

6 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce

2 1/4  C water

1 Tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp white vinegar

2 1/2 C all purpose flour

2/3 c cocoa powder

2 C unbleached cane sugar.  ½ tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees oven.   Insert cupcake liners in 2 - 12 cup cupcake pans.

2. In a large bowl mix together the applesauce, water, vanilla, and vinegar.

3. In a separate bowl combine the remaining ingredients.

4. Carefully add the dry ingredients to the liquid mixture.  Beat well.

5. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake 20-25 min, or until pick inserted in center of cupcake, comes out clean.

6. Cool cupcakes on rack, and frost when cooled completely.

Vegan  Raspberry "Cream"  Frosting

1 Cup Earth Balance vegan spread, softened, not melted. Available at Trader Joe’s

2C vegan powdered sugar   I used regular powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

¼ c raspberry jam

1/ 4c.  Almond milk, or more, to desired consistency

Beat Earth Balance until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla to Earth Balance.  Beat with electric mixer Fold in raspberry jam.   Add almond or low fat milk  until desired consistency. Refrigerate about 1 hour still frosting is firmer.  Frost or pipe onto cupcakes.  Garnish with fresh raspberries. if desired,