These vegan vanilla cupcakes are naturally gluten-free and sweetened with maple syrup, requiring just one bowl and 10 simple ingredients. The combination of almond flour, potato starch, and cornstarch creates a tender crumb that rivals traditional cupcakes.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a standard-size muffin tin with cupcake liners (we prefer these ones). Cupcake liners are preferable over greasing the pan because they prevent the sides from browning too much and yield a prettier result. But in a pinch, lightly grease instead.
To a large mixing bowl, add dairy-free milk, applesauce, avocado oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
Add almond flour, potato starch, cornstarch, baking powder, and sea salt and whisk again until well incorporated and no lumps remain. The texture should be thick and look similar to cornbread batter (see photo). If too thick, thin with a little more dairy-free milk. If too thin, add a little more almond flour.
Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners filling a generous 3/4 of the way full. Recipe as written makes 12 cupcakes.
Bake on the center rack for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, they are golden brown on the very edges, the tops appear dry, and they spring back a bit when touched or pressed (rather than deflating). It’s better to slightly over-bake than under-bake these cupcakes to avoid gumminess.
Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack to let cool completely.
Once cooled, option to top with frosting of choice. These subtly sweet cupcakes pair nicely with a sweeter frosting such as our classic buttercream frosting, vegan chocolate ganache frosting, date-sweetened chocolate frosting or vegan strawberry frosting. For a lighter option, try lightly-sweetened coconut whipped cream and fresh berries.
Best when enjoyed within the first 24-48 hours after baking. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for 1-2 days or in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 1 month.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days; freeze unfrosted cupcakes up to 3 months.
muffin tin · cupcake liners · wire cooling rack
Almond flour provides the structure and moisture in this recipe. You can replace it with an equal amount of oat flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, though texture may vary slightly.
Potato starch is pure starch and creates a lighter crumb; potato flour includes the whole potato and will make cupcakes denser. Use starch only as written for best results.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. They also freeze well for up to 3 months.
Yes, coconut oil works as a 1:1 substitute. Use refined coconut oil to avoid coconut flavor, or embrace it if you prefer.
No, they're naturally sweet and moist on their own. You can dust with powdered sugar or top with vegan buttercream if desired.
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