Cookies and Cupcakes (Vegan Option)

[madfishmonger]

The original recipe is here(some good ones on this page), but here are my modifications:

Banana Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp.  nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 soft bananas
2 cups   rolled oats
1 3/4 cup   barley, whole wheat or white flour*
1cup  raisins**
3 tbsp. water

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Cream together the first 10 ingredients.  Finally, stir in the remaining ingredients.  They don't spread apart too much during baking, but try not to make them too thick.  Bake 10-12 minutes until golden.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies (depending on how big you make them).

*barley or whole wheat flour (I imagine spelt would also work) add a lovely breadiness to the taste, I like them much better this way.
** you can substitue all kinds of things here, including crispy rice, but as I am making these for a school fundraiser, I'm making them allergy-free. The only guaranteed nut-free chocolate chips I have are mine. All mine. Plus they're 5$ a bag, and it's all the chocolate I get, so not sharing. Get away.

Also, this cake rules. It makes wonderful cupcakes. I baked it as a mini cupcake with blueberries in the centre, it was amazing.

Deep Chocolate Cake
a birthday pleaser easy to make, bake and take

2 cups
2/3 cup
2  
2 tsp.
3 cups
2 tsp.
2 tsp.
1 tsp.
2/3 cup
2 cups granulated sugar
vegetable oil
soft bananas
vanilla
barley flour
baking powder
baking soda
salt
cocoa
boiling water

One-Bowl Method:  In a large bowl beat sugar, oil and banana for 4 minutes.  Beat in vanilla.  Measure and distribute over the top of mixture the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Beat in the water and combine well.  Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan and bake at 350 F. for 45 minutes or until centre springs back when lightly touched.  Cool, then frost with your favourite icing.

The great thing about this recipe is it's easy to make allergy free. And I'll give away one of my secrets: (someone try this and tell me how awesome it is) instead of boiling water, make strong chai (no milk) and boil it again before you add it. Of course, be sure you're not using a plastic bowl when you pour in the boiling water.
Anyway, I'm going to have to make another batch of these cookies tomorrow, they're so good I'm having a hard time parting with them. The fundraiser is to benefit the One Love Project, however, and this is a cause I can part with my cookies for.

Another option I've enjoyed is mini cupcakes, I found a pan that makes one-bite cupcakes, I fill half of each cup with batter, put in one blueberry, then top it off. Other small or chopped berries will do too, they're great in the minis. Let me know what kinds you try!

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