Down the Rabbit Hole

Raspberries wait for no one.

Catching everyone by surprise, the wild raspberries are early bloomers this year, springing forth in clusters of ruby red jewels, dripping from vines heavy with their bounty. There’s not a moment to lose when it’s first come, first serve, and the birds tend to have a more flexible schedule for picking. Ready or not, here I come, but this year has already been somewhat of a disappointment. With my dad overseas on work, it’s not nearly such a joyous event to trudge out into the thorns and mosquitoes in search of a few small berries. Needless to say, yields have suffered tremendously as well, and there’s no chance that I’ll even come close to our record.

But, as they say, the show must go on, and it would be a shame to let all of that edible plunder out there go to waste. Doing my best to reach the farthest branches the treasure deeply buried within the wilderness of suburban Connecticut, I donned long sleeves and pants, braving the oppressive heat, and gave it my all. Before long, a neat little pile of still-warm raspberries sat heaped in my basket. Mother nature waits for no one, so it was a relief to have made it to my favorite picking spot seemingly just in time. All was right with the world again.

Lulled into a false sense of safety, despite being temporarily jolted into high alert after shaking a tennis ball-sized beetle off my hand, I was feeling pretty good about this first solo venture. Moving a bit further into the woods, I was now venturing into unknown territory… And that’s when the ground went out beneath me.

Suddenly I was falling, down, down, down, shockingly far into the earth.

When I finally got my footing again, my painstakingly gathered berries were scattered and smashed all over the moldy forest floor, and I was literally knee-deep in some mysterious hole! Completely covered with vines, like some fiendish trap, I hadn’t seen any hint or warning of what I was stepping into, despite having checked my footing beforehand. Unhurt but as crushed as those wasted berries, the fruits of my labor sent to rot, I quickly pulled myself up and high-tailed it out of there. There’s no telling what sort of creature (or monster, perhaps) created a trench of such a size, but let’s just say it was a rabbit, for comfort’s sake. Yes, a cute, fuzzy rabbit that certainly would not have eaten me. I feel much better about that.

Returning on a separate occasion to gather a conservative punnet of raspberries, carefully staying far away from the booby-trap hidden within the woods, I still couldn’t stop thinking about that bizarre rabbit hole. Even after finally securing my berries and returning home, the image of perhaps a giant rabbit the size of an SUV danced through my mind… Or maybe they had mistaken me for Alice, perhaps. So I did the only logical thing I could think of, as an offering of sorts to this mystical and mysterious rabbit: Make carrot cake.

That would be raspberry carrot cake, of course!

Dotted with tiny, crunchy clusters of wild berries, it’s more or less a standard carrot cake, but I felt compelled to share the recipe. After bringing a batch to both friends and family, at different events, I’ve been blown away by the rave reviews they received. My perpetually skeptical aunt was amazed that they were vegan, and even my grandma, a seasoned baker, seemed curious about the recipe.

What really makes them special, however, is the frosting.

Though I was planning to go the traditional cream cheese route, there was none at the grocery store to be found. Reaching instead for the sour cream, it was a happy accident that lead to perhaps the best frosting I’ve ever made, and a new personal favorite.

Light and fluffy, less heavy than a standard buttercream and yet more substantial than airy whipped cream, it’s the Goldilocks of frostings; Just right. Flecked with real vanilla bean, it’s delicately flavored and a treat for the eyes as well. Even if you don’t care for carrot cake, or have fears of a demonic bunny looming in your mind that must be assuaged, I insist that you still try the frosting. You don’t even have to go foraging in the woods for it.

Yield: Makes 12 Servings

Raspberry Carrot Cake with Sour Cream Frosting

These carrot cake cupcakes studded with fresh raspberries is a refreshing change of pace. Topped with light, fluffy, and subtly tangy vegan sour cream frosting, they're an easy way to eat your fruits and veggies.

Ingredients

Raspberry Carrot Cake:

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Shredded Carrot
1 Cup Fresh Raspberries
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed

Sour Cream Frosting:

1/2 Cup Vegan Butter, at Room Temperature.
1/2 Cup Vegan Sour Cream
1/2 Vanilla Bean, Seeds Scraped
3 – 4 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line 12 standard muffin tins with cupcake papers.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and soda, spices, and salt so that all of the dry goods are evenly distributed. Add in the shredded carrot and raspberries, and toss to coat in flour. Set aside.
Separately, whisk together the oil, non-dairy milk of choice, vinegar, and brown sugar. Once the sugar is more or less dissolved, pour the whole mixture into your bowl of dry ingredients. Stir gently with a wide spatula so as not to smash the berries, just until the batter comes together. A few lumps are just fine, as long as you don’t over-mix.
Evenly dose out the batter between your prepared muffin tins. These bake up to be fairly large cupcakes, so don’t be afraid to mound that batter up in the center.
Bake for 26 – 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cupcake comes out dry. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the frosting, first soften the vegan butter in the stand mixer by briefly beating it alone. Add in the sour cream, scrapped vanilla bean, and 2 cups of the confectioner’s sugar. Start the mixer on a low speed until the sugar is mostly incorporated, and then pause, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add in another cup of sugar.
Start slowly again, and then once everything is assimilated, turn up the mixer to high and whip the frosting for about 4 minutes. Pause, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and if it is too loose for your liking, add the remaining cup of sugar.
Get that final addition mixed in as well, and whip for another 4 – 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. The key to the texture is patience; You must allow a good amount of time for the mixer to work its magic.
Once it’s at the consistency you desire, frost away!

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 709Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 136gFiber: 2gSugar: 120gProtein: 3g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

July 17, 2010November 23, 2025

Hannah (BitterSweet)38 Comments

Do the Monster Mash

No need to be scared of things that go bump in the night, because around these parts, in all likelihood it’s nothing more than the midnight baker, bumbling about in the kitchen. When the witching hour struck last night, however, the midnight baker was up to some devious plot, whipping up more spooky sweets that usual…

Topped with a monstrous green swirl of frosting and those ever-popular chocolate spiders, these cupcakes are by no means horrific Halloween eats, but still perfectly fun and festive. Who really wants to eat something so faux-gory that it makes your stomach turn in the first place?

Of course, there is still one hidden surprise that’s just a touch bloody…

Strawberry “blood” filling! No, you’re definitely not going to fool anyone, but for a last-minute Halloween dessert, this assemblage can’t be beat. Just bake your favorite vanilla (or any other light-colored) cupcakes, carve a little cone out of the center with a paring knife, and trim the bottom of the cone off. Fill the hollow with a teaspoon or two of strawberry jam, and replace the top. Save the scraps for cake truffles, or have yourself a little snack.

As for that green frosting, you won’t find any nasty food coloring here- That hue is all thanks to one little avocado, and you can’t taste it one bit. Feel free to take advantage of that color and flavor it with mint, or keep it more kid-friendly with a solid dose of vanilla. Should you need a last-minute Halloween party treat, look no further- These are simple enough to please all palates, and easy enough to whip up in no time at all.

Yield: Makes Enough to Frost about 1 Dozen Cupcakes

Monster (Green Avocado) Frosting

You won’t find any nasty food coloring here. That bright green glow is all thanks to one little avocado, and you can’t taste it one bit. Feel free to take advantage of that color and flavor it with mint, or keep it more kid-friendly with a solid dose of vanilla.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 Ripe, Medium-Sized Avocado
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
1/2 Cup Vegan Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract (or Additional Vanilla)
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
2 – 3 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar

Instructions

Place your avocado and lemon juice in a food processor or blender and thoroughly puree, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary to ensure that there are no chunks of avocado remaining.
Transfer the puree into your stand mixer and add in the vegan butter. Cream fats together until smooth and homogeneous, and then add in your extracts of choice and salt.
Stop the machine before adding in the sugar and begin it again on a low speed so as not to fling powder everywhere. Once the sugar is mostly incorporated, turn up the speed to high, and whip for 2 – 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Apply to cupcakes as desired.

Sugar Daddy

What to get for the father with everything?

Moreover, what to get for the father who seems to want nothing? Preferring little fan fare and perhaps his favorite meal of hot dogs, my dad remains as difficult as ever to spoil. Always shy to ask for anything and frequently claiming to not want anything at all, he never gives away any clues as to what might strike his fancy, making Father’s day a real challenge to celebrate.

No way would I ever take his assertions to heart though; It would be a crime to give up and do nothing for such a caring and dedicated dad! Deserving of recognition much more than just one day out of the year, it’s near impossible to make this one date count in a truly meaningful way, so the least I could do was maybe treat him to something special.

Grasping for Straws

During one late night brainstorming session, thinking of all present and past favorite foods, I somehow became fixated on his love for iced tea. Years ago, all he would drink was from a powdered mix, dumping a few heaping tablespoons into a tall glass and topping it off with ice water. As a result, I had thought for the longest time that iced tea was something completely separate from those little bags of dried leaves. He’s now graduated to actual tea, sweetened to such an intense level that my mom has taken to calling it “sugar water,” but the memory of that instant tea mix stuck with me.

After picking up a package of that powder for nostalgia’s sake, it took a long time and many dubious concepts before I finally struck upon the perfect use for it:

Cake! Or more specifically, cupcakes!

Mixed into both the cake and the frosting, the instant tea powder brought me right back to my childhood, thinking how grown up it was to be drinking this fancy iced tea concoction. These cupcakes are decided less “grown up,” but way too much fun to pass up.

Piled high with mounds of fluffy frosting, I made sure to be generous with the piping bag to satisfy his well-established sweet tooth. As if that weren’t enough, a light sprinkling of coarse white sugar adds a slight crunch, and is a nod to that sugar-saturated brew my dad is so fond of. Finally, that touch of lemon is a nod to the lemon flavored tea that was a common choice back in the days of buying a mix. Although my dad isn’t exactly the biggest fan of cakes in general, this is one that I hope will strike a chord.

Yield: Makes 12 Cupcakes

Iced Tea Cupcakes

Instant iced tea mixed into both the cake and frosting of these sweet treats lends a tangy, refreshing flavor that's perfect for summer.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Iced Tea Cupcakes:

1 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Instant Unsweetened Iced Tea Mix
2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Lemon-Iced Tea Frosting:

1/2 Cup Vegan Butter, at Room Temperature
3 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
1/2 Cup Instant Unsweetened Iced Tea Mix
1/2 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
2 – 4 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line 12 muffin tins with cupcake papers.
Whisk together the milk, lemon juice, and oil in a large bowl, and let sit for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the flour, iced tea mix, sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt so that all of the dry ingredients are well distributed.
Add the dry goods into the wet, and stir just enough to incorporate everything and get out most of the lumps. Distribute the batter equally between your prepared tins, and bake for 18 – 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cupcake comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the frosting, simply place the vegan butter, confectioner’s sugar, tea mix, and lemon zest in the bowl of your stand mixer, and start it on low speed. Slowly add in the lemon juice one tablespoon at a time, increasing the speed once the sugar is mostly incorporated. Whip on high for about 4 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Apply to cooled cupcakes and top with coarse sugar or pearl sugar if desired.

Float Away

Eons ago when my sister and I were but wee tots and my parents still exercised the authority to restrict my intake of sweets, I remember the harshest restrictions being placed on soda. Occasional candies and chocolates were okay, but soda? Only once a year, on New Year’s Eve were my sister and I allowed the pleasure of the bubbly liquid. If we were really, seriously lucky, we might even be permitted to add the most conservative scoop of ice cream, making the most alluring concoction we could ever imagine with our underdeveloped minds.

Only root beer would be utilized for such occasions, mind you, lest we consume the evil substance known as caffeine along with this most decadent treat! For years we obeyed by this ruling, until eventually we grew older and [theoretically] wiser, trusted to make good decisions for ourselves, and soda was no longer such an illusive indulgence. In fact, you could say that their well-meaning plan backfired, seeing as I drink soda almost everyday, and rarely root beer!

Thinking about this small aspect of my childhood, I wanted to make something special to celebrate a small vacation from school, wherein my sister would get the chance to come and visit for a few days. Hoping that she would remember these past rituals as well as I do, there was little question over what new form I would try to recreate these memories in a more mature form. Not just a simple drink any more, but a real dessert demanding respect and attention. Don’t even think about comparing it to the old fashioned standby, as it has grown up quite a bit from it’s formerly childish embodiment.

That’s right, the newest incarnation of my beloved root beer float is now embodied by ever-popular cupcake, albeit much more animal-friendly than the original. A drizzle of ganache provides a bite reminiscent of a hot fudge ribbon, topped by a sweet dollop of vanilla frosting to take the place of melting, messy ice cream. In my opinion, this baby’s got everything you could ever want from this previously juvenile delight, and you don’t even need a straw on hand to enjoy it.

Yield: Makes 12 Cupcakes

Root Beer Float Cupcakes

Transform the classic root beer float into a cupcake! A drizzle of ganache provides a bite reminiscent of a hot fudge ribbon, topped by a sweet dollop of vanilla frosting to take the place of melting, messy ice cream.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

Root Beer Float Cupcakes:

1 Cup Root Beer Soda
1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Teaspoons Root Beer Extract
1 1/3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Salt

Ganache:

5 Ounces Dark Chocolate
1/4 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup

Frosting:

1 Cup Vegetable Shortening
3 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
2 Tablespoons Plain Non-Dairy Milk
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a dozen cupcake tins with papers.
Combine the soda and vinegar and let stand for a few minutes. Add in the sugar and oil, whisking vigorously until slightly frothy. Integrate your extracts, and gently introduce the flour, along with the baking powder / soda, and salt, being careful not to over mix.
Distributing the batter evenly between the prepared tins, fill cupcake liners approximately 3/4 of the way to the top. Bake for about 18 – 22 minutes. Allow them to cool completely before proceeding to the ganache.
Combine all the ingredients for the ganache in a microwave-safe container and nuke for about a minute. Stir thoroughly even if it doesn’t look completely melted – It should come together after a bit of agitation, but if the chocolate still isn’t entirely smooth, return to the microwave for 15-30 seconds at a time, watching carefully to ensure that it doesn’t burn.
Drizzle ganache in squiggles over the tops of the cupcakes. You’ll probably have plenty of left over ganache, but is that a particularly bad thing? Allow ganache squiggles to fully cool and dry before preparing the frosting.
For the frosting, place the room temperature shortening into your mixer, and beat thoroughly until creamed. Add in sugar and start on a low speed so as not to spray powder everywhere. Incorporate non-dairy milk and extract, and combine thoroughly. Apply to cupcakes as desired. Wax nostalgic about childhood memories.