Vegan Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies

On any given day, I can come up with a number of reasons NOT to bake:

• I’m tired
• I’d rather do something else
• It’s too hot to turn on the oven
• I’d have to go to the store to buy some ingredient
• I’d have to stay up late to finish baking
• I’d have to wake up early to photograph the final result

However, sometimes despite my best efforts, I cannot come up with a reasonable excuse. Sometimes there is a bowlful of very ripe fruit on the verge of going bad if I don’t act immediately. Sometimes I get hit with a craving so strong that nothing else seems as important as quickly satisfying the desire. Sometimes there is half a batch of frosting leftover from another recipe that is begging to be given a new canvas to rest on.

These Vegan Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies came to life one evening thanks to one very ripe avocado on the counter and half a batch of the Mint and Lime Buttercream Frosting that topped the very delicious and subtly boozy Mojito Cupcakes. 

Mojito Cupcakes

We've all had our fair share of days that just can't end soon enough. Waiting for weekends that seem impossibly far away. Unsure what will best relax your nerves at the end of the day: a run, a drink, a cupcake or some combination of all three.

These cupcakes pack two of the tried and true stress remedies in a teeny bite-sized package. Perfect!

Coconut Mango Thumbprint Cookies

I know what you are all thinking: "This girl has been home from Asia for over two months and she still hasn't posted any baked goods inspired by the cuisine over there!"

You were all thinking that, weren't you? No matter... I've been thinking I wanted to share something inspired by a flavor I particularly enjoyed in Thailand for quite some time now, but haven't found the time...or exotic ingredients.

These Coconut Mango Thumbprint Cookies capture one of the single best flavors (mango) I encountered in Thailand, but are made with standard enough ingredients that they can be replicated at home, just about anywhere in range of a grocery store.

Call Me "Old Fashioned"

Now and then a moment occurs that is just too perfect for planning. At the very moment I pulled these whiskey-spiked cupcakes out of the oven, Lady Gaga belted, "you taste like whiskey when you kiss me. Oh, I'd do anything again to be your baby doll" on my iTunes. Gotta love it!

These cupcakes were in fact made to commemorate a very manly-themed birthday party my roommate and I threw over the weekend. The theme: Mustache Bash. Remind you of anything?

Last November Movember, I entered a Manly Movember Cupcake Competition with some killer Anchorman-inspired Spiced Squash Cupcakes with Scotch Butterscotch Frosting.

Chocolate Mustaches work out much better in November than in August in a third floor apartment that lacks air conditioning...

These birthday cupcakes needed to be equally manly... and classy... and delicious. Enter the Old Fashioned.