The Best Vegan Double Chocolate Fig Cupcakes Recipe

If you're looking for a delicious vegan treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than these incredibly moist Vegan Chocolate Fig Cupcakes with Vegan Irish Cream Frosting!

The natural sweetness of figs combined with rich chocolate makes for an incredible flavor combination!

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And not only are these cupcakes vegan-friendly – but they are also surprisingly easy to make! I’m here to help guide you every step of the way as we bake together a decadent batch of vegan cupcake perfection.

The pairing of figs and chocolate is a divine combination!

Homemade fig whiskey jam is mixed with chocolatey cupcake batter to make these rich and decadent cupcakes topped with homemade Vegan Irish Cream Frosting. These cupcakes are perfect for any celebration! 

For more delicious and elegant desserts with fruit, try my Vegan Plum Cake, Poached Pears in Red Wine, and Vegan Linzer Cookies.

Benefits of figs

Figs have many health benefits - they are a great source of health-promoting dietary fiber, adding a healthy twist to these indulgent cupcakes.

Figs contain many essential minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium and are rich in antioxidants and complex carbohydrates.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients to make these delicious vegan chocolate fig cupcakes. The fig whiskey jam and vegan Irish Cream frosting ingredients are not pictured.

• Dried Mission Figs add moisture and contribute to the cupcakes' delicious taste and moist texture. I used California Dried Mission Figs which I absolutely love! Figs add moisture and contribute to the texture of the cupcakes.
• Fig Whiskey Jam - soak dried black Mission figs in water and whiskey, then cook them with lemon juice and brown sugar. Cool them and then puree them in a food processor to make the fig whiskey jam.
• Organic Cane Sugar - this is vegan.
• Water with Coffee Extract - you may use strong coffee instead.
• Mini vegan chocolate chips for extra chocolate!
• Cake flour - this gives a tender and fluffy texture to these cupcakes.
• Dutch process cocoa - either unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa or unsweetened natural cacao powder will work, or a mixture. Do not use hot chocolate mix. I used unsweetened organic cacao powder to make the frosting - this is optional.
• All-purpose flour - I use organic plain flour. I have not used other flour in this recipe, such as oat flour or spelt flour; it would change the texture of the cupcakes. Do not use almond flour or coconut flour. For best results, use all-purpose flour.
• Oil - I use grapeseed oil or avocado oil in this recipe.
• Icing sugar (not pictured) - also called confectioner's sugar - is needed for the vegan Irish Cream buttercream icing.
• Vegan sprinkles are optional, but they make these cupcakes even more fun! I read the label to ensure the product is vegan (no shellac or carmine) and has no artificial colors or dyes.

Equipment

Here is the equipment you will need to make the fig whiskey jam:

• Small saucepan
• Citrus juicer
• Food processor
• Small bowl
• Spatula

This is the equipment you need to make the vegan chocolate fig cupcakes:

• Large bowl and small mixing bowl
• Sifter
• Two 12-well muffin tins or 24-well muffin tin - If you use only one muffin tin and fill the batter to the top instead of ⅔ full, your cupcakes will likely spread at the top, making them look more like muffins. They'll still taste incredible!
• Fifteen muffin/cupcake liners - I prefer environmentally responsible unbleached liners that don't stick to the cupcakes.
• Whisk

Here is the equipment you need to make vegan Irish cream frosting:

• Stand mixer to make the frosting.
• Spatula
• Wire rack to cool the cupcakes.
• Pastry bag and 1M tip for decorating the cupcakes, or use a butter knife or icing spatula. This decorating kit is handy, and it includes the 1M tip. You can experiment with other tips as well.

Overview of Instructions

It just takes a few steps and preplanning to make these moist and delicious cupcakes!

1. Make the Vegan Irish Cream ahead of time or buy it at the grocery store.
2. Make the Fig Whiskey Jam ahead of time.
3. Bake the vegan chocolate fig cupcakes. If you don't frost them the same day, store them overnight in a covered container after cooling completely.
4. Make the vegan Irish Cream Frosting while the cupcakes are cooling, or make the frosting the next day. You can even make the Irish Cream frosting in advance and refrigerate it until needed. I make the frosting the next day.

How to make Fig Whiskey Jam

I typically start this the night before baking day. You can start soaking the dried figs the night before and make the Fig Whiskey Jam in the morning before making the cupcakes.

• Soak the figs overnight in boiling water and Irish whiskey. Let them cool before covering them in an airtight container, and place them in the fridge overnight. 

• The next day, you will make the jam. Start by cooking the mixture of water, whiskey, and figs on the stovetop with light brown sugar, lemon juice, and a little salt. Then gently simmer for approximately eight to ten minutes, until the figs are soft, being careful not to have a rolling boil, or too much liquid will boil away. 

• Check for softness by pressing your spatula into the figs now and then. They should start yielding to pressure. Take the saucepan off the heat and let it cool.

• Add the mixture to a food processor and puree for 30 to 60 seconds until smooth. If your mixture is too thick, you can add a teaspoon of water until it's less thick, but I haven't had to do this. Place the jam in a glass container. Once the jam has cooled, place it in the fridge for up to ten days.

• You will need half a cup of jam to make the cupcakes. You can use the rest of the jam in the frosting or reserve it for another use. Suggestions on how to use the fig jam are below.

How to Make The Best Vegan Double Chocolate Fig Cupcakes

Preheat the oven and place 15 liners in the muffin tin.

You can use only one muffin tin if you don't have two tins or a large muffin tin with 24 wells. However, the batter will rise to the top and mound, making the cupcakes look like muffins. They'll still taste great! You will likely need to bake for a few extra minutes.

• Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting them. Wait at least two hours.

• Make the Vegan Irish Cream Frosting while the cupcakes cool, or make it the next day. 

Make the Vegan Irish Cream Frosting

• Having the butter at room temperature first is not essential because beating it will warm it up quickly. The vegan butter can be slightly chilled. Cut each stick of vegan butter into eight slices and place in the mixing bowl of the stand mixer. I used soy-free Earth Balance vegan buttery sticks.
• Sift the confectioner's sugar and cacao powder in a large bowl.

•  Add Vegan Irish cream and vanilla extract, beat briefly to combine.

• It is optional to the remaining Whiskey Fig Jam to the icing. Ensure the remaining Whiskey Fig Jam is at room temperature if you add it to the frosting at the end.

How to frost the cupcakes

• This decorating kit is handy, and it includes the 1M tip. You can experiment with other tips as well! You can frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or an icing spatula if you don't wish to get fancy. 

• You can practice your frosting skills on a plate before you try it on your cupcake!

• If you like the swirled frosting, here's what to do: transfer the frosting to a piping bag with a 1M tip. It's easiest to place the empty piping bag with the tip in a tall plastic or stainless steel drinking glass. Fold the edges over the rim of the glass, and spoon the frosting in, stopping a few inches short of the top of the bag. Twist the top of the bag and press your hand into the pastry bag, getting the air out of the frosting as it's pushed down toward the 1M tip.

• Place a dollop of frosting in the center of the top of the cupcake, then start frosting at the edge of the cupcake, circling your way to the center and lifting the piping tip slightly.

Substitutions

• Light brown sugar - you can use dark brown sugar instead when you make the fig whiskey jam.

• Coffee extract mixed with 1 cup water - you can use one tablespoon of instant coffee or one strong cup of fresh coffee, cooled.

• Vegan mini chocolate chips - you can use regular-sized vegan chocolate chips or chop up an equivalent amount of quality vegan dark chocolate.

• Cake flour - you can make your own by measuring a half cup of all-purpose flour, removing a tablespoon, and replacing it with cornstarch. You can use only all-purpose flour in this recipe, but the crumb will not be as fine. You can also use pastry flour. Do not use self-rising flour in this recipe.

Variations

• Vegan Irish cream - instead of using Irish cream in the frosting, use lavender simple syrup.

Expert Tips

• Make the Fig Whiskey Jam a day or two before, along with the Vegan Irish Cream. This will make the day of baking and decorating go smoother.

• Let your cupcakes cool on a wire rack for at least two hours before you frost them.

• I recommend frosting the cupcakes the same day you bake them or the day after you bake. Storage tips are below.

You can make the frosting ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer.

Storage

• Store leftover frosting in a bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for 2 months. Let thaw, come to room temperature, and stir before using it again.
• You can keep these cupcakes at room temperature in an airtight container for up to four days. After that, you can freeze them. I recommend freezing them if they aren't eaten within a few days. Do not refrigerate them to avoid drying them out.
• Cupcakes can be frozen for up to 2 months in a single layer in an airtight container. Once the cupcakes are frozen, cover each in plastic wrap and place it back in the airtight container.
• To thaw, take them out of the fridge for at least 30 to 60 minutes before eating them to let the frosting warm to room temperature.

How to use the remaining Fig Whiskey Jam

• You can add it to the frosting; it's delicious! Add it with the Vegan Irish Cream for an unexpected and fun twist to the frosting. The little bits of fig resemble bits of chocolate or chocolate jimmies.
• Serve the jam with crackers and a vegan cheese plate; make an easy dinner with salad and bread, or stir the jam into a vinaigrette for your salad. Or you can toss it with roasted Brussels sprouts.
• Add it to your next cake batter, muffin batter, or banana bread before you bake.
• Use it as a topping for pancakes and French toast instead of syrup. Mix it with vegan cream cheese for a crepe filling. Add the jam to overnight oats.
• Fold it into vegan yogurt, make a parfait, or spread it on toast or English muffins.
• Add the Fig Whiskey Jam to puff pastry squares, add vegan cream cheese and chopped nuts, and bake. Substitute the Fig Whiskey Jam for cranberry jam in my Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites.

FAQ

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