Marpop Cupcakes & Falling Off Treadmills
How sweet it is! The new Confection Co-Op in Hollywood is not only your one-stop shop for yummy baked goodness like cupcakes, cookies, scones, waffles and specialty cakes, but for the month of March it’s also the ONLY place where you can get the special Marpop Cupcake!! That’s because I’m the “Guest Confectionist of the Month”! This fab cupcake has a super-moist chocolate cake, fresh strawberry champagne buttercream, colorful funfetti and it just so happens to be totally vegan!
After eating all those yummy cupcakes, you might want to run off some of those calories. And you can do that by stepping up to the ASICS LA Marathon treadmill challenge. This one-of-a-kind treadmill has been touring different places throughout SoCal and runs at only one speed–the Marathon’s record pace. All of us at “Good Day LA” tried it and I have to say, THANK GOODNESS for the special harness because that speed is tough! I lasted a whopping 20 seconds, Bobby D did about a full minute and I think Julie Chang managed more than a minute. I have a newfound respect for anyone who attempts to run a marathon, let alone maintain that sort of pace for HOURS. Cray!
See all the action here: Weekend Roundup on GDLA
Marpop Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes (Makes 10)
* All purpose flour 1 ¼ cup
* Sugar 1 cup
* Cocoa 1/3 cup
* Salt ½ tsp
* Baking soda 1 tsp
* Warm water 1 cup
* Vanilla extract 1 tsp
* Vegetable oil 1/3 cup
* Vinegar 1 tsp
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* Sift flour and sift cocoa
* Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl
* Combine wet ingredients in separate bowl
* Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients
* Mix until smooth – 30 seconds to 1 minute
* Scoop into cupcake liners (preferably pink ones!)
* Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes
Vegan Strawberry Champagne “Buttercream”
* Earth Balance (butter alternative) 2 cups
* Powdered sugar 12 cups sifted
* Salt ¼ tsp
* Coconut milk creamer ½ cup
* Vanilla 1 Tbsp (add to cream)
* Rose Champagne ½ cup
* Strawberries ½ cup
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* Soften Smart Balance and cut into small pieces and mix on med/high speed until smooth
* Add salt and sugar, mix on low speed
* Add coconut cream, vanilla, and champagne, mix on low
* Add strawberries
* Mix on med/high speed for 10 seconds, take up to hi speed and mix for 5 seconds
* Swirl on top of cupcakes and enjoy!
Lifestyle writer Mar Yvette is on a mission to bring you the best people, places, and products to make your life pop!