Chocolate Cupcakes - Vegan, Egg-Free, Dairy-free

There is a photo that comes to mind every so often. When I saw it, many, many years ago, it left an impression on me. It was a picture of me in kindergarten, on my birthday. I'm surrounded by my classmates, holding a cake, with my mom and sister next to me.

My parents were immigrants and came to Canada when I was one years old. My mother's english-language skills were not very good but I'm guessing that the teacher asked my mother if she would bring cake or something to celebrate my birthday with the class.

I can't even imagine how much effort it was to bring that cake that day to school. It's not something I would have realized back then but something I understand now. It was likely a cold and wintry day, since my birthday is the beginning of March. My mother did not have a car, so she had to walk to school, which was a good 20 minutes. She also was about 8 months pregnant and probably carried my 3 year old sister and this cake all the way to my school. I remember feeling so happy and surprised to see my mom, sister and the cake at kindergarten that day.

Fast forward to the present day. My daughter is in kindergarten and her birthday is here. That photo of me in kindergarten comes to my mind and I want to do something special for her too. Though I don't have the same struggles that my mother had, I want to have my daughter feel the same joy with her classmates, as I did on my 6th birthday.

I asked the teacher if I could bring cupcakes to class and she agreed. But, today is a different time than it was when I was a child...

"Remember, absolutely no nuts. We also have an egg allergy. There is also another child that has many allergies so he probably won't be able to have one."

I remember leaving a bit disappointed. Many children have allergies nowadays but I really wanted to bring cupcakes but could I? Egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free, everything but the kitchen sink-free cupcakes? Is there such a thing and what would it taste like?

But, don't you worry. When there is a challenge, Maki will prevail. Especially with making this memory. And I'm happy to say, I have found the recipe for you moms who want to make dessert but don't know what to make in this allergy-full world. AND it tastes good.

I didn't get a picture of my daughter with her kindergarten class and the cupcakes but I have the memory of my daughter's beaming smile when we dropped off the cupcakes that morning. She was filled with excitement to share her birthday and these cupcakes with all her classmates.

And that, my friends, is why us moms do what we do. Whether it be walking 20 minutes in the cold, pregnant, with a 3 year old and cake or sifting through recipes to find that perfect set of ingredients to accomodate all friends and their allergies.