basic dahl

3.5 cups veggie stock, preferably homemade
3/4 cups slit peas or red lentils
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, cored and choppe
1 tbs oil
2 tbs tomato paste
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp mustart seeds
1.5 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/16 tsp cayenne
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
salt
cilantro

In a saucepan, bring the stock and lentils to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered until tender (about 40 minutes for split peas). Meanwhile, in a skillet heat the oil, add onions and carrots, saute until slightly browned, add garlic, spices, and cook a few minutes until golden. Add to the nearly finished lentils. Add tomatoes, paste, and cook for a few minutes, adding salt to taste.

gluten-free german chocolate cake

No, German Chocolate Cake is not really German. A recipe for German's Chocolate cake appeared in a newspaper in Dallas, Texas in 1957, sent in by a homemaker. It used a chocolate bar called "German's," created by Englishman Sam German for Baker's Chocolate Company. The cake was an immediate hit, and the possessive in "German's" was dropped, resulting in the current misnomer. The cake soon became a regular in bakeries all across America.

For my family, all big fans of coconut, pecans, and dark chocolate, german chocolate cake is a perennial guest at birthdays. Fortunately, I can still enjoy this cake after becoming vegan. And as happens with many vegan recipes, using coconut cream instead of dairy makes the cake if anything more delicious than traditional versions. This cake takes a lot of work, but for special occasions it's worth it.

Makes 16 rich, filling slices

Cook time: several hours total, including cooling time (this is NOT a last-minute dessert)

complete ingredients list:

2 cans coconut milk

4 cups maple syrup and/or agave nectar (these are pretty much interchangeable, but in each individual recipe I list whichever one I tend to prefer)

5 tablespoons vanilla

8 oz. dark chocolate, around 70% (check for milk fat in the ingredients)

3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes (the finer the better unless you want chewy frosting)

1-1/2 cup pecans

1 cup coconut oil

2 tablespoons rum

2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

2-1/2 teaspoon salt

1-3/4 cups brown rice flour

3/4 cup garbanzo bean flour

1-1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

chocolate cake:

1-3/4 cups brown rice flour

3/4 cup garbanzo bean flour

1-1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup coconut oil

2 cups maple syrup

2 cups water

1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Grease two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, water, vanilla, and coconut oil. In a medium bowl, sift together the remaining ingredients and whisk together thoroughly. In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until there are no lumps.

Pour the batter into the pans and bake for about 25-28 minutes, or until somewhat firm. Set the cakes on the counter to cool. Once they are no longer hot, I recommend chilling them in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the cake; when they are cool they're more likely to come out of the cake pans without falling apart.

While the cakes are baking and cooling, make the coconut filling, rum syrup, and chocolate frosting.

coconut filling:

1 can + 1 cup coconut milk

1-1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar

3/4 tsp. salt

2 tablespoons arrowroot powder

2 tablespoons vanilla

3 cups coconut flakes, toasted

1-1/2 cups pecans

To toast the coconut, spread evenly over a cookie sheet and bake for about 5 minutes at 350F. Take it out, stir it around with a spatula, and put back in the oven, checking and stirring every few minutes, until evenly golden brown.

While the coconut is toasting, spread the pecans over another cookie sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes, until well browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and chop.

In a stainless steel saucepan, bring the coconut milk, agave, and salt nearly to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for around 10 minutes. Try not to boil it, because the coconut milk can lose some of its flavor. Mix together the arrowroot and vanilla and whisk in. Cook for another 5 minutes or so, until thickened, whisking often to activate the arrowroot. Remove from heat and stir in the pecans and coconut. It will thicken slightly as it cools.

rum syrup:

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons rum

1 tablespoon vanilla

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan and simmer for around 10 minutes, until it resembles a thin syrup. It will thicken slightly upon cooling.

chocolate ganache:

3/4 cup coconut milk (the rest of the can partially used in the coconut frosting)

1/4 cup agave or maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla

8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped

Place the chocolate in a heat resistant bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the coconut milk, agave, and vanilla until it is about to boil. Pour over the chocolate and let it stand a minute. Stir with a spatula until smooth, slowly as to not create air bubbles. Let sit until room temperature, refrigerating if it is not firm enough to spread as frosting.

to assemble the cake:

With a plastic spatula or utensil, loosen the cake around the edges of the pan. Remove the cake layers (this is easer if you refrigerate or freeze them for a short while beforehand) and place several toothpicks around the perimeter of the cake, halfway down. Using these as a guide, cut the cake in half horizontally with unflavored dental floss, wrapping it around the cake and tugging the ends toward each other until cut all the way through.

Set the first layer on a cake plate and with a pastry brush, douse liberally with the rum syrup. Spread a little less than 1/4 of the coconut frosting over the layer, being sure to reach the sides. Set another layer on top and repeat, brushing each layer with syrup and coconut filling. Be sure to save enough coconut filling for the top; it's okay if there is more frosting on top than in the other layers, but too little frosting on top would be a problem.

With a frosting spatula, ice the sides with the chocolate frosting, saving a little to pipe around the edges. Run the spatula under hot water, dry, and use it to smooth the chocolate icing around the sides. With a piping bag and tip (you can buy kits relatively cheaply at cooking supply stores), pipe a decorative border of chocolate icing around the top and bottom edges of the cake.

Serve with vanilla or toasted coconut ice cream. The cake can be covered and stored in the fridge for several days.

gluten-free coconut macaroons

The word "macaroon" is used to describe a wide variety of light, baked goods. The word comes from the Italian maccarone, meaning paste; the earliest recorded macaroons were made from almond paste and egg whites, similar to amaretti. Some historians claim macaroons can be traced back to Italian monasteries where they were modeled after the monks' belly buttons. Italian Jews adopted the macaroon because it has no flour or leavening so can be eaten during Passover. Soon it was introduced to other European Jews and became popular year-round. Some cooks added coconut to recipes, occasionally replacing the almonds altogether. Today, what exactly a "macaroon" refers to varies from country to country. Coconut macaroons are the most popular type in North America, Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, partly because they're easier to make and transport than the fragile almond meringues.

The three principle ingredients in traditional coconut macaroons are coconut, egg whites, and sugar. To me, as well as to many others, the use of coconut milk makes these macaroons even better and more coconut-intense than the traditional type. The coconut flavor is so delicious you may not want to disturb it with chocolate, but I like to half-dip the macaroons to create a more elegant and appealing look, and to break up the coconut intensity without covering it up. And although it may be overkill, I like to add a dash of orange oil or zest to the chocolate. In my opinion, the flavor combination of coconut, chocolate, and orange is unbeatable.

Makes about 2 dozen small cookies

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

1/2 can coconut milk (about 3/4 cup, 200 g)

1/3 cup (100 g) maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

1/4 cup brown rice flour (substitute any type of flour—its used mainly as a thickener here)

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 tablespoons unrefined cane sugar or brown sugar

2 cups (160 g) unsweetened shredded coconut (the finer the better unless you want a very chewy macaroon)

Optional:

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips or 3 oz (85g) chopped chocolate

1/4 teaspoon orange oil or zest of 1 orange

Stir together the coconut milk, maple syrup, and salt in a medium stainless-steel saucepan. Heat until it's just about to boil, then reduce heat to low. Whisk in the arrowroot powder and brown rice flour until there are no more lumps, then add the vanilla. Continue to cook, whisking often, until thickened. Remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Stir in the sugar, then the coconut flakes. Pack a tablespoon-measure with batter and place on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, and mold slightly with your hands to form a circular mound (or whatever shape you want—the shape will not change much after baking). Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are well browned. They should have a crusty outside and soft center.

If you want to dip them in chocolate, fill a small saucepan an inch or two high with water and place a small, heat-proof bowl on top to create a double boiler. Bring water to a boil, then reduce to barely simmering. Place the chocolate in the bowl (and orange oil or zest, if using) and with a spatula, gently stir until consistently creamy, then remove from heat. You might want to add half the orange oil and taste it, adding a few drops at a time, until you get the desired intensity, as orange oils seem to vary in strength from brand to brand. To half-dip, roll half of the top of each macaroon in the melted chocolate. The chocolate will harden if the macaroons are left at room temperature for a few hours. If you're pressed for time, set the cookie sheet in the fridge.

biscuits

1 cup unbleached or whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/8 tsp salt
2 tbs coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tbs sugar

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix dry ingredients, cut in oil, add milks, and mix to form slightly sticky dough. Place on a floured surface and pat into a mound 3/4" to 1" thick. Cut biscuits out, pressing straight down.

Bake 15-20 minutes.

gluten-free skillet cornbread

1 cup masa harina
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup brown rice or spelt flour
1 tbs baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp salt

1 3/4 cup non-dairy milk
2 tbs lemon juice
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tbs flax

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together all ingredients. Heat cast iron skillet over high heat and coat with sunflower or another high-heat oil. Pour batter into skillet and bake 25-30 minutes.

gluten-free cornbread muffins

Many think of cornbread as a classic Southern food, but the first to make cornbread were Native Americans living in the what is now the Southwestern United States and Central America, who relied heavily on corn as a food source. The European settlers seemed to catch on; corn became a staple food in the New World before wheat made its way across the pond, and on the frontier cornbread grew widely recognized as a versatile bread that kept well and didn't need to rise.

Traditionally, in the northern United States recipes use sweeteners and produce a lighter cornbread more or less exchangeable with corn muffins, while southern cornbreads often use lard and are usually served as a savory item, such as a complement to chili or bean soups.

I use coarse cornmeal and whole corn kernels for texture. The maple syrup adds a very slight sweetness and flavor, but it's still on the border between sweet and savory. I like to make the cornbread in mini-muffin tins for a bite-sized snack, but they could also be made in normal muffin tins.

Prep time: about 5-10 minutes

Bake time: about 15-20 minutes

Makes about 2 dozen mini-muffins or about 1 dozen standard muffins

1+3/4 cups non-dairy milk

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

4 teaspoons lemon juice (adding the zest is optional)

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1 cup corn flour

1/2 cup coarse or medium-grind cornmeal

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup olive oil (which makes it more savory) or coconut oil (which is more buttery)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup fresh or frozen (and thawed) corn kernels

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease the muffin tins or line with paper cups. Whisk together the milk with flaxseed and lemon juice, then set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cornmeal, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add the maple syrup, vanilla, and oil to the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until nearly all the lumps are gone. Stir in the corn. Pour batter into the muffin tins until about 1/2 cm (or 1/4") away from the top.

Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 15-16 minutes in the mini-muffin tins or about 20-22 minutes in regular muffin tins, or until starting to brown around the edges and the sides are just barely starting to pull away from the pan. Let cool in the tins for several minutes and eat warm or at room temperature.

gluten-free thumbprint cookies

It is unclear where exactly the thumbprint cookie originated, partly because of the wide variations in both the cookie and filling. This particular type resembles the Swedish pastry hallongrottor, "raspberry caves," a molded vanilla cookie filled with raspberry jam.

The dough can be made well ahead of time and frozen. They make convenient and crowd-pleasing bite-sized finger-food for parties, though you may want to double or triple the recipe.

Makes 16 small cookies

Total time: 45 minutes

1/2 cup almond flour

1-1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla

a few tablespoons jam (such as raspberry or blackberry)

Blend the rolled oats in a food processor or blender until moderately fine. Whisk together the ground oats, almond meal, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, syrup, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until thoroughly combined, using your hands if necessary. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll the dough into small balls, about the size of golf-balls, and flatten them slightly between your hands. Set them on a greased cookie sheet, and indent the center with your thumb or the back of a half-teaspoon. Fill the center of each with up to a teaspoon of jam. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.

maple candied walnuts

Walnuts are the fruit of the Juglans regia, which means approximately "Jupiter's royal nut," as the ancient Romans believed the gods dined on walnuts. The walnut tree has been cultivated in Europe and Asia for millennia, but Franciscan priests brought the walnut to California around 1770.

Raw walnuts are one of the best sources of plant protein and are full of fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants. All raw nuts are rich in healthy fats, but walnuts (like flaxseeds) have significantly higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids compared to other nuts.

Along with most nuts, walnuts can be "dry roasted" for about 10 minutes at 350F to bring out their flavor. Unfortunately, this kills much of the healthy fats and nutrients (and I'm not just some weird health fanatic—I've read this from multiple reasonably credible sources). I chow down on raw nuts for a healthy snack but usually reserve roasted nuts for use in desserts, which I can justify to myself because dessert is not meant to epitomize health.

These make delicious gifts, and are great as complements to meals or other desserts (such as on carrot cake or ice cream).

Makes 2 cups candied walnuts

Prep time: a few minutes

Cook time: about 25 minutes

2 cups raw walnuts

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

Spread walnuts evenly in a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes, until fragrant and very lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix together the syrup, salt (which gives it a buttery flavor), and cinnamon. (By the way, feel free to create your own spice mixture, in place of or in addition to cinnamon. I'm thinking nutmeg, ginger, orange zest, cardamom, vanilla...)

Take the nuts out of the oven and while still warm, put them in a strainer and rub them against the sides to remove the skins, which contain the bitter tannins. If possible, do this over a sink or it will make a huge mess, and don't worry if you can't remove all the skins. Dump the walnuts in the bowl with the syrup and mix until nuts are well coated. Evenly spread the nuts back onto the parchmented baking sheet and pour the remainder of the syrup mixture over them. Bake for about 15 more minutes. When you remove them from the oven, the maple syrup should be boiling, but it will crystalize as it cools (and this goes without saying, but be very careful—as I'm writing I have nasty blisters down my hands from the boiling syrup). Remove the parchment and nuts from the baking sheet and place on the counter to cool. While cooling, stir nuts often with a spoon to prevent sticking.

gluten-free banana pecan bread

1/4 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

1 tablespoon arrowroot

2/3 cup (100 g) brown rice flour

1/2 cup (60g) millet flour

1 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup (300g) very ripe, mashed banana (2-3 bananas)

2/3 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 cup sunflower oil or coconut oil, melted

2/3 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a bread pan with coconut oil.

Vigorously whisk together the milk, flax, and arrowroot, and set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

Add the mashed banana, maple syrup, vanilla, and oil to the wet ingredients, then stir well.

Bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs stuck to it. Let it sit about 30 minutes, then turn out of the pan. Let cool.

soda bread

Tips: The more seeds the better, both mixed in the dough and sprinkled on top before the loaf goes into the oven. Currants and raisins give the bread a lot of flavor and sweetness, but if you want a very savory bread for making sandwiches or something, I would omit the dried fruit. I think currants are perfectly sized for bread because you get their subtle tart sweetness dispersed throughout every bite, but raisins also work for more texture and larger bursts of flavor.

1 1/2 cups almond milk

2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

2 tablespoons maple syrup

3.5 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sunflower, pumpkin, and/or flax seeds

2 teaspoons caraway seeds, crushed (optional)

2 tablespoons coconut oil, plus more for greasing the loaf pan

3/4 cup currants and/or raisins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan, then sprinkle with flour or cornmeal.

Whisk together the milk, vinegar, flax, and syrup with a fork, and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, soda, salt, and seeds.

Bake 50-55 minutes, or until well browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs.

walnut lentil pate

Inspired by a rich, complexly-flavored dish at Angelica's Kitchen in New York City. Use as a veggie dip, sandwich spread, or spread on slices of sourdough bread, broil for about one or two minutes, and serve warm. 

Time: 45 minutes

Makes 1.5-2 cups

1/2 c dried French (green) lentils, preferably soaked

bay leaves

1 cup walnuts (or substitute pecans)

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, diced

1 tbs coconut oil

1T mirim

1T umeboshi paste (salty and sour, so if you need to sub use pickled vegetables

1 T miso

1T dried basil or ½ cup fresh basil, mint, or cilantro

Place lentils in a saucepan with bay leaves and enough water to cover by 3 cm. Bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Saute the onions and garlic in oil in a skillet over a medium heat, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 10-15 minutes.

Combine the walnuts, lentils, onion mixture, mirim, umeboshi, and miso in a food processor/blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add olive oil or non-dairy milk to thin down if needed. If using fresh herbs, add at the end and pulse until they are coarsely chopped but not fully homogenized.

You can serve immediately, but it improves upon chilling for several hours.

ginger

Ginger root has beige skin and hard, fibrous, pale-yellow flesh. Fresh ginger is sweet, aromatic, and pungent, whereas dried ginger powder has a completely different taste—much more spicy. I use both often, but they are so different they cannot usually replace each other in recipes. Fresh ginger tends to have a superior taste and has more health benefits. It can be found year-round in the produce section of markets, but make sure it is firm and free of mold (I see this surprisingly often). The skin should be smooth and shiny rather than wrinkly. The tough skin of fresh ginger must be peeled, which can be done easily by scraping with the edge of a spoon. It is then usually sliced thinly crosswise to cut the stringy fibers as small as possible, and can then be further minced. I nearly always have a fresh ginger root handy, as they are very good in a number of both sweet and savory dishes (such as bashed neeps, pudla besan, and blueberry orange compote). If there's any leftover that might go bad, I chop it up and steep it in hot water to make fresh ginger tea. Tea made this way is delicious and very different than the ginger tea-bag type; it has a very sweet and almost fruity flavor, somehow reminiscent of lemon drops. Ginger stays good on the counter for about a week (depending on the freshness upon purchase), but can also last in the fridge for 2 or 3 weeks or in the freezer for 6 months.

blanched almonds

Blanch almonds have their skins removed. You can buy them pre-blanched from the store, usually in the form of slivered almonds, though these tend to be more expensive. Or you can blanch them yourself.

Total time: 15 minutes

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Put the almonds in the water and reduce the heat, boiling them for no longer than a minute, or they will get soft and soggy. Strain out the water then put the almonds in a bowl of cold water to arrest the cooking process. Once completely cooled, strain them again. To remove the skins, hold the almond between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze. Their skins should come of very easily, so if they are stubborn the almonds probably weren't cooked long enough or haven't cooled long enough. If this is the case, either start over or just use the almonds with the skins; its not worth trying to scrape off each skin. The almonds will probably shoot everywhere when you remove the skins, so I recommend doing this in a large bowl, pointing the almonds down so they will not end up all over your counter.

Thai red curry kabocha squash

Red curry kabocha is my all-time favorite Thai dish. Kabocha squashes don't tend to be cheap, but they are really irreplaceable for their creamy texture.

1.5 tbs red curry paste (I use Mae Sri)--these vary a lot so adjust to taste

1 tbs high heat oil

2 cups coconut milk

4-5 cups kabocha, peeled and ut into roughly 1/2"-1" chunks

1/2 cup water

1 cup (about 1/2 lb) of green beans, washed, trimmed, and cut to 1" long

2 green bell peppers, chopped into pieces no larger than 1/2"-3/4"

1" piece fresh ginger, grated

2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs agave or to taste
1/2 cup sweet Thai basil coarsely chopped (sub regular basil if necessary)
kaffir lime (if you have it)

Add curry paste, oil, and 2 tbs milk into a large saucepan and heat over medium-high. Stir a few minutes until very fragrant. Add kabocha, stir, then add rest of coconut milk and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Add bell peppers, green beans, ginger, soy sauce, and agave. Cook until kabocha is almost creamy but the veggies aren't mush--about 10 minutes. Stir in basil and cook another minute or two. Serve hot over jasmine or basmati rice.

gluten-free chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes

2/3 cup (1oog) brown rice flour

1/4 cup (30g) millet flour or garbanzo bean flour

1/2 cup (40g) cocoa powder

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup (200g) maple syrup

2/3 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup sunflower oil or melted coconut oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line or grease 12 cupcake tins cups or 24 mini muffin tin cups. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl, and slowly stir in the dry ingredients until smooth. Divide the batter among the cups, and bake until tops are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the top comes out with just a few crumbs, about 15 minutes for the mini cupcakes and 20 minutes for the standard sized cupcakes. Let cool in the pans for a few minutes, then place on a wire rack to finish cooling.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

1/4 teaspoon salt, or more if the peanut butter isn't salted

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a blender or food processor, blend all ingredients until homogenous. It will look weird and sticky like caramel sauce, but don't worry. Place in a medium bowl, cover, and refrigerate or freeze until it solidifies. Remove from the refrigerator and with electric beaters whip several minutes, until light and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes immediately, spreading a generous amount on each cupcake with a knife, or store the frosting in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Don't frost the cupcakes very long before you serve them, or the cupcakes can get slightly soggy. The frosting needs to stay chilled until ready to serve.