30 Minute Citrus Tea Cakes

When life brings you grapefruit...make tea cakes! After picking what had to be thousands of grapefruit, it's nice to sit down and have such a delicate treat. I don't know what it is about having "tea" that makes Americans feel so tickled but it hasn't lost its charm. This recipe is a great kids in the kitchen activity and can be made with any citrus you have on hand. The cakes are super moist and made with vegan ingredients. 

If you are in the same situation with a citrus harvest overload, this recipe won't exactly relieve your surplus, but that's okay! Check out your local hunger relief agencies to see if they will accept a donation. Some organizations, like FoodForward in LA, will even come pick the fruit for you. If you don't have fruit trees but want to pick fruit (why not!?) organizations like FoodForward also accept volunteers. So don't let that produce go to waste! 

Citrus Tea Cakes

1 cup almond milk
1 tbsp citrus juice
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tbsp citrus zest
6 tbsp aquafaba* (or two flax eggs)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. In a liquid measuring cup, add almond milk, citrus juice, and vanilla, set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, blend the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and zest. Add in the milk mixture, aquafaba, syrup and olive oil. Blend until everything is just combined. 

4. Pour mixture into cupcake liners or a greased muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool then dust with powdered sugar or citrus zest, if desired. 


*For the aquafaba, we use liquid drained from a can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas). It makes a perfect replacement for eggs in baking. The remaining liquid and beans can be kept in the refrigerator for other uses. 

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