You guys, it’s been a year. One whole year. Happy birthday, Minimalist Baker! The cutest baby I’ve ever had (so far).
John and I are currently off celebrating the completion of his law degree and this wonderful, wonderful life we have with a trip to South Korea and Bali. We have friends there we’d been dying to visit and who agreed to be our obligatory tour guides while we shack up in bungalows and learn how to surf during our 20+ day island- and country-hopping tour.
Lots of inspiration – both food and cultural – to be shared once we get back. But until then, let’s talk ice cream, minimalism and how this humble site began.
Minimalist Baker was an afterthought. I’d already been food blogging for a couple years on another site when the idea for a new food blog suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks.
Minimalist Baker was born at Chipotle, so to speak. One evening, as John and I were chatting over steak and veggie bowls, respectively, I told him I had an idea for a new site I’d been thinking of. I wanted to call it Minimalist Baker, and it would be entirely focused on simple, healthy recipes with minimal ingredients and equipment – an exact reflection of how I approach cooking.
I’ve always loved food blogs and have followed them for years. But I always found that when a recipe – no matter how tempting it may be – required more than 7 or so ingredients, I bolted, never to consider it again. So the idea behind this new blog would be to keep things simple, focused and entirely minimalist, not only for my benefit but for yours, too.
I knew John thought it was a great idea because his eyes got really big as I was sharing. Like clockwork.
We threw some ideas back and forth and the framework came to be right there over our corn salsa, gauc and chips. Days later John had finished the framework and I got to work on our first recipe – Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes – which is still our most popular post on Minimalist Baker.
You guys, that post has 621,000 pins to date! We did it, and yes I mean WE. This site wouldn’t be what it is today without your feedback and tweets and pins and love. So thank you for helping us making this site flourish.
In one year we have done a lot. Since our first post we’ve:
- Published a FREE 7 Ingredients Or Less E-Cookbook.
- Collaborated to create a FREE 1 Cup Water E-Cookbook, which raised $1,000 for Charity:Water.
- Published a Detox Guide with 12 healthy recipes to help you hit the “reset” button on your diet.
- Created an entire Food Photography E-Course for $19.99 – a product to help you start taking better food photos today.
- Created an entire Blog Resources page to help you start a food blog, grow it, and improve your blogging skills (more to come on that front soon!)
- Published an E-Book outlining 5 Ways to Make Your Photos Go Further (Faster).
So what’s next? Well, for one we’re celebrating with a vegan version of our favorite Dairy Queen childhood treat: A copycat Dairy Queen Cupcake. See how it all went down on Instagram and Vine. Our version is made with coconut milk chocolate ice cream, Oreos, vegan hot fudge, coconut milk vanilla ice cream and coconut whipped cream.
Yep, it’s all in there: 5 sexy layers of dairy-free goodness. My cupcakes were so good I could’ve eaten both, with two spoons AT THE SAME TIME. Maybe I did. Who can recount such details…?
Make these cupcakes to enjoy this summer, and in the meantime just know that we love that you’re here and want you to stick around probably forever. Or at least until the internet dies. If this next year is anything like our first year, we know it will be a friggin’ blast. Cheers!
Copycat Dairy Queen Cupcakes + 1 Year Blogging Anniversary!
Ingredients
- 1 cup divided vegan chocolate ice cream (such as this recipe, omitting brownies)
- 1 cup divided vegan vanilla ice cream (such as this recipe, omitting coffee)
- 1/3 cup crushed Oreos (divided // GF cookies for gluten-free eaters)
- 1/3 cup vegan hot fudge (divided)
- Coconut whipped cream (for topping)
Instructions
- Scoop half of the chocolate ice cream into two small sundae dishes. Top with vegan hot fudge, crushed Oreos, and a healthy scoop each vanilla ice cream.
- Top cupcakes with coconut whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Store-bought versions of vegan ice cream and hot fudge will do in a pinch.
neely says
I just teared up thinking about DQ cupcakes. My grandfather used to take me everyday after middle school to get one. I haven’t had one in years! I will have to make one in memory of him, thanks for the vegan version!
Jessica @ Desserts with Benefits says
Happy Blogiversary!! It’s amazing all of the things you accomplished in only one year. I’ve had my blog for over 2 years now and haven’t even thought about making a cookbook… school is way too time consuming for me!
Congrats, I love your blog and can’t wait for your future posts in the years to come :)
Huge compliment coming from you! Thanks Jessica. Your blog rocks as well!
madscar says
This is amazing! I love it:)
Gabby says
OHHH.. Happy B¨day….
que rico postre1!! felicidades y gracias x tantas recetas
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
congratulations you guys- such a great year for you guys and heres to many more. I d k why i never saw that pancake recipe, will be making it :) Have a great vacation.
Susan Pantle says
Congratulations on your 1 yr. Annv. with Minimalist Baker!! My recipe box is now much thicker because of all your great recipes!! Keep it up – continued/great success ahead!
Christina @ Scaredy Cat Kitchen says
Congratulations! Such a beautiful blog. Thanks for the inspiration!
I hope you’re enjoying your holiday. xx
Kathryn says
Happy blog birthday! I seriously can’t believe it’s only been a year; it feels like you guys have been rocking it for way longer than that.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Happy blogoversary! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Happy one year! These look like the perfect way to celebrate!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
Happy one year to the best food photographer on the planet!! That cupcake looks beyond fabulous :)
*blushing* Thanks Alexis!
Tieghan says
Happy birthday!! I have never heard of a DQ Cupcake, but this thing looks awesome!!
Have fun on your trip!
Suzanne says
Here’s to many more *raises a vegan cupcake to toast*
The Jewish Hostess says
I really love your blog and am so inspired by the fabulous photography. Have a great trip!
p.s thanks for all the great recipes!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Great recipe to celebrate!
Brieanna @ Going Brienanas says
Happy 1 year!! These “cupcakes” look scrumptious, keep the wonderful recipes coming : )
Jess says
Have a great trip! (You’re in our neck of the woods while we’re in yours.) And big congrats on the 1 year anniversary – looking forward to many more!
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen says
Happy blogiversary! I adore your blog and can’t believe how beautiful it is for only being around for a year. Way to go!
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says
Congrats! xoxo
Monica says
Congrats on your bloggiversary! That’s so wonderful; the cupcakes look amazing! (:
Savannah says
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BLOG!!! It fulfills a great need in the food blogosphere in SUCH great fashion. Happy anniversary!
Tammy says
Happy Blog anniversary! Love your blog so much and have referred so many people to it! Have a wonderful time on your trip!
Tammy
Julia says
Woohoo! Happy birthday, Minimalist Baker! :)
p.s. this recipe looks phenomenal.
Jessica says
congrats! your blog is great, and it’s been a big inspiration for my cooking! i adore your almond joy butter : D! enjoy your holiday!
Mimi @ Culinary Couture says
Congratulations! I have been here since DAY 1 when you posted those pancakes, which by the way, are a breakfast staple in my house now! I’ve seen this blog transform right before my eyes and I could not be prouder of you two! Here’s to another year of awesome recipes!
Thank you Mimi that means so much! xoxo
Nora @ Buttercream Fanatic says
Congrats, you guys! You have so much to celebrate with these delicious looking ice cream cupcakes (I’ve never had the original but how could they compare to these??). I hope you have an amazing trip, and can’t wait to see what you have in store for us when you return!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I love love love this blog and have since I saw your very first recipe, HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY! These cupcakes look waaaaay too good :D
Josh says
Mad props on a lot of hard work! Of look here comes the long tail!
Laura says
Congratulations to you on one year! You make so many wonderful treats in this space that always feel within reach. I admire that so much, Dana. Also, this cupcake/ice cream thingy sounds INSANE. I would have ate both at the same time too :)
Thanks Laura!
Sarah says
Congrats on 1 year! I have been following along since the beginning. Just wanted to let you know we deal with food allergies and your recipes are so helpful to us!
Aw, so great to hear!
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life says
Happy Blogiversary!
These cupcakes look like a perfect way to celebrate!