Hi Lois!  Hope your weekend is going well.  It has been so busy around here.  We have been keeping our Great Grandson alot this week.  So much fun but he never stops so this Mamaw is whipped!

1 cup   2 tablespoons (144g) regular all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (144g) coconut sugar (regular is fine too)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4   1/8 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup (240g) unsweetened almond milk
88 grams dairy-free dark chocolate chips (69 or 70%) VERY important to weigh for accurate results
4 1/2 tablespoons (90g) pure maple syrup
6 tablespoons (36g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey's)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground dried espresso-OPTIONAL (I love the Illy brand)
NOTE
I always recommend a scale for accuracy when baking for best accurate results, following my gram weights listed. You never need cups, just the scale and bowl. Make sure to zero out before adding each ingredient.
I use this scale.
Instructions

Please be sure to follow my exact order of steps and method here, as this will ensure the best, richest and moist cupcakes. I strongly recommend parchment paper liners or the Reynold's Staybrite liners, because they never stick. Regular paper may stick.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line 2 muffin pans with 14 liners. This is important to divide the batter into 14, 15 at the most, as the cupcakes rise considerably. If you do not have 2 muffin pans, make sure to reserve some batter to fill the extra 2 or 3
To a medium bowl, add the flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk very well to ensure there are no lumps. Sift, if needed.
To a large bowl, add the almond milk and chocolate chips. Place in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until the milk is really warm. Whisk the liquid until the chocolate is FULLY melted and smooth. Whisk in the syrup, cocoa powder and espresso powder (if using) until fully smooth.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the liquids while gently whisking. Once it’s fully mixed and smooth, divide the batter into 14 cupcake liners. DO NOT be tempted to add all of the batter into 12. These rise A LOT while baking, so you do not want to fill the liners more than about 1/2 full. Super important. The amount that will go into each liner will be a very scant 1/4 cup, but keep it divided between 14-15 and you will be fine.
Bake for 15-20 minutes OR until a toothpick comes out clean. Each batch of mine was perfect at 18 minutes. Be very careful to not over-bake these, so they don't get dry. The toothpick should be clean, that is how you will know they are done. Don't judge them by the bounce back test, as the tops will be super delicate still, but firm up perfectly as they cool.
Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting. I used the Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.
Notes
HOW TO FREEZE: These freeze beautifully and are fantastic again once thawed. This is how I stored them. I wrapped each individual cupcake in a single baggie and then placed each of the wrapped cupcakes into a large ziplock bag. To thaw, simply place them out on the counter to come back to room temperature a few hours before wanting to eat or serve them.

Tooo darn hot!!! 🥵👿🌞🔥🍦🍧🍨🍦🧊🧊🧊🧊 xoxxx coooool huggles lovely Lois, Hubby and furbabies 🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊

I always forget 😂
Thank you Bestie 😊 xx

I thought you were having the same temps as us. We've had it in the 30s since Monday and creeping up to just shy of 40 yesterday and a degree or two cooler the day before and today. Tomorrow is the same across the majority of the island with it quite a bit cooler in the south. Typically, I have an assessment in the morning as far north as I could go 😂 but at least I will be going home which is quite south. Hope you don't melt tomorrow. Lucky you have air con. I'd need to spend the day in my car for that, or go browsing shops 🤣 xx

Hey! How are you surviving the heat? Hope you've not melted too much. I'm loving it (not the sweating though 😂) xx

Phew it's a swelter of a day 'ere on our lil lincolnshire 'molehill'...but no excuses maxBear fur angel🐶🌈 , flippityjip🧚‍♀️, cunegan gnomie🧙🏻‍♂️🍄 and hooman H🤗🌸 just need to say a huge 'THANKS' to old and new friends who've helped us along the top trails......here goes..slightly outta tune.....

''You're the top!
You're the Coliseum
You're the top!
You're the Louver Museum
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet
A Shakespeare's sonnet
You're Mickey Mouse
You're the Nile
You're the Tower of Pisa
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa

But if,lovely fairyland friends, We're the bottom, you're the tops! 😍🧡💛💚💙💜

thank you too : )

Glad u got it, always happy to step aside to help those who need. I remember how hard they can be 🥰

As far as the branches that hang in his yard I know he's allowed to trim them but is he allowed to throw the trimmed branches in my yard or is he responsible for their disposal?

They can cut the branches that overhang the property line. They must dispose of the branches and debris on their property and not toss them to yours.