These carrot cake cupcakes are moist and delicious and are topped with a delicious cream cheese topping. Use shredded fresh carrots for added moisture. This recipe is perfect for birthdays, parties, and just because!
I made these cupcakes for a work potluck, and they are nice and moist but not too sweet, which is what I like the most about them. One of my coworkers questioned whether a “dessert” containing vegetables and nuts could be called a dessert. I say if you’re adding in 1 cup of sugar and ½ cup of oil, it qualifies as a dessert. Definitely.
Why you'll love this recipe
So enjoy these cupcakes and make them for a special occasion. Or maybe make them for a friend. Even though we may fall out of touch as we get older, nothing says “I appreciate you” like a home-baked good as a present, for no reason other than just because.
Heather's helpful hints
For an extra hint of sweetness, fold ½ cup of raisins into the batter when adding the pecans. Toss some of your raisins with flour first to ensure they don't fall to the bottom of your muffins.
Recipe
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Equipment
- 12-count muffin pan
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 egg
- ¾ pound carrots coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
Frosting Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350° F. Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in oven, tossing once, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- For the cupcakes, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg in a large bowl; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, oil, and egg; fold in the carrots and ½ cup of the pecans. Add the carrot mixture to the flour mixture and mix until just combined and evenly moistened.
- Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake, rotating once, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth. Refrigerate the frosting until slightly stiffened, 20 to 30 minutes. Frost the cupcakes, dividing the frosting evenly, and top with the remaining ½ cup of pecans.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?! First, let me say THANK YOU for giving it a try!
Please leave us a rating and feedback in the comments section at the bottom of this post. I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas on what went well — and didn't — with a recipe!
Happy Baking!
Heather
Tracy Lee Karner
Just made a reminder to myself--next bake I'll be doing the carrot cake.
Having moved often in my life, and becoming increasingly an introvert as I age, it's definitely true that it's harder to make new friends. A lot contributes to that, including that most people have their preferred circle intact and aren't often looking to expand it. And I'm becoming more content to be alone more often. So I have to force myself to get out there and connect. And, we all get more wary after we've been hurt by a friend, and by the time we're thirty, we all have been hurt and seen friendships dissolve.
I've found that the best places for introverts to make new friends are: 1) book groups, writing groups, craft circles; 2) volunteering for an organization whose goals I'm passionate about; 3) taking a class/workshop or teaching one.
And the best way to proceed is simply to issue an invitation to a person with whom there seems to be a good/interesting connection. "Would you like to get together for coffee/tea/lunch?" It's scary to take that leap, but I'v never been told, "With you? Good grief, why would I want to have lunch with YOU?"
Everyone I've ever asked, has said yes. And many of those first meetings have developed into lovely friendships.
Heather (Sweet Precision)
I love your ideas for how to meet people, Tracy. Just last week I signed up for a pottery class which has always been something that was on my bucket list of things I wanted to do. I had been pondering finding a group on Meetup but as an introvert that's just not my style.
And I completely agree, it IS scary to make that leap! I've been on a few "friend dates" recently and I was explaining to Matt that they are kind of like a real dates! I'm reading a great book about a woman on her year long quest to find a BFF and its proven to be quite the hilarious read. Sometimes the little quests and journeys in life are what define our experience.
Tracy Lee Karner
I haven't read that book, only a summary of it, but the summary was influential enough. I probably ought to read the book... :)
Meetup--I've never tried it. It's not my style, either. I prefer something less... extroverted.
Francesca
To be honest, making friends was very hard for me even in my twenties and now that I'm aging it is not getting better. :-)
I'm sure you will end up becoming best friends. I challenge anyone to resist you! I can tell you can be pretty addictive! ;-)
Although I do not have a sweet tooth I do like carrot cake ... a lot! These cupcakes look so moist and tempting. Really lovely, Heather.
Enjoy your weekend!
Heather (Sweet Precision)
Why thank you Francesca! I hope that you and Stefano had a wonderful as well :) Matt and I were in Madison WI for a wedding which was fun!
On Sep 13, 2013, at 5:07 PM, Sweet Precisi
Stefano
Carrot cupcakes: I love them, Heather, especially for the reason that you mentioned - they are not overly sweet. And yours look delicious. Thank you for a great recipe!
Heather (Sweet Precision)
Thank you Stefano! Even for a sweet tooth like me, it's nice to have a dessert that's not cloyingly sweet.
Just Add Attitude
Yes I agree that friends are harder to make as we get older. I wish you tons of luck with your friends finding quest in Ann Arbor. Your genuineness shines through your blog so I don't think you will have any problems making new friends. ;)
Heather (Sweet Precision)
Oh goodness, thank you for such a kind comment :) Yes, friend finding is definitely a process, albeit a much needed one for me right now. It's always complicated by the fact that I'm such an introvert!
Janifer Clayton
Hey love carrot cake and who doesn't love a cupcake. But of course I notice the crocheted placemat they are resting on! Just a gentle reminder of how many projects still left on my to do list.
Heather (Sweet Precision)
Ahh yes, when you have a hobby I feel like the list of things to do always continues to grow. There are a million recipes that I'm dying to try out. I love that you noticed the placemat! My mom actually made it for me so that I could use it when I was taking pictures :)
MOM
I think you're right. The choices that we make as the years pass begin to define those things that will be important to us for a lifetime. Once some of those choices are made and we live the life we are choosing, a little less time is left for seeking. The exciting thing is that always seeking is one of the most interesting things to choose to be a part of your life. Glad you are enjoying your search. ALSO....I do love your pictures with the creative backdrop behind my all time favorite cupcakes. Carrot cake cucakes, yum.
Heather (Sweet Precision)
I absolutely agree with you, what a wonderful observation! There does seem to be less time for seeking as we get older and have other obligations. Thank goodness there are always continuing opportunities as we continue along our journeys.