Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Our carrot cake cupcakes are topped with a heavenly brown sugar cream cheese frosting, making them extra delicious and perfect for Spring.

A Classic in Cupcake form

Cupcakes are a favorite dessert of ours – because their simple, they feed a crowd and both kids and adults love them.

Since we love the flavors of Carrot Cake (especially for Easter), we wanted to have a classic version of carrot cake cupcakes. Today’s recipe is just that – classic and so delicious.

The best part is the brown sugar cream cheese frosting that is out of this world! It’s the ideal complement to the carrot cake flavors with it’s sweet and tangy taste.

Although these cupcakes are a great Easter dessert, they can be enjoyed all year long! Try our Carrot Cake Cookies for another deliciously sweet version.

Ingredients

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOK TIME: 20 minutes

Cupcakes

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour – see How to Measure Flour
• ½+⅛ teaspoon baking soda
• ½+⅛ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs – or ½ cup applesauce for an egg-free version
• ½ cup canola oil – or vegetable oil or baking olive oil
• ¼ cup sour cream – or Greek yogurt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cups finely grated carrots – Grate carrots using the fine side of a box grater. Do not use pre-packaged carrots as they are too dry.
• optional mix-ins – Add between ½ and 1 cup walnuts, pecans, and raisins to the batter, or sprinkle chopped nuts on top of the frosting.

Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ½ cup butter softened – We used unsalted butter, but salted butter can be used.
• ⅔ cup brown sugar – light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• dash salt – omit if using salted butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar (more or less, if needed) – sifted
• optional topping – Add a simple layer of frosting and top with adorable Carrot Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

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How to Make carrot cake cupcakes

1. PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
2. BATTER. In a medium bowl, whisk 1¼ cups flour, ½ + ⅛ teaspoon soda, ½ + ⅛ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
   • In a large bowl (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment), beat 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, and ½ cup oil until thick and foamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add ¼ cup sour cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and 1½ cups finely grated carrots, and mix well.
   • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just blended.
3. BAKE. Fill paper-liners about ⅔ full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. FROSTING. In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand-held electric mixer, beat 8 ounces of cream cheese, ½ cup butter, and ⅔ cup brown sugar until smooth. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the brown sugar dissolves completely.
   • Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl, and add 2 teaspoons vanilla, a dash of salt, and enough powdered sugar (about 3 cups) to make a frosting thick enough to pipe.
   • Use a large star tip for textured frosting or a large round tip to pipe on smooth frosting. If spreading the frosting instead of piping, cut the recipe in half and still have more than enough.

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4.98 from 67 votes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

By: Lil’ Luna

Our carrot cake cupcakes are topped with a heavenly brown sugar cream cheese frosting, making them extra delicious and perfect for Spring.

Servings: 18

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

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Cupcakes

• ▢ 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ ½+⅛ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ½+⅛ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ ½ cup canola oil
• ▢ ¼ cup sour cream
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1½ cups finely grated carrots

Frosting

• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ▢ ½ cup butter, softened
• ▢ ⅔ cup brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ dash salt
• ▢ 3 cups powdered sugar, more or less, if needed

Instructions 

Cupcakes

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
• Whisk flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, eggs, and oil till thick and foamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and carrots, and mix well.

  Add the dry ingredients and stir till just blended.
• Fill cupcake paper liners about ⅔ full. The cupcakes do not rise too much, and that is just fine. It's easier to frost them that way! Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool completely.

Frosting

• Beat cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the brown sugar dissolves completely.
• Add vanilla, salt, and enough powdered sugar to make a frosting thick enough to pipe. Use a large star tip to frost cupcakes.

Video

Notes

Frosting. This makes enough frosting to generously pipe frosting on the cupcakes. If you will be spreading it on, cut the recipe in half. The frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 10-14 days or the freezer for 2 months.

Store unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in a freezer bag in the freezer for 4-6 months. 

Store frosted. Due to the cream cheese frosted cupcakes need to be kept cold. Store covered in the fridge for 2-3 days or carefully freeze for 2-3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 130mg, Potassium: 48mg, Sugar: 39g, Vitamin A: 375IU, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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