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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.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- As easy as cake! Cupcakes are fun, easy, and great for feeding a crowd.
- Sweet and fluffy. You get that signature sweet and fluffy texture with just the right amount of spice.
- Perfectly frosted. Top it all off with some homemade brown sugar frosting, and you’ve got yourself one tasty treat!
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.
How to Make carrot cake cupcakes
- PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Bite-size Carrot Cupcakes
Follow the recipe exactly and fill mini muffin liners (in a mini muffin tin) halfway. This will likely be about 2 tablespoons of batter for each mini cupcake. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
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Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Ingredients
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
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 frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for 10-14 days or the freezer for 2 months.
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.
For more delicious recipes by her, head on over to Creations by Kara!
One word Delicious
Thank you!! So glad you liked the cupcakes!
Best carrot cake cupcakes ever! I wanted to find a recipe that did not include nuts but did include sour cream in the batter, so I was happy to find this one. Once baked, the batter came out really light and fluffy with just the right amount of cinnamon flavor! The cream cheese frosting was the best I have ever tasted, possibly due to the brown sugar!!! I’m going to make these again, but with multi-colored carrots from the farmer’s market!
Oh how fun to use multicolored carrots!!! So happy that you discovered the recipe. Thanks for giving it a try!
I love this recipe so much and made it many times before but now I’m living with my hisband and his family. My in-laws don’t have baking teaspoons and cups they usually just estimate, how much in grams are the baking soda and baking powder? Thank you
I’m glad you enjoy the cupcakes!! If you google a measurement converter, it can give you the exact conversion from teaspoons to grams. 🙂
These are the worlds best cupcakes, I’ve made them at least 2 times a year for years now, thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for trying them! I’m so glad you love them!
My favorite cupcakes! can I double the recipe?
Yes, you totally can 🙂 Glad you like them! Thank you!
Very delicious and easy to make. Thanks for this great recipe, it’s a real crowd-pleaser!
You are so welcome! I am glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
Making these today for my friends birthday 🥳 Can’t wait to see how they turn out! The frosting sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Glad to share 🙂 I hope she liked them! Thank you!
Really light, moist cupcake. Used greeK yoghurt instead of sour cream. Made half the suggested frosting which was plenty when piped. Defi a keeper
Glad it’s a keeper!! Thank you for sharing that!
We LOVE these Cupcakes! I want to turn them into a cake. What should i change?
I double the recipe and just split it between 2 round cake pans (I like to add a frosting layer in the middle). Alternatively, you can leave it as is and just use a smaller cake pan.
The best carrot cake cupcakes ever. I added 1/2 cup of walnuts for a bit of texture. The brown sugar cream cheese buttercream is amazing too. This will be my go-to recipe from mow on!
Yay!! So happy to hear that! Thank you!
These are HANDS DOWN THE BEST CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES I’VE EVER MADE/had. Everyone i’Ve shared these with literally begS me to make them again. Trust me when i say, you have to try these amazing cupcakes!! Thank you lil luna fOr sharing Your recipE with all of us. Aloha
Awe, thank you so much for sharing that! I am so glad to share 🙂 I love hearing they are a hit!