Carrot Cupcakes

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CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES

Chock full of nuts and fruit, these delicious morsels don’t fall apart when you break into them and the frosting is homemade cream cheese; these cupcakes are good enough to give to your children, almost classified as a vegetable if you expand your mind a little bit and are a creative thinker. The frosting can be colored any way you like.  Here we go, here’s how to make them:

This recipe makes about 2 ½ dozen cupcakes; put liners in the cupcake tins and preheat the oven to 350°.

Set out cream cheese and butter to soften (for the frosting).

Put a can of crushed pineapple into a sieve to drain.

Beat 4 eggs in a large bowl . . .  I’ll give you the measurements at the end so you can print them out if you like.

Whisk in the brown and granulated sugars.

And then the canola oil.

Add flour, soda and baking powder; whisk until well mixed.

Grate the carrots and add them along with

all the rest of the goodies: cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, golden raisins, chopped walnuts and the drained pineapple.  Stir the batter well.  See what I mean?  Pure health food!

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3’s full; put the trays into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick stuck in the middle of one comes out clean.

Cool slightly (now is the time to quickly down three of them).  Frost . . . with

Cream Cheese Frosting

So easy, just mix softened cream cheese and butter together with a box of powdered sugar and 3 tsp. of vanilla until smooth.  That’s it!  Now the fun starts, they are so fun to decorate, and actually taste as good as they look!  As you may have noticed, not all cupcakes are created equal, but these are.

Divide the frosting into four bowls; keep one white and add a drop of food coloring to each of the other bowls; frost them grass green, daffodil yellow, cherry blossom pink. 

Frost them . . .

Right now, with nothing else done to them, these are perfect cupcakes, creamy, delicious, crunchy, with nuts and fruit.  BUT. . .

They are so fun to decorate! 

Kellee created these cute cupcake toppers for spring  . . . which you actually make yourself . . . in case you’d like to gild the lily a little bit!

They are so easy!  Scroll down a bit for the cupcake recipe all written out for you to print.  Hope you LOVE them !

C A R R O T  C U P C A K E S

  • 4 eggs, well-beaten
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ c. canola oil
  • 2 c. unbleached flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • 3 c. finely grated carrots
  • 1 c. sweetened coconut
  • 1-8oz. can crushed pineapple (drained)
  • 1 c. golden raisins
  • 1 c. coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Put cupcake liners in two cupcake pans.  See frosting recipe below and set out butter and cream cheese to soften.  Put the pineapple into a sieve to drain.  Beat eggs in a large bowl.  Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy.  Whisk in oil and mix well.  Put in the dry ingredients and beat until smooth.  Stir in remaining ingredients and pour batter into cupcake liners.  Bake for 20 min. until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center of cupcake.  Cool slightly and frost with

C R E A M   C H E E S E   F R O S T I N G

  • 1/2 c. butter, softened
  • 8-oz. package cream cheese. softened
  • 1-1 lb. box of powdered sugar, sifted into bowl
  • 3 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together until smooth.  If desired, divide frosting into several bowls.  Add one drop of food coloring to each bowl until the color is correct. Enjoy girls!

61 Responses to Carrot Cupcakes

  1. Sharon says:

    Delicious! My daughter and I made them yesterday…well, we didn’t use ALL the mixture as it made rather a lot! We separated the frosting into four cups and mixed in the colouring. Decorations this time were smarties – oops – I mean M&M’s! What a wonderful treat for spring! It was a snow day, so it turned into a Mum and daughter bonding day too. As an aside…we added a tad more flour, and cooked it at 375 degrees as we are at a high elevation here in the Rockies.

  2. British Sharon in Colorado says:

    Yes, I am making even more of an effort to bond with my daughter before she goes off to England (and Wales where I am from) for a few weeks. It’s her High School graduation gift, and she’s very excited as you may imagine. Because she’s asking so many questions, it’s made my brain go back in time and I’ve been reminiscing a lot. I may start a memory album… I know she will love my sisters house, as she lives in a little English village of Broad Oak. No house numbers – just a name! Mead Manor is there and dates from the 14th century, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Her house reminds me of those Jacquie Lawson Christmas cards with the trees and the dog. Of course, high on my daughter’s list is the sights of London, so thank goodness my sister also has a flat there. They are planning a trip down the Thames, Madame Tussauds, The Tower of London etc., etc! So fun to know you are going to visit England soon too!

  3. Milli says:

    My sister and I attempted the carrot cupcakes (we both don’t cook or bake much) and surprised our mother for Easter. They were a hit! Thank you! 🙂

  4. Debra V. says:

    I’ve been looking for a good Carrot Cupcake recipe. This one looks so delicious, with everything I love to eat included. Can’t wait to make them. I love cupcakes because they are so much fun to decorate and to eat. They are great to give to neighbors and friends. These little treats are always so appreciated. Carrot Cakes always reminds me of Beatrix Potter. I don’t own a copy of the book so I will look at the Library for a copy to read while I wait for my cupcakes to bake. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.

  5. Cindy Maulin says:

    hi susan….thank you so very much for this recipe..Carrot Cake/Cupcakes are my husbands favorite and now the rest of my family is following suit. I have made these three times….then..went into two restaurants and one bakery and sampled their wares..not even close!!!! These are the best!! Moist, full of flavor, sweet, spicy..all rolled into one…love!!! thanks again…only 5 more days!!! xoxo love, cindy

  6. annie says:

    I made these with my 13 year old daughter and they were a hit with the whole family. I like that the recipe makes so many as we have 4 kids. We are making them again for a church potluck this week!

  7. Cheyenne Renard says:

    Thank you for this recipe i am going to make it as soon as i can . I cant wait I appreciate all the nice things you do.Love to you all Cheyenne

  8. Debbie Lepage says:

    So glad to find this recipe online. While visiting cousins in the Cape Cod area, Bonnie made this cake for Aunt Rita’s 90th birthday party. Wonderful!!! Up to now our favorite Carrot Cake recipe was from Grandma’s Coffee House upland from Paia on Maui, but this recipe beats that hands down. I am also pleased to see the suggestion for high altitude alterations since we live in the Sierras in California. Looking forward to a good excuse to make this soon but I need several people around so we don’t eat it all ourselves!

  9. mary spring says:

    …this carrot cup-cake recipe makes incredibly YUMMY cupcakes … however, it makes so many tho, so make sure you have a lot of folks around to share these treasures with !!!

    • sbranch says:

      This is true! These are good for parties, to take to the office, to drop off at a senior home, or when you have a lot of company. This does not have “serves two” on it anywhere! 🙂

  10. Joann says:

    These cupcakes are going into the KEEP RECIPE ON THE FRIDGE level of yum-yum-yumminess and I have a couple of family members who ADORE carrot cake…

    xoxo

  11. Elly says:

    I see you posted this recipe some time., but I have only just now discovered it. Can’t WAIT to try it! Thanks so much for sharing it!
    The “boys” around here LOVE cupcakes, so I’m sure they’ll be gone in no time!

  12. PAULA says:

    No matter what I try, I don’t seem to send a message. Just in case my computer
    gremlin is asleep right now, I want to tell you how much your blogs cheer the world, so, thank you. Besides, this cupcake recipe is being sent to my married daughter, Kym, who loves carrot cake more than anyone I know. So, double thank you. Polly.[Paula]

  13. Penny says:

    They look delicious! And my husband loves carrot cake – must make these for him! That makes me happy!

  14. Asha says:

    Hi Susan! You’ve done it again! Besides your wonderful blog, you brought happiness with your carrot cupcakes! My husband and I are going to make them for Easter! Of course, we will have to “try” them way before the holiday! Thank you! Can’t wait for the new book! Love you!

  15. evangeline says:

    Just re-reading your blog tonight…I have been without my computer for over 2 weeks. Have missed my daily dose of “Susan Branch”….I am watching the weather channel and seeing all the snow in Boston…with the post Nemo storm..I love to read about ur home being your refuge in the storm and snow…we haven’t had a snow yet…so hope to have at least one good snow before spring. The carrot cake cupcake recipe is wonderful…my husband and son have the same birthday March 2 … I will be making cupcakes for their special day….then again for easter of course…Happy Anniversary to you and Joe ..thank you for bringing “happy” to my days….and so many others too….

  16. Stephanie D says:

    I just made these and they are AMAZING! The best part is, the recipe makes a TON so I get to share with friends. 🙂

  17. Barbara Ras says:

    Would it be a problem to leave out the raisins?

  18. Ann Solomon says:

    These look delicious and seem very easy. I can’t wait to try them. Boy…won’t my Canasta group love them!

  19. Carolyn Freitag says:

    This reminded me how much I love carrot cake. I am making up my shopping list now to bake some carrot cupcakes. My husband had been hinting for some baked goods all weekend.

    I am allergic to coconut, so I will have to leave that ingredient out. Should I replace the coconut with something else, or just make them without it?

  20. Sounds like a great recipe! I love a good Carrot Cake and this recipe is really making me crave for some.

  21. Phillipa says:

    I live in Engand and so I usually weigh out ingredients with Imperial weights.
    Your recipes look yummy but I dont understand what : 1 c. bag brown sugar is the equivalent of in oz and 1b. Anyone help please?

    • sbranch says:

      When I cook from British cook books I Google the measurements . . . in case no one shows up here to help, you could try that. xoxo

    • Joyce says:

      I think I’ve got an answer for you, Phillipa: I’m in Canada, which has metric measurements, but I was taught imperial measurements in grade school before we transitioned over to the metric system.

      1 cup equals 8 ounces; there are 16 ounces in one pound. The recipe ingredients ask for 1 cup “packed” brown sugar. You may have misread the measurement instructions. Hope this helps & I’m not too late with the information you need

      • Rebecca says:

        I just tried this recipe, and they are yummy. The only problem is they are quite oily. Is it supposed to be 1/2 cup of canola oil?

        • sbranch says:

          I know, it does sound like a lot … but the 1 1/2 c. is correct. It’s a big recipe, 4 eggs, 2 c. sugar, 3 c. carrots, a cup of walnuts, a cup of raisins, etc … and no butter. It’s fairly balanced, around 2.2 tsp. oil per serving, less than most people would use to butter a piece of toast, and any sort of light vegetable oil can be used for this recipe. And they do taste good!

  22. EsSuzy says:

    I made these this weekend for Sunday afternoon lunch. Oh! They are so yummy!

  23. Claudia says:

    I’m looking forward to making your delicious Carrot Cake Cupcakes; someone mentioned your suggestions for baking at altitude but I don’t see those adjustments with this copy of the recipe. We live just over 5000 ft so I do need to know what to change (when you have time). Thank you!

  24. Joyce says:

    Hi Susan,

    I was looking for ideas to make something for my church’s after-service social time next weekend and saw your lovely cupcakes posted. I will definitely be taking these along with me. They look like they would be so delicious! I just know that these will be well received. I will keep you posted…

  25. Linda Foster says:

    I have your Sweets to the Sweet cookbook. I have made the carrot cake in it for my sister’s birthday every year since I’ve had it. Gosh…at least 12 years (is that possible?) She’s turning 50 tomorrow and guess what? I recently moved and I can’t find my cookbook!!! I’m so happy I found this cupcake recipe on your website because I can’t get the book sent to me fast enough. Please tell me it’s the same as in your amazing cookbook!! Looks similar (love the golden raisins)…..Here’s hoping it is the same! Can’t disappoint my best friend and sister on her 50th!! If anyone can verify that it’s the same….I’d be grateful!!

  26. DeLores Johnson says:

    I am going to make these cupcakes soon. Right now I am reading your Trilogy books and am almost done with the 2nd one. Once I start to read them, everything else is forgotten.
    It is a good thing it is just my husband and I as our children are grown and gone from home. At least he can make his own Peanut Butter sandwich!!! In Nov. we will be married 60 years so we are used to each other!!!!

  27. Donna Marie says:

    Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe.
    I just finished your latest book. Such a lovely read.
    I wish it could have gone on forever.
    Hugs,
    D

  28. Jan Martin says:

    When I see these wonderful posts I just wanna head to the kitchen & bake!😍

  29. Laurie Keller says:

    I made a Bundt Cake instead of the cupcakes, colored the fronting pink, sprinkled it with coconut and used Jelly Beans to complete the decoration. It was so flavorful, moist and beautiful! Thank you for being a major contributor to a wonderful Easter Sunday … the Lord is risen indeed ❤️

  30. Cathy Corell says:

    I can’t wait to make them. As cart cake is my favorite. I never found a good recipe until now. Thanks for sharing

  31. Sandy says:

    I would like to make the bundt cake. How long would you cook it at 350?

  32. Dolores says:

    Thank you soooo much, Susan….Dolores

  33. Martha Baker says:

    These cupcakes are ALWAYS a favorite, and I make them for friends often. My next door neighbor loves them and just asked me to bake 150 for her back yard wedding! Wish me luck and thank you for the most delicious carrot cupcake recipe ever!!! ❣️

  34. Charlene Brummitt says:

    I made this cake yesterday and it is delicious! I actually found it in one of your cookbooks I have .
    Thank you

  35. Stacey Morris-Porterfield says:

    Hi Susan,
    Do you think these would freeze well? Thank you, Stacey

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