Description
Delightful simply carrot cake cupcakes bring warmth from Grandma’s kitchen with spiced sweetness and cream cheese frosting. Moist, tender crumbs and rich flavors invite you to savor each memorable bite of comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1.5 cups grated carrots
- 0.5 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Dry Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Sweet Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Ready the culinary workspace by warming the oven to 350°F and arranging cupcake paper liners in the baking tray.
- Create a delicate dry ingredient foundation by thoroughly whisking flour, baking soda, aromatic cinnamon, warm nutmeg, and delicate salt in a mixing vessel.
- Craft a silky wet ingredient blend using vegetable oil, granulated and brown sugars, freshly cracked eggs, and rich vanilla extract, whisking until harmoniously integrated.
- Introduce vibrant grated carrots and optional chopped nuts into the liquid mixture, folding gently to distribute evenly.
- Gradually incorporate the powdery dry ingredient mixture into the wet components, stirring with minimal manipulation to maintain a tender cupcake texture.
- Carefully portion the batter into prepared cupcake liners, ensuring consistent volume across each cavity.
- Slide the tray into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, monitoring until a slender testing skewer emerges pristine when inserted into the cupcake’s center.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack, creating space for thermal relaxation.
- Prepare luxurious cream cheese frosting by whipping cream cheese and butter until extraordinarily smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually fold powdered sugar and vanilla extract into the creamy base, beating until achieving a luscious, spreadable consistency.
- Generously adorn each cooled cupcake with the velvety cream cheese frosting, creating elegant peaks and swirls.
Notes
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or reducing cinnamon and nutmeg for personalized flavor intensity.
- Use unsweetened applesauce as a partial oil replacement to reduce fat content while maintaining moisture.
- Toast chopped nuts before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide extra crunch to the cupcakes.
- Consider gluten-free flour blends as a direct substitute for all-purpose flour to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 258 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 34 mg