Skip to main content

Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I've told you before how much I love carrot cake.  I wouldn't say I'm a huge cake lover in general, unless it's the cheese variety, but I adore carrot cake.  Carrot cake cupcakes were a natural choice for Colin's C themed birthday party, and I justified it by telling myself he'd be at least get a vegetable mixed in with the butter, sugar and flour. 

The original recipe is supposed to yield 12 cupcakes, but I filled mine a little low and had plenty for 12 regular cupcakes and 12 mini cupcakes.  I doubled the original frosting recipe (my measurements below), because you never want to be stingy on frosting, and had a little leftover.  The birthday boy got a mini cupcake and thought it was the most amazing thing he'd ever eaten.  I held it for him to take bites, and at one point he grabbed my hand and shoved the entire thing into his mouth.  I'd say they were a success
I'd also say that it appears he is biting my hand in this picture based on the weird expression on my face.






Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

adapted from Joy of Baking

Cupcakes:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
2/3 cups white sugar
2/3 cup canola oil (or other flavorless oil)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/3 cup finely grated raw carrots (about 1/2 pound)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line muffin cups with paper liners.  Again, I had 12 regular and 12 mini. 
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla.  Stir in the applesauce and carrots.
Fold wet mixture into dry until just incorporated.
Portion batter among muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center comes back clean and the tops are lightly springy. 
Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.  I made mine the night before.



Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until well combined.

With the mixer on low, slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix well.  If you add it too quickly or at a higher speed, you and your kitchen will be covered in powdered sugar dust.
Pour in vanilla extract and beat until desired consistency is reached.  

I need to invest in a better pastry bag and acquire some piping skills, but they were delicious!




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

A few weeks ago we went into Boston for the day. After chasing little people up, down, and around the Children's Museum, watching Colin climb up three stories on a jungle gym and James' excitement at a room filled with golf balls, we went to Flour Bakery for lunch.  I had the Roasted Sweet Potato sandwich, and it was amazing. I just checked the menu , and it looks like they don't offer it right now, but lucky for you I made a salad that's just as good.  The original sandwich was roasted sweet potato, apple, walnut pesto, blue cheese and kale on wheat bread.  I took some liberties, changed up some ingredients, and made it into a salad. Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Romaine and Kale, shredded Olive oil Sweet potato rounds, roasted Apple, sliced Avocado Roasted tomatoes Goat cheese Balsamic Vinegar Drizzle kale and romaine with olive oil Sweet potatoes - coat slices or cubes with olive oil and roast at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Tomatoes - toss with olive o

Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and ate all the cookies.  I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but all the treats I've been eating for the past month have been making me feel a little sluggish.  When I saw a one day "cleanse" I thought I'd give it a try.  Loosely, it called for drinking hot lemon water first thing in the morning, a Glowing Green Smoothie for breakfast, Ginger Lemon Cayenne Detox tea and vegetables for lunch and dinner. My day went like this: First thing after my run: Hot Lemon water - This is a nice way to warm up.  I do this all the time. Breakfast: Glowing Green Smoothie - I liked it a lot.  Very refreshing and hydrating.  Wished I hadn't baked donuts the night before as they were staring me down on the kitchen counter. Lunch: Spicy Mulligatawny Soup - I'm pretty sure that's not what they meant by "salad," but I went with it. Snack: Ginger Lemon Cayenne Detox tea - Zingy and invigorat

My big sister and the egg sandwich that might cure her cancer

I usually like to keep things light hearted here At Home With Ann.  Simple recipes, awkward jokes, toddler antics and kitchen fiascos.  But we all experience times in life when we are thrown for a loop and face something that stops us in our tracks.  I, like a classic control freak, tend to keep things to myself.   Everything is under control, see? My house is clean, dinner is cooked, the dishes are done, I'm on schedule, I blow dried my hair, I don't need help.  See?  See?   But this time it's not about me, it's not something I can control, and wishing it away won't actually make it go away. Me, my Mom and Sarah last Summer Three years ago my sister, Sarah, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia called AML (acute myeloid leukemia).  My reaction was typical.  This happens to other people.  Not my 33 year old sister who lives by the ocean, gets tons of fresh air and exercise, and eats healthier than anyone who has ever entered Whole Foods.  She can't be sic