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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Moist carrot cake cupcakes with warm spices and a simple cream cheese frosting—grated carrots keep every bite tender.

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes dessert plated

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Yield12
Prep20 min
Cook20 min
Total40 min

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Ingredients

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Method

5 steps

  1. 1

    Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin. Whisk 1¼ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.

  2. 2

    In another bowl, whisk ½ cup oil, ¾ cup packed brown sugar, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 1½ cups finely grated carrots (packed lightly). Fold the dry mix in just until combined — optional: ⅓ cup raisins or chopped pecans.

  3. 3

    Fill liners about ⅔ full. Bake 18–22 minutes until the tops spring back and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the tin 5 minutes, then on a rack until completely cool — frosting melts on warm cupcakes.

  4. 4

    Beat frosting until smooth: 4 oz softened cream cheese, 3 tablespoons butter, 1½ cups powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

  5. 5

    Serve at room temp or chilled. You want moist spiced carrot cupcakes with tangy cream-cheese frosting — not dry crumbly cakes or a greasy sunken top.

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