Moist carrot cupcakes topped with a luscious and tangy cream cheese frosting.
I first shared these cupcakes a few years ago on my blog back in 2014, it will be nearly three years since the recipe was first published and I still enjoy these just as much as I did the first time round. The older recipe deserved an update and I’ve decided to share it again with brand new photographs. Carrot cake is one of my favourite cakes and if I had to I would definitely pick carrot cake over a slice of chocolate cake any day!
Easter is nearing closer so these cupcakes I am revisiting today will be the ideal recipe to celebrate the occasion with.
The addition of spices in carrot cake is an absolute must and I can’t even contemplate a carrot cake/cupcake without cinnamon added. Along with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon I also like to add a full teaspoon of mixed spice as well. Mixed spice is another spice popular in many Easter bakes, it’s the British equivalent to pumpkin pie spice and it’s frequently used in many of our traditional recipes such as hot cross buns and teacakes.
I wish I could tell you that these carrot cupcakes are healthy because they contain vegetables but unfortunately they’re not! Carrots and other vegetables such as courgette/zucchini are a popular addition in many savoury and sweet recipes. They add moistness and I like to put quite a lot of grated carrot into my cupcakes, this is so I can ensure that there’s carrot in each and every bite. There’s nothing more disappointing than taking a bite from a carrot cake/cupcake and not being able to taste any carrot!
To decorate I decided to top the cupcakes with a classic cream cheese frosting. I’ve trialled several different cream cheese frosting recipes and I’ve found this one to be the best as it holds its shape when piped and really compliments the flavour of the cupcakes.
(Makes 12)
Ingredients:
Carrot Cupcakes:
175g light brown sugar
200g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon mixed spice
Zest from 1 large orange
2 large free-range eggs, at room temperature
150ml sunflower or vegetable oil
200g (approx. 2 large) carrots, peeled and grated – weigh to ensure this is correct
65g chopped walnuts, plus extra for decoration
Cream Cheese Frosting:
60g unsalted butter, softened
200g icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
400g full-fat cream cheese, softened – I leave mine out at room temperature for an hour to soften
Method:
1. To make the cupcakes: Preheat your oven 180°C / 160°C Fan / 350°F / Gas Mark 4 and line a 12-hole cupcake or muffin tin with paper cases. In a large mixing bowl stir together the sugar, flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and the orange zest.
2. In another smaller bowl or jug whisk together the eggs and oil until incorporated. Add the wet ingredients to the dry along with the grated carrot and walnuts and stir until completely combined. Evenly divide the batter between the paper cases. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean without any uncooked batter remaining – mine took the full amount of time to bake. Leave the cupcakes to cool in the tin for a few minutes then transport them to a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
3. To make the frosting: Cream the softened butter in a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes to soften. Now add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla and starting on a low speed mix to combine. Continue to cream for 5 minutes or until really pale in colour – stop the mixer halfway through to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
4. Once creamed add the softened cream cheese. Turn the mixer up and whisk on high speed for approximately 2-3 minutes or until the frosting is creamy, thick and smooth. You need to use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with a whisk attachment to make sure the frosting reaches the correct consistency.
5. Decorate the cupcakes as desired by piping or spreading the frosting onto each cupcake. Further decoration is optional, I chose to top each cupcake with extra chopped walnuts and a carrot made from royal icing. The carrot decorations can be purchased from most major supermarkets or online but just be sure to decorate just prior to serving. Cupcakes will keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes:
- To adapt the recipe into cup measurements please see my conversion tables page for help.
- You can adjust the amount of spice or play around by adding different spices to these cupcakes. If you can’t find mixed spice where you live you can substitute it with pumpkin pie spice or alternatively use a different combination of spices.
- Adding walnuts to the batter is optional. If you want you can leave them out entirely or swap them for pecans, raisins or desiccated/shredded coconut.
- Leave the cream cheese out at room temperature for an hour prior to making the frosting. The cream cheese needs to be soft to ensure the frosting is smooth and all the ingredients incorporate completely.
- Don’t add any additional icing sugar to the frosting as this will make your cream cheese frosting too runny and you won’t be able to pipe it. To get perfect cream cheese frosting my best tip is to measure your ingredients accurately using the metric system for the perfect results every time.
- If you want you can chill the cream cheese frosting in the fridge for an hour before frosting the cupcakes, I sometimes do this if the weather is particularly humid.
- The way you choose to decorate these cupcakes is totally up to you. When I shared the recipe the first time round instead of decorating the cupcakes with chopped walnuts as I did this time I sprinkled the tops with coconut and dusted a few of the cupcakes with cinnamon.
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Mmmm, these do sound delicious. I’ve never come across a carrot cake recipe with golden syrup in before but I really like the flavour so I know I’d like these!
That is a gorgeous cupcake!! 🙂
OMG! These cupcakes are just perfection! I adore carrot cake too. Beautiful icing <3
I love everything about this post Jess… I love carrot cake too! Your photos are stunning…and that cakeplate? Gorgeous. The very last photo makes me want to reach in and grab one of those halves. Ok, both of those halves.. 🙂 Lovely post. I love how you topped them with coconut. Yum. Just YUM. xx
Fab photos and I love the idea of carrot cake in cupcake form. I would love to try ‘gluten freeing’ these wee babies at some point.
No fair. I haven’t even had breakfast yet and now I already want dessert!!! Hahaha these look great! Happy Friday!
I love a good cinnamon-y carrot cake! The cupcake version is an excellent idea too. Two please 🙂
Carrot cake is one of my all-time favorites! I will almost always choose it when given the option. A few months ago my boyfriend and I rented a cabin and when we arrived we found a carrot cake that the owner had made for us…I decided then that we would be going back again and again! These look delicious. Beautiful pictures!!
Carrot Cake is by far one of my fav desserts and I am certain these beauty cupcakes would not disappoint.
Carrot cake and cream cheese frosting were just meant to be together. These cupcakes look fab, Jessica! I love how moist and fluffy and piled-high with frosting they look!
I love classic carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing! So delish!
Yum, yum! they look delicious! Pictures are awesome 🙂
Looks delicious, and love the pictures!
I love these! So perfect with Easter coming – and they’re so pretty for a holiday table!
Carrot cake is one of my favorites ever — such a classic! These cupcakes look just delicious with that creamy frosting. 🙂
Carrot cake is one of my favorites–these cupcakes look so yummy!
Oh these look to die for! I love cream cheese frostings, they’re slightly tangy which makes it better than butter cream in my opinion. Now I feel tempted to make some cupcakes too this weekend 😀
Really lovely recipe, Jess! I was just looking for a carrot cake recipe and think I just found it here. I love the idea of cupcakes, but am going to try your recipe as a mini-cake because I wanted to do a little Easter mini-cake. Have a great weekend!
How did you know these are my FAV cupcakes ever! 😀
These are beautiful Jessica!! I especially love the cream cheese frosting! Yum!!!!
Cinnamon-y is definitely a word! These are gorgeous and really let the carrots shine!
Carrot cake is one of my favourites and these carrot cupcakes look superb. Beautiful photographs too.
Yum! I love carrot cake! These look so good!
I love carrot cake! What a tempting recipe to use the first carrots of spring!
This could be my new favorite dessert, Jess!
Jessica, these are gorgeous. I can’t eat carrots myself, but I think I’ll try these exactly as they are, replacing the carrots with zucchini. That way I can still justify eating seven- I’m eating vegetables!
one of my absolute favorite flavor combinations 🙂
Simply stunning!
I love a carrot cake, and yet I have never made it at home :(. This looks so good. It’s been a while since I made cupcakes. Gotta start up again 😉
Oh yum. I love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Your cupcakes look perfect, Jessica!
Now that’s what I call a classic! Your cupcakes look great! :3
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is my favourite. In a cupcake even better as it is portable!
Yes!’ Great minds do think alike. I love carrot cake and these look so amazing!
I’ve got carrot cupcakes in my Easter post queue too! Love the sprinkling of cinnamon in yours. Carrot cake is so underappreciated, but it’s definitely the best option if given a choice at weddings!
I love carrot cake, and you’ve managed to make it look even better by packaging it up into a cute little cupcake 🙂 They look gorgeous!
These carrot cakes look divine Jess! Lovely straightforward recipe too, great!! Have a great weekend 🙂 I need to make a Carrot Cake soon…
Looks so good and moist! I completely forgot how carrot cake is so delicious 🙂
Yum Jessica! Love the pretty coconutty sprinkles. Carrot cake is one of my favorites!
These are so pretty in a lovely simple way, Jessica! I would love to scoff 1 (or 2 or 3!) of these on Easter day!
Oh yes, please! These look delectable, and your photographs are a dream! Brava!
Jessica – I come over to say hello before breakfast and get tempted with these delicious bites. Tummy growling now…
I love carrot cake and this looks so good!! I would like to eat them with a coffee …..
I cannot resist carrot cake with cream cheese – these look really yummy!
I’ve never met a carrot cake I don’t like, yours look like something special, great photos too! 😀
I love carrot cake! These cupcakes look lovely! Adding to my list of things to try over easter break 🙂
Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Icing – one of my favorite desserts! Yours looks lovely.
Mmmmm how good are carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing! I’ve made a lot of carrot cake recently and now I’m just going to have to make another one with this beautiful recipe!
I absolutely love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and I absolutely adore cupcakes. Why else would my gravatar be a cupcake otherwise? 🙂 These look so perfectly moist. I take it golden syrup might have something to do with it. Wish I could find it here. Thanks for linking to Fiesta Friday! 🙂