Would you believe I'm picky about my carrot cake?  I am, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.  I like coconut, nuts and pineapple, but I do not appreciate finding any of them in my carrot cake.  It bothers me.  It distracts from the carroty goodness.  I can't handle all the other stuff when I'm just looking to have a carrot cupcake experience.  Make sense?

These cupcakes are lightly spiced, moist and just plain delicious!  I grate my carrots very finely, so to more easily hide them from little people make the batter homogeneous.  They are really tasty little cupcakes.  I hope you'll give them a try.

Have a very happy Easter! 

Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Source:  Shelly Kaldunski in Cupcakes
makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 to 1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots (about 3 carrots)
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  In a large bowl, whisk together the grated carrots, sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla to combine.  Gently fold the flour mixture into the carrot mixture until completely combined.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.  Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean--20 to 25 minutes.  Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes.  Transfer the cupcakes to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.

Frost the cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting...or not, they are still really tasty without frosting.


Cream Cheese Frosting:
12 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 - 2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until light and fluffy.  Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until well blended and spreadable.





This post is linked to:  Mouthwatering Monday
Sweets for a Saturday
Dee Dee's Delights-Easter Sunday Buffet
Muffin Monday