Carrot Cake Cupcakes (with Video)

Homemade Carrot Cake Cupcakes have an amazing texture and fresh carrot flavor. These cupcakes have a soft and moist crumb studded with pecans, raisins, and plenty of tender carrots, and you’ll love the Cream Cheese Frosting. This will become your go-to Carrot Cupcake recipe. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes Video

This recipe is so easy to make – all you need is a bowl and a whisk. There’s no stand mixer required here. Watch the video tutorial and you’ll be on your way to making the best Carrot Cake Cupcakes.

Carrot Cake Cupcake Recipe

If you’re a fan of Carrot Cake, you’ll love these darling Carrot Cake Cupcakes! It’s actually the same batter, so yes, you could make a cake out of this! They are quick and easy to make with a memorable spiced flavor. The kids always get excited when I make these for Easter!

My Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is the most popular frosting choice for carrot cake because it’s not as sweet as Buttercream, and the cream cheese adds a great layer of flavor. It’s thick, fluffy, and pipes beautifully. It’s also the same frosting I used for my famous Red Velvet Cake. To make the cute frosting carrot on top, I just tinted the same frosting because it’s sturdy enough to add color.

Ingredients for Carrot Cupcakes

This recipe is truly easy, so don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients (it’s mostly fun spices you probably already have).

• All-purpose flour – just regular flour, not self-rising
• Sugar – we use granulated sugar to sweeten
• Baking soda and baking powder – two leaveners give these cupcakes rise
• Spices: salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves (you can mix and match or omit something like cloves if you don’t have it on hand)
• Oil – use a neutral oil like extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. I prefer oil over butter because the cupcakes don’t firm up in the fridge, and it’s the secret to moist cupcakes! It also keeps the cupcake base dairy-free.
• Eggs – make sure they are at room temperature
• Applesauce – adds moisture and natural sweetness to the cupcakes. You can substitute with crushed pineapple.
• Carrots – from 2 medium-large carrots. Make sure they are finely grated for even baking.
• Pecans & Raisins – I call these optional, but I always add them for added flavor and texture. You can substitute with chopped walnuts or any color of raisins.

Tools for Easy Carrot Cupcakes

These tools will make your cupcake process (and baking in general) easier. For the carrot, you can get creative and use different piping tips to make it work, or even omit the carrot altogether if you want a beautifully frosted cupcake. You can also sprinkle chopped nuts over the top for decoration.

• Cupcake Pans
• Parchment Baking Cups
• Disposable piping bags
• For piping green leaves: Wilton 32 
• For piping carrot: Wilton 2A
• Frosting piping tip: Wilton 1M
• Gel colors – great starter set
• Box grater – you’ll need the small holes

What is the best way to grate carrots for carrot cake?

Use the fine holes on the box grater to grate the carrots finely. This will allow the carrot to incorporate into the batter easily and add moisture and tons of carrot flavor.

How to Make Carrot Cake Cupcakes

• Prep – Preheat oven to 350˚F and line 18 count muffin pans with cupcake liners. Set out Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients to bring to room temperature.
• Dry Ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves (if using), and salt.
• Add wet ingredients – right into the same bowl, whisk in oil, eggs and applesauce until combined.
• Fold in grated carrots, chopped nuts and raisins, stirring just until incorporated. Don’t overmix which can develop gluten, making cupcakes dense.
• Divide batter into prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 3-5 minutes in the pans then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Can I make mini carrot cake cupcakes?

Yes, this recipe will make about 36 mini cupcakes. Bake for 12-13 minutes at 350˚F.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

• Unfrosted cupcakes – Bake up to 3 days ahead of time. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days, or refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.
• Storing Frosted Cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are frosted, you can keep them at room temperature for a couple of hours, then cover and refrigerate for 3-4 days. You can keep them at room temperature for up to 4 hours if they are coming out of the refrigerator.

These Carrot Cake Cupcakes are so moist and satisfying. They have a ton of flavor from the carrot-packed crumb to the amazing frosting on top. If these show up on your Easter or Spring menu, I hope you share a photo and tag me so I can see your beautiful creations.

More Cupcake Recipes to try

• Chocolate Cupcakes
• Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Cupcakes
• Cupcake Frosting
• Greek Yogurt Cupcakes
• Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
• Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Cinnamon Muffins