Description
Delicious and moist Carrot Cake Muffins with Creamy Frosting are a perfect portable treat that captures the essence of a classic carrot cake. Ideal for breakfast, snacks, or gifts, each muffin is filled with finely grated carrots and warm spices, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake Muffins
- All-purpose flour — 1 ¾ cups (210g)
- Granulated sugar — ½ cup (100g)
- Packed light brown sugar — ½ cup (100g)
- Baking powder — 1 teaspoon
- Baking soda — 1 teaspoon
- Ground cinnamon — 1 ½ teaspoons
- Ground nutmeg — ½ teaspoon
- Ground ginger — ¼ teaspoon
- Salt — ½ teaspoon
- Large eggs — 2, at room temperature
- Vegetable oil (or other neutral oil) — ½ cup (120ml)
- Buttermilk — ½ cup (120ml), at room temperature
- Pure vanilla extract — 1 teaspoon
- Finely grated carrots — 1 ½ cups (about 3–4 medium carrots)
- Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) — ½ cup
- Raisins (optional) — ½ cup
For the Creamy Frosting
- Cream cheese, full-fat — 8 oz (226g), softened
- Unsalted butter — ¼ cup (56g), softened
- Powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) — 2 ½ cups (300g), sifted
- Pure vanilla extract — 1 teaspoon
- Pinch of salt — ⅛ teaspoon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a muffin pan with paper liners
- In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt
- In another bowl, whisk the wet ingredients: eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring gently until just mixed, avoiding overmixing
- Fold in grated carrots and optional mix-ins like nuts and raisins
- Divide the batter into muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full
- Bake for 5 minutes at 400°F, then reduce temperature to 375°F and bake for another 15-18 minutes
- Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt
- Once muffins are cool, frost generously and enjoy!
Notes
Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.
Avoid overmixing the batter to keep muffins tender.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 420-450 kcal
- Sugar: 35-40g
- Sodium: 300-350mg
- Fat: 25-28g
- Saturated Fat: 12-15g
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: 50-55g
- Fiber: 2-3g
- Protein: 4-5g
- Cholesterol: 60-70mg