Carrot cake - by far my preferred cake of choice. C'mon think about it, you get to have something sweet AND one of your 5 a day veggies. WIN WIN!!! And, lets not forget about the vanilla cream cheese frosting...................
My wife and mine dessert choices differ greatly. She is all about the chocolate, the salted caramel and the chocolate. Me, well I'm a creme brulee, bread pudding, date pudding and carrot cake kinda guy.
New York Living
When we lived in NY there was this little bakery about a 5 mins walk from our GIANT Manhattan apt. HA - who am I kidding!! It was your classic SMALL 2 bed NY apt with laundry in the basement. This mean't waiting forever for the lift to go up and down 3 times to wash/dry your clothes, fun times!! Then there were the insanely loud traffic noises.Not helped by living right beside the main road that ran up the east side of Manhattan. Oh, and let's not forget about sky high price you paid to live on the island.....
All was forgiven though as there was THIS bakery shop just 5 mins away. Each day I would stare longingly in the window as if I was Charlie from the chocolate factory!! Truthfully most days I would get myself some carrot cake cupcakes. Damn, these guys were the perfect size, lighter than air and the frosting was.......... sorry, I just drooled on my keyboard thinking about them. SO, if you are in NY hit up Two Little Red Hens on the UES and well, just enjoy and thank me later.
Reading back upon what I have written so far I should really be talking about my cupcakes the way I described the shop bought ones. I could re-write it but then I'd have to think about what to write so lets just pretend that all the amazing things I wrote about light, airy, flavour, perfection, more-ish etc etc was about my own cupcakes! Truthfully I'm no master baker so mine defo aren't as great as theirs BUT as someone who loves carrot cake I can 100% attest to these fellas being grade A and well worth baking at home. They are quick, easy and totally DELISH using simple items that any good pantry is already stocked with.
So why not get the kids involved and whip a batch up this week! Happy Baking.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 130 g flour
- 150 g sugar
- 160 ml Squeaky Gate 'mild one' olive oil
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla bean puree
- 1 tsp baking soda
- .5 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 250 g grated carrots approx 4 large
- 30 g chopped walnuts or pecans optional
- 30 g raisins or sultanas
Frosting
- 450 g icing sugar
- 115 g butter softened
- 225 g cream cheese softened
- 1 vanilla bean cut in half & seeds removed
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Combine the grated carrots and Squeaky gate 'mild one' olive oil. Set aside.
- Combine the flour, sugar, spices, baking soda & powder together.
- Gently add the flour mixture to the carrots until just combined.
- Slowly stir in the eggs, nuts & raisins and spoon into cupcake tray.
- Bake in oven @ 180c for 12 - 14 mins keeping an eye on them not to burn. Cupcakes are cooked when golden on top and a skewer comes out just clean.
Frosting
- Beat the butter, cream cheese & vanilla together in a stand mixer OR using your muscles!
- Slowly add icing sugar and beat until no lumps remain.
Notes
Essential Tools
- box grater
- large mixing bowls
- cupcake tray & liners
- sharp knife
- chopping board
- whisk
- kitchen scales & measuring spoons
- stand mixer OR lots of elbow grease!
Tips/Tricks
- don't over mix your cupcakes as this will decrease the airiness of them
- if you don't own piping bags then you can always use a ziplock bag and cut the corner of it - effective and cheap
- when testing the cupcakes for doneness the tops should be springy, remember as they cool they will continue to cook so keep an eye on them over the last few minutes
- cupcakes will last a about 5 days in the fridge OR 2 days in my house
Nutrition
I love carrot cake and cupcakes so this is right up my alley. Definitely pinning and trying this for later!
This is a fantastic quick recipe, thank you for sharing it with us.
This is a nice quick recipe, thank you for the detailed recipe.
I love a good carrot cake and a good cupcake!!
I would totally do this. Unfortunately, my daughter isn't much of a carrot cake fan. And then I would be the one stuck eating them. Have to say that they look amazing though.
Yummy! I never made carrot cake before, I have to try this someday!
I need to make these. I've never made carrot cake so these cupcakes would be so simple to do. They really look so good.
Do it!!! You won’t be disappointed - tag me in the finished product pic so I can see how you got on ?
According to me carrot cup cakes are little hard. But I would try this recipe too.