March 23, 2023

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe – Love and Lemons

Moist, fluffy, and warmly spiced, these carrot cake cupcakes are an easy, delicious treat! Tangy cream cheese frosting takes them over the top.

These carrot cake cupcakes are the fun-size version of my favorite spring dessert: carrot cake! I’m planning to bring them to every party and gathering I go to this season because they’re 1) easy to make, 2) perfect for sharing, and 3) sooo delicious. Just like a great slice of carrot cake, these carrot cupcakes are soft, moist, warmly spiced, and chock-full of fresh carrots. Rich, tangy cream cheese frosting takes them over the top.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this carrot cake cupcake recipe:

Carrots, of course! They add moisture and sweet, earthy flavor to these scrumptious cupcakes. Grate them on the large holes of a box grater for more pronounced flecks of carrot or on the small holes if you want them to meld into the cupcakes.
All-purpose flour – Spoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
Almond flour – It gives these cupcakes the perfect moist texture and nutty depth of flavor.
Baking powder and eggs – They help the cupcakes puff up as they bake.
Almond milk – Or any milk you like! My homemade oat milk would be great here too.
Avocado oil – For moisture and richness. No avocado oil handy? Use canola oil or vegetable oil instead.
Cane sugar – For sweetness.
Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla – The vanilla and spices give these cupcakes that classic spiced carrot cake flavor.
And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

If you want to decorate the cupcakes, you’ll also need cream cheese frosting. My recipe is easy to make with just 4 ingredients: cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. For a vegan version, check out this post!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Carrot Cupcakes

I love how simple this carrot cake cupcake recipe is to make. No mixer required! Here’s how it goes:

First, prepare your pan. Lightly spray or oil a 12-cup muffin pan, or line it with paper liners. While you’re working, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Next, whisk together the wet ingredients in one mixing bowl and the dry ingredients in another. Fold the grated carrots into the wet ingredients.

Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Careful not to overmix! If you do, the cupcakes will be dense.

Finally, bake! Divide the batter among the muffin cups and transfer to the hot oven. Bake until the tops spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Top with cream cheese frosting, and enjoy!

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Tips and Variations

Let them cool to room temperature. It’s super tempting to frost and eat these carrot cupcakes while they’re still warm from the oven. But please, let them cool to room temperature first! Their texture and flavor actually improve as they cool. Plus, if they’re still warm when you add the frosting, it will melt!
Get ahead. Don’t want to make cream cheese frosting and carrot cake cupcakes in a single day? You don’t have to! The frosting will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and the cupcakes freeze perfectly. Make a batch ahead of time, and allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge before frosting them. Once frosted, the cupcakes will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Add mix-ins! Do you love your carrot cake with raisins or nuts? Feel free to add them in! Fold 1/2 cup raisins and/or chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter before you divide it among the muffin cups. I also like to sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with chopped pecans for crunch.

More Favorite Dessert Recipes

If you love these carrot cake cupcakes, try one of these easy dessert recipes next: