Desserts
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Description
These classic carrot cake cupcakes with pineapple and coconut are LOADED, super moist, and topped with THE BEST cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups dark brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 3 cups shredded carrots (about 2 large or 3 small-medium)
- 1 cup crushed pineapple drained
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup walnuts or pecans toasted and roughly chopped, plus additional for topping the cupcakes
- ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut you will need 1 and 1/2 cups total if preparing coconut cream cheese frosting below
- ⅔ cup reduced fat cream cheese or Neufchatel, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon pure almond extract
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin(s) with paper liners or lightly coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer or a large mixing bowl, beat together the egg, egg whites, brown sugar, and canola oil.
- Add the carrots and beat for 1 minute. Add the pineapple and 3/4 shredded coconut and beat until incorporated.
- With a wooden spoon, stir in half of the flour mixture, just until incorporated. Stir in buttermilk. Add the remaining flour mixture, continuing to stir in by hand, just until combined. Gently fold in walnuts.
- Fill prepared tins 3/4 of the way with batter. Bake 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Gently remove cupcakes from tin and let cool on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts. Reduce speed to low, then gradually add the powdered sugar, ¼ cup at a time, beating just until combined. Spread frosting on cooled cupcakes, then top with chopped pecans or walnuts. Serve and enjoy!
