The orange flavored cream cheese frosting?, loads of fresh shredded carrots, nuts and pineapple?make this my fav carrot cake recipe?! ‘Tis the season of sweets, and we don’t make a habit of eating a lot in our house,   with this cupcake is worth sharing, especially if you like hiding a little nutrition in your desserts! I adapted from a recipe I found online and have been making it for a few years with my own adjustments. The cake itself is Super Moist, not too sweet or greasy, and my two little birthday girls, ages 3 and 5, loved them at their party last weekend!
This recipe makes 12 cupcakes. I just quadrupled it last weekend for a whopping and tasty 48!

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup of organic cane sugar
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup oil (I prefer melted coconut oil to make them healthier, but traditional vegetable oil works)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 1/2 cup white or white whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans(optional)

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)

  • 1/2 cup salted butter brought to room temp
  • 8 oz package cream cheese brought to room temp
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Zest of one orange. ?
  • 4 cups organic powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbs milk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Line a 12 cup muffin tin.
  3. For cupcakes, mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl: flour, salt and spices, and set aside.
  4. In a separate large bowl beat sugar and eggs. Beat in coconut oil and vanilla.
  5. Fold in carrots, crushed pineapple, and nuts.
  6. mix in dry ingredients
  7. Divide batter between muffin cups.
  8. Bake about 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
  9. Mix frosting in stand mixer with a paddle adding ingredients in order listed, adding powdered sugar a little at a time .
  10.  Let cool completely before frosting.
  11. I added sprinkles and I topped with all-natural probiotic mango gummies from I found at Trader Joe’s.  A candied orange slice on top would also be perfect!

Nutrition label for cupcake only