Carrot Cupcakes with Orange Icing

Moist and flavorful carrot cupcakes spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, topped with a bright orange icing. These delightful treats combine fresh carrots with warm spices and are finished with a citrusy sweet glaze.

12 servings
2 hr 25 min

Ingredients

  • 4 medium medium carrots
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • cups confectioners sugar
  • ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
  • tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 pan muffin pan
  • 12 pieces paper liners
  • 12 pieces candied carrot curls

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line muffin cups with paper liners.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Coarsely grate enough carrots to measure 2 cups using large teardrop holes of a box grater.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a bowl.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Whisk together oil, eggs, brown sugar, grated carrots, and vanilla in a large bowl, then stir in flour mixture until just combined.

    10 min

  5. 5.

    Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted into center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

    25 min

  6. 6.

    Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely on rack, about 1 hour more.

    70 min

  7. 7.

    Sift confectioners sugar into a bowl. Whisk in zest and 2 tablespoons juice until smooth. If icing is too thick, add more juice, 1 teaspoon at a time. Dip top of each cupcake into icing, letting excess drip off. Put a carrot curl on top of each and let icing set, about 15 minutes.

    20 min

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