Spiced Carrot Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Spiced Carrot Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting combine rich, earthy spices and sweet, moist carrot cake with the deep warmth of maple-infused cream cheese for a bakery-worthy dessert that’s as comforting as it is indulgent. Perfect for gatherings or quiet indulgences, they offer a delightful balance of flavor, texture, and seasonal charm in every bite.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
For the Cake
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup chopped pecans
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3.5 cups confectioners' powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple butter
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until well blended. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined—do not overmix. Gently fold in the grated carrots and chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the batter. Use a large ice cream scoop to portion the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Once baked, allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
To Prepare the Frosting: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and maple butter. (If maple butter is unavailable, you may substitute with maple syrup.) Beat the mixture until it becomes smooth and creamy. Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, pipe or spread the maple cream cheese frosting on top and enjoy.