Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Best Frosting (VIDEO)

Homemade Carrot Cake Cupcakes have amazing texture and fresh carrot flavor. These cupcakes have a soft and moist crumb studded with pecans, raisins, and plenty of tender carrots. The Cream Cheese Frosting is the best and the same frosting we use on Red Velvet Cake. This will become your go-to Carrot Cake Cupcake recipe. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting and decorated with a carrot

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P.S. This recipe is so easy to make – all you need is a bowl and a whisk. Watch the video tutorial and you’ll be on your way to making the best Carrot Cake Cupcakes.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Video

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Sliced Carrot Cake cupcake with moist center

Ingredients for Carrot Cupcakes

This recipe is truly easy so don’t be intimidated by a long list of ingredients. Everything goes into the bowl and you stir it together. It uses fairly common spices and pantry and refrigerator staples.

All-purpose flour – just regular flour, not self-rising
Sugar – we use granulated sugar to sweeten
Baking soda and baking powder – two leavenings give these cupcakes a beautiful rise
Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves (you can mix and match or omit something like cloves if you don’t have it on hand)
Salt – balances the flavors and makes the flavors really shine
Oil – use a neutral oil like extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola
Eggs – make sure they are at room temperature
Applesauce – adds moisture and natural sweetness to the cupcakes
Carrots – finely grated from 2 medium-large carrots
Pecans – finely chopped. You can also use walnuts
Raisins – we like the color of golden raisins but regular raisins work or omit them altogether
Cream Cheese Frosting – our go-to for carrot cakes

Tools for making cupcakes

These tools will make your cupcake process (and baking in general) easier. For the carrot, you can get creative and use different piping tips to make it work, or even omit the carrot altogether if you want a beautifully frosted cupcake. You can also sprinkle chopped nuts over the top for decoration.

Cupcake Pans
Parchment Baking Cups
Disposable piping bags
For piping green leaves: Wilton 32
For piping carrot: Wilton 2A
Frosting piping tip: Wilton 1M
Gel colors – great starter set
Box grater – you’ll need the small holes

The Best Frosting for Carrot Cake

We use our favorite Cream Cheese Frosting which is thick, fluffy, and pipes beautifully. Cream Cheese Frosting is the most popular frosting for carrot cake because it’s not as sweet as Buttercream and the cream cheese adds a great layer of flavor.

To make the cute frosting carrot on top, I just tint the same frosting because it’s sturdy enough to add color.

Cream Cheese frosting piped onto a carrot cake cupcake

How to Make Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Prep – Preheat oven to 350˚F and line 18 count muffin tins with cupcake liners. Set out Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients to bring to room temperature.
Dry Ingredients – In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves (if using), and salt.
Add wet ingredients – right into the same bowl, whisk in oil, eggs and applesauce until combined.
Fold in grated carrots, chopped nuts and raisins, stirring just until incorporated.
Divide batter into prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 3-5 minutes in the pans then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Mixing ingredients for making carrot cake cupcake batter

Pro Tip: Let the cupcakes cool completely to room temperature before applying the frosting, otherwise the heat from the cupcake will cause the frosting to melt and slide off the cupcake.

Baked Carrot cupcakes cooling on wire rack.

Common Questions

Can I substitute the raisins and nuts?

You can use any kind of raisins or leave them out. You can also use pecans or walnuts or leave the nuts out. The cake will still work.

Can I substitute applesauce?

Carrot cake batter can also be made with crushed pineapple instead of applesauce.

Can I bake this into a cake?

Yes! The batter is the same for carrot cakes and cupcakes. Divide the batter into 2 greased and floured cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, or bake in a 13×9 pan for 30-35 minutes.

What is the best way to grate carrots for carrot cake?

Use the fine holes on the box grater to finely grate the carrots. This will allow the carrot to incorporate into the batter easily and adds moisture and tons of carrot flavor.

Can I make mini-cupcakes?

Yes, this recipe will make about 36 mini cupcakes. Bake for 12-13 minutes at 350˚F.

finely shredded carrots for carrot cupcakes

Make-Ahead

At Room Temperature: freshly made cupcakes can keep at room temperature for a couple of hours and should be stored in the refrigerator after that. You can keep them at room temperature for up to 4 hours if they are coming out of the refrigerator.
To Refrigerate: Store in the refrigerator in a cake carrier for up to 5 days. Keeping the cupcakes covered will ensure they don’t absorb unwanted refrigerator smells.
Freezing: You can cover and freeze the cupcakes for 2 to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
At Room Temperature: these cupcakes can keep at room temperature for a couple of hours and should be stored in the refrigerator after that.

holding a frosted and decorated carrot cake cupcake

These Carrot Cake Cupcakes are so moist and satisfying. They have a ton of flavor from the carrot-packed crumb to the amazing frosting on top. If these show up on your Easter or Spring menu, I hope you share a photo and tag me so I can see your beautiful creations.

More Cupcake Recipes to try

If you love this Carrot Cake Cupcake recipe, then you won’t want to miss these fun and creative cupcakes:

This recipe was adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, the Joy of Cooking Carrot Cake recipe.

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.