Description
These delightful carrot cupcakes offer a heart-smart twist on the classic dessert. Packed with beta-carotene-rich carrots and naturally sweetened with applesauce, each moist, perfectly-portioned cupcake delivers antioxidant benefits while satisfying your sweet tooth. The reduced-fat cream cheese frosting adds a guilt-free finishing touch to this better-for-you treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups shredded carrots (4 medium)
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- 6 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
- 3 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
- 5 tablespoons finely shredded carrot or 15 wide, very thin carrot strips
Instructions
STEP 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line fifteen 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. Lightly coat paper cups with cooking spray; set aside.
STEP 2
In a large bowl, stir together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and ginger; set aside.
STEP 3
In a medium bowl, combine eggs, carrots, applesauce and oil. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Stir until combined. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each three-fourths full.
STEP 4
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire rack.
STEP 5
For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add agave nectar (or honey); beat for 1 minute more. Spread frosting on cupcakes. Top each cupcake with 1 teaspoon of the finely shredded carrots or one very thin carrot strip.
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