Tender and moist Carrot Muffins are the perfect way to start the day. They are filled with grated carrots, applesauce, and cinnamon, and they can be topped with a smear of cream cheese frosting or served plain – either way, they’re delicious!
Our carrot cake obsession continues. We’ve shared Carrot Cake Cookies, Pumpkin Carrot Cake, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, and Healthy Carrot Cake. But, it’s time we have carrot cake for breakfast. Don’t you agree? Carrot Muffins it is!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Ease: The muffin batter comes together in under 20 minutes without an electric mixer.
Flavor: The classic flavors of carrot cake! Sweet muffins with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Options to add walnuts or orange zest.
Texture: Grated carrots and applesauce help to make these muffins soft and moist.
Versatility: Looking for a slightly healthier muffin? Try the ingredient swaps mentioned below. Want them a bit more indulgent? Top wit our small batch of cream cheese frosting.
Recipe overview
Muffins:
Combine the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, leavening, and salt.
Whisk the wet ingredients: oil, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and applesauce.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Add grated carrots and stir until combined.
Scoop the batter into muffin cups and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Cream cheese frosting (optional):
This small batch of frosting makes just enough for a smear of frosting on top of each muffin. If you’d prefer a more generous amount of frosting, feel free to double the frosting portion of the recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Flavorings: vanilla, cinnamon, or orange zest
Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and the flavoring of your choice and beat until smooth and combined. Spread the frosting onto the tops of each muffin using a butter knife or small offset spatula.
Recipe tips
- Grate the carrots using the small holes of a box grater. Grating the carrots fine allows them to soften and almost melt into the cake while it’s baking.
- To properly measure flour: Fluff the flour with your measuring cup, scoop a heaping portion, and level it off with the back of a knife.
- For a more prominent cinnamon flavor, add extra cinnamon (up to 2 teaspoons total) or use cinnamon flavored applesauce in the muffin batter.
- Flavor your cream cheese frosting with either vanilla, cinnamon, or orange zest. All three flavors pair great with the muffins.
Healthier options
If you’d like to make a few ingredient swaps to make these muffins “healthier” you can do any of the following:
- Reduce the sugar to ½ cup
- Use a heart healthy oil (like olive oil)
- Swap half of the all purpose flour for white whole wheat flour
- Omit the frosting
- Add ¼ cup chopped walnuts into the muffin batter
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Recipe
Carrot Muffins
Ingredients
Muffins:
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour , see note*
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1-½ teaspoons ground cinnamon , increase to 2 teaspoons, if desired
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-½ cups FINELY grated carrots, loosely measured, not packed (about 2 medium-large carrots)
Frosting:
- 2 ounces cream cheese , softened to cool room temp
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened to cool room temp
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more, if needed
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract or ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or finely grated zest of ½ a small orange
- ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts, optional garnish
Instructions
Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 10-12 paper liners or grease the muffin cups. Set aside.
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk oil, applesauce, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined. Add dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until almost fully combined. Stir in carrots.
- Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ full (depending on how large your muffin cups are you will fill between 10 and 12 muffin cups). Bake for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and salt until combined. Add powdered sugar and flavoring of choice and beat until well combined (starting the mixer slow then increasing the speed). Add a bit more powdered sugar to thicken, if necessary. This frosting can also be placed in the fridge for 15 minutes or so to thicken up. Use a butter knife or small offset spatula to frost the top of each muffin. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Love how easy and delicious this recipe is.
Beth
Tasty & delicious way to start the day! Carrot cake and cream cheese topping are a match made in Heaven!
Alicia Franks Gibson
These are so delicious and moist! I didn’t have applesauce so I used apple butter that I had on hand.
It was so yummy! Thank you for this recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
That sounds delicious! I’m so glad that you ejoyed them. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
CP
Can I add raisins to this and if so, how much would be good?
Celebrating Sweets
Sure! I’d say 1/3 or 1/2 cup. Enjoy!
Shariffah Raudha
Hi! What can i substitute for applesauce?
Celebrating Sweets
You can try vanilla yogurt, mashed banana, or pumpkin puree.
Terence Etheridge
I don’t have bicarbonate soda will it make a big difference if I don’t use it ?
Celebrating Sweets
That should be ok. I’d add an additional 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder. Enjoy!
Lydia
Hi..
I don’t have applesauce.. an I continue the recipe without the applesauce?
Celebrating Sweets
You’ll need to use something in place of it. Maybe vanilla yogurt? Or pumpkin puree?
Joy Sage
Very tasty. Lighter texture than I’m used to, but delicious.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Shey
Mine turned out ultra moist. Probably still underbaked at 17 minutes in my oven but they were really delicious!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Tiffany Richmond
Can I use buttermilk instead of apple sauce
Allison
Hi, Tiffany. That should work, but you’ll lose the sweetness from the applesauce and add the tang from the buttermilk. So maybe add an additional tablespoon of sugar to help with that. Enjoy!
Nancy G
I’ve made these twice already in two weeks. I selected the healthy options and used all whole wheat pastry flour. Very satisfying and delicious!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂