With Easter just round the corner I wanted to make something that was a bit of a treat! A couple of years ago I made some apple and cinnamon hot cross buns which where gorgeous, as well as a lazy courgette and pesto tart and chocolate cupcakes. James loves carrot cake, so I thought I’d get to work on creating a healthy but still very tasty cupcake version, topped with yummy cream cheese icing.
I made this version without added dried fruit or nuts that are often found in carrot cake (as James isn’t a fan) but definitely add some raisins or chopped walnuts if you like them. I also made these the yesterday for my young people’s community group in a blueberry version and they went down very well! The recipe is pretty versatile so feel free to try different ingredients in place of the carrot.
As much as I’ve called these cupcakes, they do have a more muffin like texture due to the whole grain spelt flour I used. If you’d like something a bit lighter, go half spelt or wholemeal flour and half plain flour. However the texture is still wonderfully moist, from the added coconut oil and yoghurt.
[yumprint-recipe id=’38’]
Do you like baked goods with veggies in them? I also love a good courgette bread and I must try beetroot chocolate cake at some point! Do you have a favourite Easter recipe?
I love making cake with butternut squash and with courgette! Absolute faves. The veg makes the cake so lovely and moist. Ur carrot cupcakes look yummy. I usually take a carrot cake recipe and substitute the carrot for butternut squash – works really well! :-)
I definitely need to try using butternut squash, I guess it’s probably a bit like sweet potato!
I have a gorgeous chocolate courgette loaf cake recipe from the Green & Blacks cookbook – it’s hardly a healthy recipe and it takes ages to make but it’s so good and keeps for ages. This recipe looks like a good one to try, too. Still loving those sweet potato choc chip cookies, I tried some with pumpkin puree and some with banana (so none with actual sweet potato!) and both were lovely. The banana ones were hoovered up by friends in no time!
That sounds lovely, anything with chocolate is a winner ;-) Glad you enjoyed the cookies!
These look lovely. Please send me one! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease! :-D
I wish they would keep in the post and then I would!
Oh I am such a sucker for carrot cake! And I actually prefer a more dense, muffiny texture than a light airy cake. Truth be told I haven’t come into any contact with veggie-filled baked goods (other than regular carrot cake), but I’d like to try out a beetroot something at some point.
Apple hot cross buns sound like a remarkable twist on an old classic :)
You should definitely try some veggie packed baked goods, they make them so moist and filling – courgette is a good one!
For some reason I love courgette bread (so much so I had to stop making it as I was just eating WAY to much of it), but I have never tried carrot cake …. probably a good thing though ;-)
Courgette bread is one of my faves, I have to keep the slices wrapped in foil in the freezer so I don’t eat the lot!
Yum! I love carrot cake anything, and these look so nice.
Thanks Christina!
Once again, a lovely recipe!
Carrot cake is up there as one of my favourite. When it’s perfectly moist and dense, oh I love it! I don’t mind veggies in my cakes at all. I think it’s a great way to sneak in some added nutrition. If it tastes good that’s all that matters to me! :)
Thanks Anna! Oh yes, as long as it tastes good anything goes I think!
Chocolate Fudge Beetroot cake is the one to try – it is so good and fudgey! Always a cake winner in my house – i need to try these with coconut flour …:)
Mmm that sounds right up my street!
I love your pictures here Laura, what a lovely elegant afternoon tea!
Thanks Claire, it would definitely make a lovely afternoon tea :-)
These look so good – I love the idea of using cream cheese as icing. I’ve tried beetroot chocolate cake – a colleague made one and brought it into work and it was so good. You wouldn’t know it had beetroot in it if no one told you! x
I love carrot cake- these sound delicious! I would be adding in sultanas and chopped nuts, and maybe some lemon or orange zest to the icing too :)
I have to say the basic recipe is really good, they came out so moist! I’ll definitely have to make myself a batch with the dried fruit :-)
Next year there will be an Easter basket for someone little!!! ;)
I know, I find that a scary thought!