Moist carrot cupcakes topped with caramel cheese frosting. Decorated with sprinkles, coconut flakes, M&M eggs to form a nest - Perfect for Easter!

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: Not specified
  • Cook time: Not specified
  • Total time: Not specified
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Kitchen notes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1.25 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅔ cup oil [i used canola oil]
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla [optional]
  • 1.5 cups shredded carrots

Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup heavy cream or half n half
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • salt (a pinch)

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 1.5 cups confectioners sugar
  • 4 tbsp caramel sauce
  • ¼ tsp salt

Decoration

  • rainbow sprinkles
  • coconut flakes
  • M&M eggs

Method

Cupcakes

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
  2. Line a muffin tray with 12 cupcake liners or coat it with a non-stick spray. Set aside.
  3. In a bowl sift together all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
  4. Grate the carrots using a grater or use a food processor.
  5. Using a mixer beat together oil, vanilla and eggs till smooth.
  6. Add sugar and beat for 3-4 minutes till the mixture turns thick and pale.
  7. Add the dry ingredients and mix till the batter is smooth. Do not overmix.
  8. Fold in the grated carrots using a spatula and mix till combined.
  9. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners till they are 3/4 full.
  10. Bake at 350 F degrees for 18-20 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Transfer the cupcakes onto the wire rack to cool completely.

Caramel Sauce

  1. Mix heavy cream, brown sugar, salt and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir till butter and sugar is completely melted.
  2. The caramel will starts to bubble, cook till it thickens [around 5-7 minutes].
  3. Switch off heat and add vanilla. Mix and let it cool.

Frosting

  1. Beat softened butter and cream cheese together until creamy.
  2. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time and mix till it's well incorporated.
  3. Add the prepared caramel sauce and mix till smooth and creamy.

Decorating the cupcakes

  1. Press a large tip or cupcake corer in the center of the cupcake, twist and pull out the center piece of the cupcake.
  2. With a knife or spatula apply some frosting on the entire cupcake ring.
  3. Take sprinkles in a bowl and dip your cupcake into it till it's well coated.
  4. Using a spoon fill the core with some frosting.
  5. Place coconut flakes on the sides of the core to make it look like a nest and then place 2-3 M&M eggs in the center.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.