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Dig into moist and flavorful vegan carrot cake cupcakes, topped with a fluffy, and sweet vegan buttercream frosting. These cupcakes will be a favorite wherever you serve them. Perfect for little hands, as well!
I like cupcakes over a cake. They're easy to share, easy to transport, and easy to handle! Plus, you don't need an extra plate or utensils to eat them, you just pick one up and enjoy, which makes it equally perfect for small hands, like kids, and for people with disabilities involving their hands. Cupcakes are just easier.
Also the fact that when I started testing this recipe, I was fully intending on trying to make a carrot cake, but I wasn't feeling that. I saw my muffin tin and said "Aha, that's what I'll make instead."
I love having these cupcakes for dessert after indulging in my plant-based potato casserole, or my meatless shepherd's pie!
Enough keeping you waiting, let's get to making these fluffy little cakes!
🥘Ingredients
All Ingredients: Shredded carrots, all purpose flour, olive oil, plant-based milk, egg substitute, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar.
Flour - If you need gluten free, use an all purpose GF flour. Stand alone flours, like almond or oat will not work for this recipe as they will not rise properly. Additionally, you can also use other flours like Spelt, white whole wheat, or even whole wheat should you not have all purpose flour available.
This recipe works best if you use fresh grated carrots because of the moisture content, however, you can use pre-shredded carrots. If you find the batter needs a little more moisture, add a tiny bit of plant-milk.
For the frosting ingredients, please check out my deliciously perfect buttercream!
See recipe card for specific measurements.
🔪Instructions
Step One- Start by sifting the dry ingredients: Flour, Cinnamon, Baking soda, then whisk together.
Step Two -Add the brown sugar and whisk to mix.
Step Three - Add the wet ingredients.
Step Four - Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. If you find it's still a bit dry, add in the ¼ cup of milk. Your batter should be thick and sticky.
Step Five - Add in the grated carrots.
Step Six -Fold everything in (if you want to add any walnuts or otherwise, now would be a good time to add those in, too!)
Step Seven - In a lightly oiled 12 cup muffin tin, scoop enough batter into each hole to fill ¾'s of the hole. Feel free to use cupcake liners as well if you don't want to use more oil.
Step Eight - Bake your cupcakes and then place them on a cooling rack to cool.
👩🏻🍳Cook's Top Tip
Be sure to let the cupcakes cool entirely before frosting them! Otherwise, the icing will become a little runny.
Thanks to my husband for modeling my cupcakes for me!
🍱Storage
Be sure to store these cupcakes in an airtight container or bag. They store very well in reusable bags!
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, they will start to become stale after.
Can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months with or without frosting. Defrost naturally in the refrigerator if icing was left on, or if no icing, warm up a few seconds in the microwave. Be aware that if freezing with frosting on, once thawed, the cupcakes may not look the same, but they will still be edible!
📖Variations
These vegan cupcakes are super versatile in that you can add or take away whatever you want.
- Add some pecans instead of walnuts
- Add fruit
- Add other spices like nutmeg or allspice
Check out some of my other sweet treats!
❓Frequently Asked Questions
You sure can! These carrot cake cupcakes freeze perfectly in the freezer for up to 4 months!
Absolutely! You can add just about anything you want to your cupcakes! Raisins and pineapple are amazing additions to these!
If you've tried this recipe and enjoyed it, I would love it if you could rate it 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! It's a great, and free way to support me!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Equipment
- 1 Medium-size bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Muffin tin May need 2 depending on size.
- 1 spoon or spatula
- 1 cookie scoop optional
- 1 strainer or sifter
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup oil
- 2 servings bobs red mill egg replacer read package instructions for replacing 2 eggs.
- ¾ cup plant-based milk + ¼ cup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups carrots shredded
- 1 cup walnuts optional
- 1 recipe vegan buttercream frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F or 180° C.
- In a medium bowl sift/strain the flour, and baking soda, then add the rest of the dry ingredients and whisk until mixed.2 ½ cups all purpose flour, 1 ½ cups brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Next add all wet ingredients and mix until well combined with a spoon or spatula. Do not over mix.½ cup oil, 2 servings bobs red mill egg replacer, ¾ cup plant-based milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 cups carrots, 1 cup walnuts
- Next, lightly oil a muffin tin, and using a cookie scoop, fill each muffin hole ¾ of the way full.
- Place into the oven on the middle rack and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry.
- Cool completely (2+ hours) before adding any frosting or icing.1 recipe vegan buttercream frosting
Notes
- For Gluten-free - Replace with all purpose GF flour. I have not tested this, so please let me know if you have success.
- Allow cupcakes to cool for 2 hours or more before frosting.
- Substitute egg replacer with several options: unsweetened applesauce, flax or chia seed (6 tablespoons mix with water and set 5 minutes), 1 mashed banana, or plain vegan yogurt.
- Using alternative sweeteners may change the texture or color, but you can still use them.
- If you use maple syrup or agave, use a little less plant milk.
- For Nut-free, leave out the walnuts, but replace with ½ cup more flour or 1 tablespoon more of oil to replace the fat content.
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda can be replaced by 2 teaspoons baking powder or vice versa.
- Baking time may vary depending on oven, altitude, etc. Use a toothpick to test for doneness and bake in few minute intervals towards the end if needed.
Nutrition
This recipe was first posted in November 2021 and was updated Sept 2023.
What's up! My name is Bree, and I run this kitchen! I love sharing my recipes with you and I hope you enjoy them. You can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Tumblr. Get to know more about me and this site if you'd like. Thanks, bud!
VEGGIEIB
Lovely looking Carrot Cake Cupcakes! I have a bag of carrots just a calling to be baked up! Where is the Frosting recipe? Thanks.
Bree
Hello VeggieB!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy them! You can find the icing recipe right here https://plantyofeats.com/vegan-buttercream-frosting/
Happy baking!!
Bree Khid