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carrot cupcakes with marzipan topping

Healthy Carrot Cupcakes

These healthy carrot cupcakes are moist, delicious and topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting plus homemade marzipan. Perfect for dessert or anytime of day.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 cup grated carrots
  • 1 1/2 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar add 2 tbsp more for a sweeter version or if using eggs
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • dash nutmeg
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil or vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup applesauce or 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, orange juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest optional
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 7 oz dairy-free cream cheese regular works as well
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar or monk fruit sweetener
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings
  • 1/3 cup chopped almonds
  • dash of cinnamon
  • homemade marzipan flowers and bunnies Recipe linked in blog!

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F
  2. Line muffin tin with baking cups.
  3. Grate carrots finely and set aside.
  4. In a mixing bowl or measuring up whisk together apple sauce, coconut oil, almond milk, sugar, lemon juice, orange zest, vanilla extract, almond extract and set aside.
  5. In mixing bowl add gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and combine well.
  6. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and mix just until combined (overmixing may cause denser cupcakes)
  7. Fold in the carrots then add batter to baking cups.
  8. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. When toothpick comes out clean they are ready!
  9. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 15 minutes. While they are cooling add cream cheese, powdered suagr and vanilla extract to bowl and mix until smooth.
  10. Pipe or spoon frosting onto cupcakes then garnish with chopped almonds, cinnamon and marzipan.
  11. Enjoy!