CARROT CUPCAKES

Carrot Cupcakes image

To try to get my family to eat more vegetables, I often "hide" nutritional foods inside sweet treats. The carrots add wonderful moistness to these cupcakes, which have a rich cream cheese frosting. Now we can have our cake and eat our vegetables, too! -Doreen Kelly, Rosyln, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 35m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

4 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups grated carrots
CHUNKY FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped raisins

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and oil. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, allspice and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in carrots. , Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. , For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in the coconut, pecans and raisins. Frost cupcakes. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Fat 18g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 187mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (30g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.