gluten free carrot cupcakes recipe

Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Easter is coming up and if you are looking for a lovely dessert to serve, I have one – Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Personally I love cupcakes for any occasion, even holidays. I mean after all, a cupcake is a whole celebration that fits in the palm of your hand. And how cool is that?

When I think Easter, I think bunnies. And when I think bunnies, I think carrots. And when I think carrots, I think carrot cupcakes! Follow my reasoning?

These cupcakes are ever so pretty even without the candied orange zest garnish. But the zest is so easy to make, I urge you to give it a try. After all, a little extra effort for a holiday is expected, right?

By the way, these cupcakes are so pretty they graced the cover of our March April issue of Gluten Free & More Magazine. For more Easter ideas, make sure to check it out!

gluten free carrot cupcakes

5 from 1 vote
gluten free carrot cupcakes recipe
Print Recipe

Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr 5 mins
Total Time1 hr 35 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 623kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

Carrot Cupcakes

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup grapeseed or other neutral-tasting vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • teaspoons finely grated orange zest
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup gluten-free flour blend
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ pound carrots grated (about 1½ cups)
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup walnuts optional

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 6 ounces cream cheese or dairy-free cream cheese at room temperature
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter or dairy-free buttery sticks, at room temperature (1 stick )
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ pound powdered sugar
  • Candied Orange Zest
  • 3 medium oranges about 1½ pounds
  • 2 cups sugar divided use
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

Carrot Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 12 cups of a standard muffin pan with paper liners.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the sugar, vanilla, oil, orange juice, and zest on medium speed. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing well until each egg is fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Add the carrots, raisins, and walnuts (if using) to the remaining flour mixture and toss well to coat. Add to the batter and mix well with a rubber spatula, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. When completely cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and garnish with candied orange zest if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese, butter, salt, and vanilla on medium speed. Turn the mixer off and sift in the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer on low and beat until smooth.
  • Candied Orange Zest
  • With a citrus zester, peel off thin strips of orange peel from the oranges. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Add the orange peel and boil for 20 minutes.
  • Place 1 cup sugar in a bowl. Strain the orange peel from the liquid, add to the sugar, and toss to coat. Separate the candied peels and allow to dry on a piece of waxed paper or foil for several hours.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Amount Per Serving
Calories 623 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 62mg21%
Sodium 289mg12%
Potassium 254mg7%
Carbohydrates 88g29%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 73g81%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 3695IU74%
Vitamin C 19.9mg24%
Calcium 69mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner’s. This blog accepts free manufacturers’ samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.

Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Baking Carrots Easter Frosting Gluten-Free Gluten-Free Recipes Orange Walnuts
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  1. Patricia Fredal
    April 8, 2016

    THANK YOU FOR POSTING GLUTEN FREE RECIPES – THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH OUT THERE. I’M A BIT FRUSTRATED HOWEVER WITH THE CONSTANT INCLUSION OF PREBLENDED PRODUCTS (SUCH AS YOUR OWN SPECIAL GLUTEN FLOUR BLEND OR CUPCAKE MIXES). WOULD BE NICE IF YOU WOULD KEEP IT NON-SELF PROMOTING ONCE IN AWHILE.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 18, 2016

      Patricia,
      You’re welcome :) Also, for any of the recipes that call for my flour, you can make your own using this recipe: https://glutenfreeandmore.com/blog/2008/01/carols-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour-blend.html
      Hope that helps!
      xo,
      Carol

  2. Sherri Hintz
    June 12, 2016

    I am a diabetic and I need to eat Gluten free

  3. Pingback: Gluten Free Grilled Teriyaki Squid Recipe | Simply Gluten Free

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