Carrot Cupcakes By Penzeys Food

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Position oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat oven to 350°; line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
• In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together; set aside.
• In another bowl, whisk together the grated carrots, sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla together to combine.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the carrot mixture until completely combined.
• Divide batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
• Bake until golden brown and a pick comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.
• Let the cupcakes cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Make frosting--in a bowl, with an electric mixer on med-high speed, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Gradually beat in the sugar and mix until thoroughly combined; scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed; use right away, or if the consistency is too soft, refrigerate until the frosting is spreadable, about 15 minutes.
• Frost cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting (the frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days; bring to room temperature before serving) and serve.

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 18 standard muffin cups with paper liners.
• Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, allspice, salt, nutmeg, and cloves together in a large mixing bowl.
• Mix brown sugar, sour cream, white sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla together until smooth. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, and stir until just combined. Stir in carrots, then fold in pecans. Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• While the cupcakes are cooling, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar, a bit a time, until smooth and desired sweetness is achieved. Spread onto cooled cupcakes.

CINNAMON CRUMB CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• You will need two muffin pans that hold 12 muffins each. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Combine the flour and baking powder together in a bowl and add to the butter, sugar, and egg mixture. Mix on low speed until well blended-the batter will be very thick.
• Divide the batter evenly among the 24 cups. This will fill them about half way.
• For the topping, mix together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
• Add the hard butter and cut it in to the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs-you can use your hands for this, rubbing it between your fingertips. Don't make it too fine, you want it to have some body to it. Note: I use my hand held pastry blender tool.
• Put about 1 tablespoon of the streusel topping over each cake using up all of the topping;you will not see much of the batter.
• Bake in a preheated oven on two shelves for about 18 minutes, switching shelves after the first 10 minutes.
• They are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Do not overbake;start checking them at about 16 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes in the pans then remove to a cooling rack.