Carrot Cake Muffins
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons cream cheese
at room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated carrots
about 3 medium carrots
- 1/3 cup raisins
optional
- 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
for sprinkling on muffins
Directions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- 2
First, make the cream cheese filling. With a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Place in the fridge while you make the muffins.
- 3
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- 4
In a medium bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- 5
Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until just combine. Don’t over mix, it is ok if there are still a few flour streaks. Gently fold in the shredded carrots and raisins being careful to not over mix.
- 6
Fill each muffin cup with about 2 tablespoons of batter. Add a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese filling to each muffin. Top the muffins evenly with the remaining batter, about ¾ way full. Sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar.
- 7
Bake until muffins are golden and the tops spring back when gently touched, 18 to 23 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!
Carrot Cake Muffins
Similar Recipes
Ratings & Reviews
Based on 79 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a cozy, comforting breakfast treat that feels special and utterly delicious? These Carrot Cake Muffins, brimming with warm spices and a delightful secret, are exactly what you need to brighten any morning. Packed with wholesome goodness and an irresistible flavor, they promise a favorite start to anyone's day.
What makes these muffins truly stand out is the surprise cream cheese filling nestled inside each one, adding a rich, tangy counterpoint to the sweet, spiced batter. This unique element, combined with the generous amount of freshly grated carrots and a thoughtful blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, ensures a muffin that is exceptionally moist and flavorful, never dry or bland. It’s a trick that elevates a simple muffin into something truly memorable.
Prepare yourself for a truly delicious experience. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of sweet, earthy carrots and a complex symphony of warm spices. The texture is wonderfully soft and moist, offering a satisfying chew, especially if you include the optional plump raisins. Then, you encounter that creamy, slightly tart cream cheese center, which transforms these from a simple muffin to a truly indulgent breakfast pastry. Despite their impressive flavor, these muffins are surprisingly easy to prepare, making them accessible for home bakers of all skill levels.
These versatile Carrot Cake Muffins offer a couple of simple ways to adapt them to your pantry and preferences. The recipe explicitly mentions raisins as optional, so feel free to omit them entirely if they're not to your taste, or swap them for chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans if you prefer. For the oil, you have the choice between melted coconut oil or a neutral vegetable oil, allowing you to use what you have on hand or adjust the flavor profile subtly. Either option contributes to the muffin's overall moistness.
Perfect as a special weekend breakfast, a thoughtful brunch contribution, or a delightful treat with your afternoon coffee or tea. Don't forget to sprinkle them generously with turbinado sugar before baking for that beautiful, sparkling finish and an extra touch of delicate sweetness on top.