Soft, warmly spiced carrot cake muffins packed with shredded carrots and finished with an optional cream cheese topping. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack.
🧾 Ingredients (Makes 12 muffins)
Muffins
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups finely grated carrots (about 2–3 carrots)
- ½ cup crushed pineapple, well drained (optional, extra moist)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ¼ cup raisins (optional)
Optional Cream Cheese Topping
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
🧁 Instructions
- Prep
Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. - Dry ingredients
In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. - Wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. - Combine
Fold dry ingredients into wet just until combined. Gently fold in carrots, pineapple (if using), nuts, and raisins. - Bake
Divide batter evenly among liners (¾ full). Bake 18–22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. - Cream cheese topping (optional)
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.- Swirl-on method: Add 1 tsp topping to each muffin before baking and swirl lightly.
- Frosting method: Let muffins cool completely, then spread on top.
- Cool & enjoy
Cool 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a rack.
✨ Tips & Variations
- Extra moist: Don’t squeeze carrots dry; fine grating works best.
- Healthier swap: Use ½ whole wheat flour or replace half the oil with applesauce.
- Dairy-free: Skip topping or use a dairy-free cream cheese.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of cloves or cardamom.
🥜 Allergen & Nut Info
- Contains: Gluten (flour), eggs
- Optional nuts: Walnuts/pecans (omit for nut-free)
- Dairy: Only if using cream cheese topping
- Nut-free version: Omit nuts and check cross-contamination on packaged ingredients.
 FAQs
Q: Can I freeze these?
✔️ Yes. Freeze unfrosted muffins up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp.
Q: Why are my muffins dense?
➡️ Overmixing. Fold gently just until combined.
Q: Can I make mini muffins?
✔️ Yes—bake 10–12 minutes.
Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.
With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.
With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.
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