Description
Sweet, comforting Carrot Cake Muffins bring warm spices and wholesome goodness to your breakfast or snack time. Packed with grated carrots, warm cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg, these moist treats offer you a delightful bite of homemade happiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Sugars:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and arrange paper liners in a muffin tin.
- Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, blending flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly distributed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated.
- Gently merge wet and dry ingredient mixtures, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the batter. Carefully fold in freshly grated carrots.
- Create cream cheese filling by whipping cream cheese with egg yolk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until silky and smooth.
- Distribute carrot batter into muffin cups, filling each halfway. Deposit a generous cream cheese dollop in the center of each, then cover with remaining carrot batter.
- Place muffin tin in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick that should emerge clean when muffins are fully cooked.
- Let muffins rest in the pan for 10 minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to reach room temperature completely.
Notes
- Ensure carrots are finely grated to distribute evenly and maintain moisture throughout the muffins.
- Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and buttermilk to create a smoother, more consistent batter.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense muffins; stir just until ingredients are combined.
- Swap vegetable oil with applesauce or Greek yogurt for a lower-fat version that still keeps the muffins tender.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 257 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg