Cream Cheese Filled Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Makes: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 25 mins
Bake Time: 20–22 mins
Total Time: ~45 mins
🧁 Ingredients
For the Cupcake Batter:
1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
⅓ cup (70g) brown sugar
¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (150g) grated carrots
¼ cup (30g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
¼ cup (40g) crushed pineapple, well-drained (optional but adds moisture!)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
6 oz (170g) cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup (30g) powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
Optional Topping:
Cream cheese frosting, extra crushed nuts, or a sprinkle of cinnamon
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Filling:
In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
Transfer to a piping bag or zip-top bag (snip off the tip if using later), and chill while you make the cupcakes.
2. Make the Cupcake Batter:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, both sugars, oil, and vanilla.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry just until combined. Fold in grated carrots, nuts, and pineapple (if using).
3. Assemble:
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of batter into each cupcake liner.
Pipe or spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into the center of each cupcake.
Top with more batter to cover the filling (liners should be about ¾ full).
4. Bake:
Bake for 20–22 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick near the edge comes out clean (don't poke the center—it has filling!).
Let cool in the pan for 5 mins, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
5. Optional Topping:
Once cooled, frost the tops with more cream cheese frosting or dust with powdered sugar or cinnamon. You can also top with crushed nuts or shredded coconut for a fancy finish.