Carrot Cake Muffins
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 18
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 2 cups peeled and grated carrots (about 6 medium sized)
  • 1 cup pureed fresh pineapple (well drained)
  • 1 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons butter for greasing pans
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  3. Using an electric mixer on medium-high, combine the eggs and sugar. Beat the eggs long enough so that they mixture thickens and lightens slightly in color (about 2 minutes).
  4. Reduce the mixer speed and add the vanilla.
  5. Slowly pour in the oil, and mix it only until it is blended (about 1 minute).
  6. Carefully add the flour mixture and mix only until blended (don't over mix it).
  7. Add the carrots, pineapple and walnuts to the mixture and mix on a slow speed for 1 minute.
  8. Grease the muffin pans with the butter.
  9. Pour the batter evenly among the prepared muffin pans, filling them ¾ of the way full.
  10. The muffins are completely cooked when you can insert a toothpick into the center and it comes out clean.
Notes
Make sure you actually grate the carrots by hand because they will be too watery if you use a food processor. This takes a few minutes but it is worth it - just watch your knuckles! I use my tabletop Cuisinart mixer and grate the carrots while the machine does all the work. If you want to turn these muffins into cupcakes just add the following cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl combine ½ lb of room temperature cream cheese, ½ cup of room temperature butter and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract with an electric mixture on medium until it is smooth and creamy. Reduce the speed to low and mix in 4 cups of powdered sugar until smooth and thick. Frost away and enjoy!
Recipe by Ladles of Yum at http://www.ladlesofyum.com/2013/05/carrot-cake-muffins/