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Home Recipes Desserts Cakes & Cupcakes
★★★★★ 5 from 3 Reviews

Healthy Carrot Cake Cupcakes

35 min
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian
Avatar by: Lindsay Grimes Freedman
March 22, 2018 (Updated: August 26, 2021)
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This is a side view of a carrot cake cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with cinnamon. The cupcake sits on a white counter with more cupcakes blurred in the background. The paper cupcake liner is peeled off the cupcake revealing the fluffy cake. Text overlay reads "carrot cake cupcakes made with almond flour."
This is an overhead image of a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Cinnamon is sprinkled on top of the cupcakes and on the white counter around the cupcakes. One cupcake has a bite taken out and is leaning on its side against another cupcake. Text overlay reads "carrot cake cupcakes made with almond flour."
This is a side view of a carrot cake cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with cinnamon. The cupcake sits on a white counter with more cupcakes blurred in the background. The paper cupcake liner is peeled off the cupcake revealing the fluffy cake.
Healthy Carrot Cake Cupcakes are perfectly sweet, gluten free, moist and delicious!! Topped with cream cheese frosting, they are perfect!

I really love carrot cake. I know, I know. I’m all about chocolate and cookies and rich desserts. How can I like a dessert with a root veggie in it?

Unexpected, I know.

I think I had a lot of carrot cake as a child and so there’s something super nostalgic about it for me. Plus, I mean, that cream cheese frosting!! Who can say no to that?!

I used to meticulously eat the cake part, forking between the frosting layer lines, so that I could save the icing for last.

It was especially creepy because as I was doing this weird icing ritual, I’d be singing in my head “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams (totally just googled who sang that and then listened to it all over again).

Anywho… cream cheese icing was my jam.

So is that why the cream cheese icing on these cupcakes is almost the same size as the cupcake itself? Maaaaybe. Whether you pile it high or skimp a little on the icing, you’re going to LOVE these healthier carrot cake cupcakes!

This is an overhead image of cupcakes with a vanilla frosting. The cupcakes are sprinkled with cinnamon and are sitting on a white counter.

Ingredients to make healthy carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting:

  • butter
  • coconut sugar
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • blanched almond flour
  • oat flour
  • baking powder
  • ground ginger
  • ground cinnamon
  • salt
  • carrots
  • walnuts
  • cream cheese
This is an overhead image of a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Cinnamon is sprinkled on top of the cupcakes and on the white counter around the cupcakes. One cupcake has a bite taken out and is leaning on its side against another cupcake.

How to make healthy carrot cake cupcakes:

Whisk.

Whisk together the butter (ghee or coconut oil works too), coconut sugar, vanilla, and eggs.

Add the almond flour, oat flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Whisk until everything is combined.

Fold.

Fold in the shredded carrot and walnuts.

Bake.

Place paper liners in your muffin tin. Use an ice cream scooper to scoop the batter into each muffin tin until they’re almost all full. They don’t expand or rise too much, so feel free to make them pretty full.

Bake for 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Allow to come to room temperature before icing them. 

Make the cream cheese frosting.

In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the icing ingredients. Whip them on high until fluffy, about 1 minute.

Transfer the icing to a plastic baggie and cut off one corner. Squeeze the bag to ice each cupcake in a circular motion. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

This is a side view of a cupcakes with a white frosting. The cupcakes are sprinkled with cinnamon and sitting on a white counter. One cupcake is close and in focus while the rest of the cupcakes are blurred in the background.

More gluten free carrot cake recipes:

  • Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
  • Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
  • Macadamia Nut Carrot Cake Cookies
  • Healthy Carrot Cake Bars

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

This is a side view of a carrot cake cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with cinnamon. The cupcake sits on a white counter with more cupcakes blurred in the background. The paper cupcake liner is peeled off the cupcake revealing the fluffy cake. Recipe
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian

Healthy Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Healthy Carrot Cake Cupcakes are perfectly sweet, gluten free, moist and delicious!! Topped with cream cheese frosting, they are perfect!

AvatarRecipe by:Lindsay Grimes Freedman
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
Prep: 15 minCook: 20 minTotal: 35 min
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: 9 1x

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Cupcakes:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour
  • 2 tablespoons oat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar
  • ground cinnamon, for sprinkling on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Whisk together the butter, coconut sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
  3. Add the almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, and salt.
  4. Whisk until everything is combined.
  5. Fold in the shredded carrot and chopped walnuts.
  6. Place liners in your muffin tins.
  7. Use an ice cream scooper to scoop the batter into each muffin tin until they’re almost all full. They don’t expand or rise too much, so feel free to make them pretty full.
  8. Bake for 20 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
  9. Remove from oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
  10. Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and allow to come to room temperature.
  11. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the frosting ingredients: butter, cream cheese, agave nectar, and vanilla.
  12. Whip them on high until fluffy, about 1 minute.
  13. Transfer the frosting to a plastic baggie and cut off one corner.
  14. Squeeze the bag to frost each cupcake and sprinkle the tops with ground cinnamon.
  15. Store in the fridge.

Nutrition Info:

  • Serving Size: 1 cupcake
  • Calories: 347
  • Sugar: 9.8g
  • Sodium: 313mg
  • Fat: 30.8g
  • Saturated Fat: 15.9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 13.9g
  • Fiber: 1.3g
  • Protein: 5.9g
  • Cholesterol: 105mg
© The Toasted Pine Nut

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Enjoy!! xo

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15 no bake desserts

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  1. AvatarSabrena says

    Posted on 3/23/18 at 2:36 pm

    Can honey sub for the agave?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 3/23/18 at 2:45 pm

      Yes! You can use honey or maple syrup instead of agave nectar! Enjoy!! xo

      Reply
  2. AvatarRachel says

    Posted on 3/23/18 at 7:12 pm

    do you happen to have the calories/macros for these?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 3/25/18 at 7:59 am

      Hi Rachel!

      I just updated the recipe with nutritional facts! xo

      Reply
  3. AvatarKristina says

    Posted on 3/23/18 at 9:49 pm

    Will the cupcake still holdup without the walnuts in it? Have some nutty friends with allergies!

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 3/25/18 at 7:36 am

      haha it should still work without the the walnuts! Enjoy!! xo

      Reply
  4. AvatarSarah Park says

    Posted on 3/25/18 at 3:28 am

    Can I sub butter for ghee?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 3/25/18 at 7:34 am

      Hi Sarah! Yep! You can use butter or coconut oil instead of ghee. xo

      Reply
  5. AvatarCara says

    Posted on 3/25/18 at 7:25 am

    Hi Lindsay! Can I use unsalted butter instead? Will it make a huge difference?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 3/25/18 at 7:33 am

      Unsalted butter will work! I don’t think it’ll make a difference. Enjoy!! xo

      Reply
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Lindsay

Hi Friend!

I'm Lindsay I love sharing simple, better-for-you recipes. When I'm not in the kitchen, you can find me at the beach watching my kids boogie board and soaking in that warm Cali sun (with sunscreen, of course).

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