Low-Fat Carrot Orange Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
3/4 cup bananas, mashed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. orange extract
1 tsp. ground cumin


1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine all the cupcake ingredients. Beat on a low speed with an electric mixer until all the ingredients are combined. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

for the frosting:
1 cup fat-free cream cheese
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tbsp. walnuts, chopped
orange zest, if desired

2. Combine cream cheese with icing sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy. Fold in the walnuts until evenly dispersed. Frost each cupcake with a knife or beveled spatula. Top each cupcake with a sprinkling of orange zest, or a baby carrot if desired.

Makes approximately 12 cupcakes