Gluten-Free Carrot Cupcakes

for the cupcakes:
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp GF vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 cups shredded carrot (about 4 medium carrots)
1 cup flaked, sweetened coconut
2/3 cup crushed pineapple (about an 8 oz. can)
2 3/4 cups gluten-free flour blend
1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp GF baking powder
1 1/2 tsp GF baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. With an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter, then add the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. Add the carrot, coconut and pineapple and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and cinnamon and mix with a whisk to sift the ingredients together and break up any lumps. Add the dry ingredients all at once to the sugar mixture and beat on low speed to incorporate. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again until the batter is well mixed and smooth. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for about 30 minutes, rotating pan half way through bake time. Remove pan from the oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely.

for the frosting:
12 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup salted butter, softened
3 3/4 cups icing sugar
1 1/2 tsp GF vanilla extract

2. With an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter until completely incorporated. Add the icing sugar and vanilla and beat well until desired consistency is reached. (Add more icing sugar for a stiffer frosting, or add a splash of milk for a runnier frosting). Frost each cupcake with a large round tip. Garnish with a piped, candy or real carrot if desired.

Makes approximately 24 cupcakes

Gourmet 24 Karat Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ginger
3/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup canned crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup carrots, peeled and diced or shredded

1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Sift the flour, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and baking soda into a medium bowl. In an stand mixer or large bowl, beat the sugar, eggs and butter together until well blended. Add the pineapple and carrots, and mix well. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat on low speed. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 8-10 minutes, rotate the pan and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely.

for the frosting:
1 cup + 1 tbsp. cream cheese, room temperature
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
4 cups icing sugar
2 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

2. In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until creamy. In a separate bowl, sift the icing sugar. Add the icing sugar to the butter mixture on low speed until it begins to incorporate. Add the vanilla extract, and beat at medium to high speed until fully incorporated. Frost each cupcake with a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, such as a wilton 1A. Sprinkle the top of each cupcake with edible gold glitter or sprinkles, if desired.

Makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Low Glycemic Index Banana Muffins - Recipe

1/2 cup light vegetable oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 egg whites
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup cooking apples, shredded
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup mixed dried berries
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking powder
2 3/4 cups self-rising whole wheat flour
1/2 cup ripe banana, mashed
Preheat the oven to 350F. in a large bowl, combine the oil and brown sugar, and beat with an electric mixer until light and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Beat the egg and egg whites, one at a time, and then add the carrots, bananas, apples, dried fruit, and walnuts. Sift the rest of the ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. Add them to the carrot mixture, stirring until just 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. Split muffins in half and spread with low-fat margarine before serving.

Makes approximately 12 muffins

Low Glycemic Index Carrot Muffins - Recipe

1/2 cup light vegetable oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 egg whites
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup cooking apples, shredded
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup mixed dried berries
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. all spice
1 tsp. baking powder
2 3/4 cups self-rising whole wheat flour

Preheat the oven to 350F. in a large bowl, combine the oil and brown sugar, and beat with an electric mixer until light and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Beat the egg and egg whites, one at a time, and then add the carrots, apples, dried fruit, and walnuts. Sift the rest of the ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. Add them to the carrot mixture, stirring until just 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. Split muffins in half and spread with low-fat margarine before serving.

Makes approximately 12 muffins

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

Low-Fat Carrot Ginger 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. 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
3 tbsp. candied ginger, chopped
2. Combine cream cheese with icing sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy. Frost each cupcake with a knife or beveled spatula. Top each cupcake with a sprinkling of chopped walnuts and ginger.

Makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Low-Fat Carrot Walnut 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. 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
12 walnut halves

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 walnut half.

Makes approximately 12 cupcakes

Zucchini & Carrot Cupfakes - Recipe

For the cupcakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
pinch salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup vigrin olive oil
3/4 cup shredded zucchini
3/4 cup shredded carrot1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 tbsp. grated lemon zest

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Sift the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and oil with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the zucchini feta cheese and lemon zest. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until the mixture is just combined. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the batter into each well of a muffin tin that has been greased with butter and flour. Bake for 28-32 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 30 minutes. Remove muffins from the pan and cool on a wire rack. 


For the frosting:
1/2 cup tzatziki cucumber yogurt sauce
tiny splash of vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners/icing sugar


2. In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together until the mixture becomes thick and spreadable. Frost each cupcake and top with a sprinkling of shredded carrot if desired. 
Makes approximately 6 muffins

Carrot & Pineapple Upside-down Cupcakes - Recipe

For the topping:
20 oz. crushed pineapple
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease two 12 cup muffin pans with butter, and dust with flour, tap out the excess into the sink. In the bottom of each cup, drizzle 1 tablespoon melted butter, a sprinkling of shredded carrot, 1 tablespoon pineapple and 1 tablespoon brown sugar.  

For the cupcakes:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup confectioners/icing sugar

2 cups self-rising flour

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2. Place all cupcake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low-medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/8-1/4 cup of the batter on top of the pineapple mixture in each muffin cup. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Turn the pan upside-down and carefully tip each cupcake onto a dessert plate. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or english cream. 

Makes approximately 24 cupcakes