Loaded with carrots, walnuts, and more, these glazed and frosted Mini Carrot Cakes are perfect for spring or your Easter brunch or dinner! Makes 36 standard cupcakes (mini cakes).
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR MINI CAKES:
2cupsall-purpose flour
2teaspoonsbaking soda
2teaspoonscinnamon
½teaspoonsalt
3eggs
¾cupvegetable or canola oil
¾cupbuttermilk
2cupsgranulated sugar
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
18 ozpineapple, crushed and drained
2cupscarrots, grated
3 ½ouncesshredded coconut
1cupraisins
1cupwalnuts, coarsely chopped
INGREDIENTS FOR GLAZE:
1cupgranulated sugar
½teaspoonbaking soda
½cupbuttermilk
¼cupbutter, 1/2 cube
1tablespoonlight corn syrup
1teaspoonvanilla extract
INGREDIENTS FOR FROSTING:
¼cupbutter, 1/2 cube, room temperature
18 ozcream cheese, room temperature
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2cupspowdered sugar
1teaspoonfreshly-squeezed orange juice
1teaspoonorange peel, grated
Instructions
TO PREPARE:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Generously grease (3) 12 regular muffin tins (36 total).
TO PREPARE MINI CAKES:
Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add oil, buttermilk, sugar and vanilla and mix well. Add flour mixture, pineapple, carrots, coconut, raisins and walnuts and stir well.
Pour into prepared muffin tins. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
TO PREPARE BUTTERMILK GLAZE:
In a small saucepan over high heat, combine sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, butter and corn syrup. Bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set glaze aside until muffins are baked.
Remove muffin tins from the oven and slowly pour glaze over the muffins/mini cakes. Cool mini cakes in muffin tin until glaze is totally absorbed, about 15 minutes.
FROSTING:
In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add vanilla, powdered sugar, orange juice and orange peel. Mix until smooth. Frost muffins with the frosting and refrigerate. Serve chilled mini carrot cakes!
Notes
Source: From Portland's Palate - The Junior League of Portland, Oregon - 1992