Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Lemon Curd
These moist and spicy mini carrot cake cupcakes are the perfect bites with the addition of tart lemon curd and creamy cream cheese frosting!
In my last post about Lemon Curd, I told you of a surprise dessert I had at 30,000 feet above the ground. Nestled in First Class on our way back from a trip the Grand Canyon, I was scared to try this carrot loaf that was placed on my tray.
I had already had quite a few free drinks and snacks so I was looking for something a little more substantial. The artichoke ravioli on the tray for dinner was a noble attempt but fell short with texture and sauce.
The carrot loaf was my only saving grace!
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I thought the already depressing loaf was completely ruined with the addition of a lemon drizzle AND a cream cheese drizzle.
I took a bite and was pleasantly surprised that it did not ruin it. Once I took another bite, I thought they were on to something!
Lemon with carrot cake? Sure, why not?!?!
I knew I had a great recipe for lemon curd. That would be great inside a moist carrot cake cupcake.
It needed something to balance out the tart and spice… Bring in my recipe for classic cream cheese frosting and we have a complete bite!
I think that this is more of what the airplane chefs had in mind but didn’t come to fruition.
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These moist little cupcakes have all the right moves: carrot cake spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, bright, tart, and silky lemon curd tucked inside, and topped with a classic cream cheese frosting! It has carrots so you know it’s healthy!
MORE EASY SNACKS
Mini Carrot Cakes Cupcake with a Surprise
Ingredients
Carrot Cake Cupcakes:
- 3 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 Recipe Homemade Lemon Curd *recipe below
- 1 Recipe Classic Cream Cheese Frosting *recipe below
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Line your mini cupcake pans with paper or foil liners.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and the sugar, and beat.
- In a different medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Stir to incorporate all the dry ingredients.
- Add the flour mixture alternating with the eggs.
- Beat well to mix after each egg.
- Add the vanilla extract and carrots and beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
- Add batter to cupcake liners. I filled about 3/4 the way full which worked out to be a little more than a teaspoon.
- Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until cakes spring back when touched.
- Let cool completely.
- Put lemon curd in a plastic frosting bag with a wide tip. Insert tip into the top of the cupcake and fill the center with curd. The cupcake will swell a little bit. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this part you can just smear some on top of the cupcake.
- Top with cream cheese frosting!
- Enjoy!
- Once frosted, please store in the fridge as the frosting will spoil.
Nutrition
I adapted the recipe for the carrot cake from Emeril’s recipe.
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Oh, I am alllll about carrot cake lately! Love, love the combo of carrot cake, lemon curd (yum) and the cream cheese frosting. What’s the best part out of all of these elements!! Great idea!
Thanks Patricia!
These cupcakes look so moist and delicious. I really can’t wait to try them.
Why have I never thought of pairing lemon and carrot cake?! What a fantastic treat and something I need to try soon!
I love the smell of carrot cake (or muffins!) baking! The spices just beckon me to the kitchen, making me crave what comes out of the oven. I tried making carrot cake muffins this time last year, and I promise you yours turned out so much better. :o) Lemon curd saves everything!
I LOVED the surprise! Lemon curd, what a great addition to the traditional carrot cake. These are mouthwatering.
I am so glad I took that flight!
These are fantastic! I especially like the addition of your lemon curd. I think the carrot with the lemon flavor would be a great taste.
Thanks Winnie, I really like the sweet and tart and the slight bit of spice in the cake!
With lemon and carrots it almost couples as a full serving of fruits and veg. LOL I love eating anything with cream cheese frosting, so delicious.
I love carrot cakes.. and what a cute story 🙂 Never mind them artichoke raviolis… These are well worth the effort 🙂
I love finding inspiration in the weirdest places!
I totally want to try lemon with carrot cake now. It sounds like a sublime combination!
You will love it Kristen! Thanks for reading!
I’ve never thought to combine carrot and lemon but I love the sound of this! Such a fun recipe! I love “surprise” cakes – they’re so fun to share
Lemon curd is a great addition to carrot cake cupcakes! Lemon and carrot cake flavors go great together!
Thanks Sabrina! I am so glad that I tried it. I wont’ ever think of carrot cake the same way again.
So adorable! I have never been brave enough to fill a cupcake this way–but this recipe definitely makes me want to try!
Go for it Laura! Thanks for reading!
I love surprises, especially when they come. I the form of lemon curd! Wow, what a fantastic convo!!
Thanks Dee Dee! I hope you like them!
Lemon and carrot cake sound perfect together 😀 Wish I had some right now!
So jealous of your first class experience! Right now I’m stuck with coach on the cheapest airline possible. Lol but that’s because I’m such a penny pincher! Maybe next time I’ll splurge! Kinda like I’d love to splurge on these amazing cupcakes! I love carrot cake, the addition of lemon curd is so awe inspiring! Gonna have to try this! Thanks for linking up with us at #ThrowbackThursday
I’d be in the cargo hold if it wasn’t for Brooks’ frequent flyer points. I am too cheap to pay for first class too but if I can go for free and drink all those free cocktails I’ll do it! Thanks for a great party!
this is definitely something I would love to try and make! These look delicious
Thanks Hannah! It’s a new side of carrot cake!
What a fun/creative recipe! I’ve never combined carrots and lemon before, but now I’m really intrigued. I wish I could reach through the screen and grab one (ok, all of them!). 😛