Banana Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting are almost healthy with a banana and carrots to give them moisture. Topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting these are pretty awesome. Also converts great to a sheet cake if cupcakes aren’t your thing.
If you’re like me and don’t normally make cakes, you will get all the flavor in these moist Banana Carrot Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Frosting. I don’t make a lot of cakes, it’s not that I don’t love them, but my family doesn’t love cake and while they might try a slice, I end up with a lot of leftovers that are hard to share. If I make a cake in cupcake form, I can insert a filling like with Strawberry Filled Cupcakes or add cream cheese and chocolate chips like with Chocolate Muffins and I can have an easy to eat single portion to eat or share.
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These cupcakes are easy to make and by far one of my favorites. They are basically a yummier version of carrot cake. The addition of bananas keep them moist whether you’re making cupcakes or a sheet cake. The frosting is over the top cream cheese frosting with some added brown sugar and cinnamon. Don’t leave off the toasted pecans.
Can you make Banana Carrot Cake Cupcakes into a SHEET cake
While I love a cupcake, there are times where you don’t know exactly how many people there are going to be and you need a large sheet cake. I ran into this dilemma a few weeks ago where I wasn’t sure if there would be 15 or 30 people, so 24 cupcakes might not have been enough. I needed to be able to travel with the cake in the car for a couple of hours and have it look and taste great. So I opted for this cupcake recipe that we love and it turned out great in cake form.
To be on the safe side, I made two of them.
While it was a big hit at the gathering, I still prefer it in cupcake form. These are great for birthday parties or special gatherings and they are not over the top with sugar.
If you’re more interested in a traditional cake, check out Strawberry Cake or Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake.
Adapted from The Recipe Girl
Banana Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1½ cups carrots finely grated
- 1 cup banana mashed
- 8 tablespoons butter melted
Frosting
- 12 ounces cream cheese room temp
- 8 tablespoons butter room temp
- 1 lb. powdered sugar sifted (4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup pecans chopped and toasted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º and line 24-cup cupcake pans with liners or spray a 9 X 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt Set aside.
- With an electric mixer, combine eggs and sugar and mix until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add buttermilk and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the carrots and banana. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until they are incorporated into the batter. Add the melted butter and stir until it is just incorporated. Do not over mix. Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each liner ¾s full using an ice-cream scoop.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- Frosting: With an electric mixer combine the cream cheese and room temperature butter. Add the sugars, vanilla and cinnamon. Spread a thick layer of frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with pecans.
- Can make into a cake using a 9 x 13 pan, increase the baking time to 30 minutes.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- If piping the frosting, refrigerate it slightly to make it easier to work with.
Nutrition
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Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try.
I hope you like them!
Can I make the Frosting without the cream cheese?
Of course, it’s better with cream cheese, but a butter frosting is never a bad thing!
Having grandkids over for a barbeque. Carrot and Banana Cake my new recipe today.Will definitely let you know how it went.Xena turned 9yrs and Zaylon 7yrs.
The kids are going to love their feast tomorrow Kay leigh just 2yrs old.
I bet they’ll love them.