Sunday, March 14, 2010

SMS - Carrot Cupcakes (Muffins?)


Julie of A Little Bit of Everything chose this week's Sweet Melissa Sundays recipe, carrot cake. I have an easier time giving away cupcakes, so I made 24 minis and 15 regular cupcakes. The cream cheese frosting received lukewarm reviews on the P&Q, so I elected to skip it and serve these unadorned.

I used the food processor to shred the carrots and that made this recipe a snap. Even though the recipe called for 1 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon, which seemed excessive, I stuck with it, using my favorite Vietnamese cinnamon to amp up the flavor. The minis baked for 15 minutes and the regular cupcakes baked in 20. I sampled one warm and found the flavor a bit lacking. I have a favorite carrot cake recipe and will probably stick with it instead of retooling this one.  Sorry, Julie!

If you'd like the recipe, Julie has it here.

12 comments:

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Leslie,

Very cute cupcakes!

Last week's cake (the one you hosted) was down right fabulous a few days later. A recipe keeper for sure!

Carmen

Jessica said...

I'm sorry that you didn't love this carrot cake recipe. I love carrot cake, but it has to be just right, so I understand that maybe this recipe just doesn't live up to your go-to recipe. I love the cupcake wrappers that you used! They're so spring-like and pretty.

Unknown said...

Great pic Leslie - your cupcake/muffin looks perfect with its little domed top :) I made a mini layer cake this week and really enjoyed this recipe! I don't really have a go-to recipe though so no competition...

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

I thought about cupcakes also and when I see yours, I am sorry, I did not make them. They look great. My cake did not bake well and I had to leave it an extra fifteen minutes. It was yummy though.

Nina said...

cute! Perhaps the frosting would have made it AMAZING?

k.a.r.e.n said...

Yea there was something amiss about the taste.

Vietnamese cinnamon sounds so exotic! Your cupcake/muffin is cute.

Susan said...

I love the plate your cupcake is sitting on. And, I love your cupcakes! Sorry this one didn't do it for you. I really liked it and the hubby surprised me by really liking it too.

Cakelaw said...

Isn't it funny how people are shy of big cakes/tarts etc? Your little carrot cakes look delish.

spike. said...

I skipped frosting and called them muffins too!

Mimi said...

I like the cupcake/muffins. Since this didn't do it for you hopefully you will post your favorite carrot cake recipe soon.
Mimi

Hanaâ said...

Your muffins turned out great. Too bad they didn't meet your expectations. I added orange zest to the batter which was great!

Tessa said...

I too made mini's as we were leaving town, and I needed to give them away. Sorry that they didn't meet your expectations.