Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

It's almost Easter so what better dessert than carrot cake cupcakes! Soft, fluffy cupcakes with crunchy toasted walnuts and chewy, tart dried apricots. These cupcakes are filled with healthy ingredients and they're delicious. Topped with cream cheese frosting - there's nothing better. I used gel food coloring to give the frosting Easter flair!

Here's how to make them:

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup walnuts

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 TSP baking powder

• 1 TSP baking soda

• 2 TSP pumpkin pie spice

• 1/4 TSP kosher salt

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup canola oil

• 2 TBS orange juice

• 3-4 carrots, peeled and grated (about 1 3/4 cups)

• 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

For the frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)

• 1/3 cup salted butter (softened)

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 1/2 TBS vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425° F.

2. Cut out twelve 5-inch squares of parchment paper (or you can use these cupcake liners) and arrange in the cups of a 12-cup muffin tin.

3. Spread the walnuts on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Transfer to a cutting board and, once cooled, roughly chop them.

4. Reduce the oven heat to 325° F.

5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

6. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, eggs, oil, and orange juice.

7. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and stir to combine.

8. Using a spatula, fold in the carrots, walnuts, and apricots.

9. Add about 1/4 cup of batter to each muffin tin cup.

10. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

11. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before adding frosting.

12. Make the frosting: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter using a hand mixer and blend well.

13. Add in the vanilla extract and the powdered sugar and beat until combined.

14. Add any food coloring (optional).

15. Use a piping bag and tip to add the frosting to the cupcakes and enjoy!

Did you make them? Share pics in the comments!