Carrot Cupcake

I have been thinking of carrot cake for a while.... a LONG while and have been putting off baking them as I hate the thoughts of grating carrots. But I just could not resist the temptation when I saw this recipe at Joy of Baking.

Just have to bake them...with some modifications to the recipe



Ingredients
2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
1 cup (240 ml) safflower, corn, or canola oil
2 cups (210 grams) finely grated raw carrots
1 cup grated apple (I omitted this)
1/2 cup (55 grams) pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped ( I used a mix of pecans and walnuts)
1 cup (100grams) raisin or currants ( I omitted this)

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups (330 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C)

2. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.

3. In another large bowl whisk the eggs, sugar, and oil until slightly thickened

4. Fold in the flour mixture until incorporated

5. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts,

6. . Evenly divide the batter between the 20 muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

8. Pipe or with a knife or small metal spatula spread the cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake.

I omitted the frosting. But here is the recipe for frosting :
In the bowl of your electric, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until very smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract

~Bel~

Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache frosting

This is another recipe which I had wanted to try from Joy of Baking - Vanilla Cupcake. Instead of using butter cream or cream cheese frosting, I used a simple chocolate ganache frosting and decorated the cake with some candy flowers :)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 large lemon (optional - I did not add this as I did not have lemon at home)
1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk


Chocolate Ganache:

3/4 cup of whipping cream

6 ozs of semi sweet baking chocolate

1 tablespoon of butter

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt

3. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

5. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

6. Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean

7. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool

Frosting :

1. Heat the butter and whipping cream in a sauce pan

2. Removed and stir in chocolate

3. Stir until smooth

4. Let the chocolate stand for an hour or chilled till thick

4. Frost on cool cupcakes

~bel~