Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Food Photographer + Vegan Foodie Heather Sanderson

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Instagram: @myvibrantsoul_

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There really is nothing like sitting down to enjoy a rich slice of carrot cake and a hot cup of tea. Imagine smooth, sweet cream cheese frosting atop an unbelievably moist carrot cake—better yet, a completely gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan version in cupcake form. Yes, please!

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes

²/³ cup gluten-free flour

¾ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp allspice

¹/8 tsp salt

²/³ cup coconut sugar

¹/³ cup coconut yogurt (or any non-dairy yogurt)

3 tbsp apple sauce

2½ tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup grated carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting

¼ cup vegan butter

¼ cup plain vegan cream cheese

1½ cups icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD

Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F. In a mixing bowl, add the yogurt, sugar, apple sauce, coconut oil, and vanilla and mix until completely combined. Add in your dry ingredients to the wet and stir until smooth. Fold in the carrots. Spoon the cupcake mix into 12 silicone cupcake liners until nearly full. (Paper would work too, but the silicone really helps to avoid any sticking.) Bake at 175°C/360°F for 30 mins. When a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, they are done! Allow to cool before topping with frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Add the cream cheese and vegan butter to a stand mixer and mix until combined. Scoop the icing sugar in ¼ cup at a time while the mixer is running. Add in the vanilla and continue mixing until smooth and creamy. (If you don’t have a stand mixer, you could use a hand mixer or just do this by hand.) Pour the icing into a piping bag and top your cupcakes generously (make sure they’re completely cool).

NOTE These cupcakes need to be stored in the refrigerator or the icing will melt.