top of page

Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

  • mantramag
  • Jun 12, 2017
  • 2 min read

Food Photographer + Vegan Foodie Heather Sanderson

~

Instagram: @myvibrantsoul_

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.

Comments


ORIGIN is a national travel magazine featuring more than 70 destinations in each issue—where to go, eat, sleep, and play. Our travel essays feature more than 20 of the world’s best travel photographers and writers each issue. Made in collectible volumes, 164 pages on archival paper, focused on boutique travel, family getaways, the American South, active adventures, unique cruises, and unexpected destinations.

 

Our readers are multi-layered travelers who love a good culinary and vibrant art scene while also embracing the great outdoors and exploration in nature. 

  • Instagram - Grey Circle

© Copyright 2025 ORIGIN. Magazine

bottom of page