Carrot Cake Cupcakes (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
I’ve always been a carrot cake kind of girl. An unsung cake flavor hero in my humble opinion to be honest. Full of spring yum, shredded carrots, a hint of cinnamon, and a healthy slathering of cream cheese frosting make for a wonderful cupcake win. And these gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake cupcakes will win your vote too!
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Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Tender carrot cake cupcakes should be fluffy, yet still moist, and lightly sweet. A subtle spice of cinnamon pairs beautifully with the tang of whipped cream cheese frosting. Warm toasted nuts, while optional, add a wonderful flavor depth and crunch element to these incredibly easy and incredibly delicious carrot cake cupcakes.
How To Make A Moist Carrot Cake Cupcake?
Gluten-free baking gets a bad rap for being dry, almost dust-like. And I get it. Flour alternatives such as rice, coconut, or potato can often absorb moisture versus retain it. The key to baking up the most fabulously moist, yet still fluffy, carrot cake cupcakes, is using oil instead of butter.
What Kind Of Oil Should I Bake With?
Okay, we’ve settled that oil is going to produce the most amazing cupcakes. Now we gotta figure out what kind of oil to use in these gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake cupcakes. I personally bake with all-vegetable oil. While I know it can get a bad rap, it’s affordable, accessible, and honestly, it’s not like I’m chugging it.
That said, a few other oil alternatives to use would be avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or even liquid coconut oil. Be aware though that these other oil substitutes can leave a bit of a stronger taste and might be detected in the cupcakes.
Should There Be Nuts In Carrot Cake?
Oh boy! Is there anything more dividing than the age-old question of whether or not nuts belong in carrot cake cupcakes? I feel like you either love it or you hate it. There’s no middle ground to this debate.
Here goes nothing, I like nuts in my carrot cake. They add a warm flavor note and a fun crunch texture element. But if you are not a nut fan, please feel free to simply leave them out. To each their own!
How To Make Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese frosting, while so darn tasty, is notorious for being quite soft. It’s a fine balance between making a tangy cream cheese frosting that has pipeable consistency but isn’t too sweet. Dairy-free cream cheese alternatives are even softer in nature. Here are a few tricks to ensure cream cheese frosting success:
- Make sure the cream cheese and butter are cold – not room temperature.
- Don’t add any additional liquid – that means we aren’t even adding vanilla extract.
- Refrigerate before piping – pop the whipped frosting into the fridge for a quick 15-20 minute chill before decorating the cupcakes.
These tips will help you create not just a delicious dairy-free cream cheese frosting, but one that will pipe a glorious frosting swirl on each and every cupcake.
Easy Carrot Cake Cupcakes
One bowl, shredded carrots, and a few pantry staples are all you need to create the most scrumptious gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake cupcakes. Topped with a swirl of whipped cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes are fluffy, moist, and a total crowd-pleaser. The perfect spring dessert or afternoon sweet treat.
Delicious Cupcake Ideas
Cupcakes are truly the best snack. Here are a few of my favorite cupcake recipes that you should try next.
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Carrot Cake Cupcakes (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
- Total Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
- Yield: 18 Cupcakes 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Fluffy and wonderfully moist, these gluten-free and dairy-free carrot cake cupcakes are made from scratch and topped with whipped cream cheese frosting. An easy one-bowl recipe for the most amazing cupcakes you’ll ever eat!
Ingredients
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups (295 ml) all-vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs, room temperature *can substitute liquid egg replacer for vegan
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (320g) gluten-free flour blend
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if the gluten-free blend contains it)
- 2 cups (230g) shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup (60g) chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cup (227g) salted dairy-free butter, cold
- 1/2 cup (120g) dairy-free cream cheese, cold
- 4 1/2 cups (540g) icing sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- optional: additional chopped nuts for topping
Instructions
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare a cupcake pan with 18 cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract and whisk together until fully combined and smooth.
- Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and xanthan gum (if using) and mix until just combined.
- With a spatula stir in the shredded carrots and nuts (if using) and mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter equally into 18 cupcake liners and bake for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes in the cupcake pan and then remove to a cooling rack to fully cool before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream the cold butter and cream cheese on high speed until light and fluffy. This should take approximately 10 minutes.
- Add in the icing sugar and salt and combine at low speed.
- Turn the mixer up to high and allow to beat for 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl when necessary.
- Place the frosting into the fridge for 15-20 minutes to chill and firm up a bit before decorating the cupcakes.
Cupcake Decorating
- I used a Wilton 1M piping tip for both cupcake designs. The first design is a classic swirl. Starting in the middle of the cupcake pipe in a circular motion to the edge of the cupcake and then moving that swirl up and in back to the center. Top with finely chopped nuts if desired.
- The second cupcake design is again with a Wilton 1M piping tip. Start with a simple drop rosette in the middle of the cupcake. Pipe a circle swirl around that drop rosette two layers high. Release pressure off the piping bag and pull off to finish the swirl. Place chopped nuts, if desired, at the tail end of the frosting swirl. Enjoy!
- Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Notes
* If you notice the frosting getting a bit soft while decorating the cupcakes simply stop decorating and place the frosting back into the fridge to chill for 15-20 minutes.
** This recipe can easily be made with regular gluten and dairy products.
- Prep Time: 45 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
- Calories: 391
- Sugar: 32 Grams
- Sodium: 285 Miligrams
- Fat: 22 Grams
- Saturated Fat: 7 Grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 Grams
- Trans Fat: 0 Grams
- Carbohydrates: 46 Grams
- Fiber: 1 Gram
- Protein: 4 Grams
- Cholesterol: 59 Miligrams
The most delicious carrot cake cupcakes I’ve ever made/eaten! I definitely have eaten way too many and I only made them yesterday ? my 2.5 year old daughter also loves them.
In your defense, they have carrots so you know, healthy. ?
Wow! These were even better than I was hoping for!
That thrills me to hear!
So great!
I made them for my daughter-in-law’s birthday & have shared the recipe 3 times since!
best best best icing ever!
That is truly the best review ever Marnie. Thank you so very much!
Hello! Can the icing recipe be made with regular cream cheese? I’m gluten free but not dairy free. Thanks!
Hi Tonya,
Yes, you can 100% use regular cream cheese and butter.
I doubled the recipe and made it into a cake. it turned out great.
That’s a fabulous idea. Thanks for letting me know that it works.
Did you use two 8” pans for the cake?
Easily the best carrot cake cupcakes I have ever eaten! 10/10 recommend and will definitely make these again!
Yay! That makes my heart smile. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
Hello, is the flour blend self raising or plain flour?? Thanks!
Regular flour. I will never use self-raising flour in my recipes.
Hi , why you will not use a self raising flour, is there any issue with it ?
No issue with it all. I unfortunately do not have access to it where I live.
Great recipe! I made into a 6inch 3 layer cake. Couldn’t tell it was gluten free!
Would love a Gluten Free-Vegan recipe of this!
I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed it, Alex. To make it vegan swap the eggs with vegan sour cream or yogurt.
How much??
1/4 cup per egg
If I do NOT want gluten or dairy free, do I use regular all purpose flour (or cake flour), and omit the Xanthum?
Yes, exactly that!
Followed the directions and filled 18 papers, as the cupcakes baked, the cupcakes overflowed the papers and the centers dropped, overfilled the papers?
Oh how disapointing. Yes, that is generally the cause. Incorrect measurements could be the culprit too. Make sure you are using a large cupcake liner, even an extra large will work.
Easily the best gf df recipe I’ve tried! For some reason I ended up with 28 cupcakes (no complaints! I guess I filled them less than needed.) I had to make them without the xanthan gum, they were definitely noticeably crumbly but honestly it wasn’t a bad thing! Will definitely try these again 🙂 tysm for the recipe!!!
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed these cupcakes!
OMG I just made these and they are surprisingly moist, flavorful and amazing! You couldn’t tell they are gluten free at all. I bake a lot & these are 10/10 good- will definitely be making again. 🙂
FYI: I lessened the sugar by 1/3 (and they are still sweet enough- might even lessen more next time), used coconut oil for “vegetable oil”, and made a lemon frosting (as I’m not a cream cheese fan- just powdered sugar & add lemon juice until it reaches the consistency you want- so easy).
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
The best gluten free carrot cake recipe I’ve tried and I’ve tried many! I’m excited to try with regular flour!
Aw yay! That is so awesome to hear Darion. Thanks for sharing with me.
Delicious, and so fluffy! Thank you Katie, I’ll certainly be making these again.
That is so wonderful to hear. Thank you for sharing that with me.
curious how think you shred the carrots. I’ve used a recipe in the past for cupcakes that were not gluten and dairy-free. For those, the recipe said to shred on the smaller side, not zested, but just a bit larger than a zest.
I use a cheese grater.
I live in a high altitude area. I tried baking 1/2 this recipe in 9 and again in 12 baking cups. I even changed the amount of batter I put into the cups. Both times, the cupcakes rose and then fell while baking. I was careful about measuring both times. The baked, but fallen, cupcakes still had a decent cake-like texture and tasted good (maybe a little too sweet). Loved the baked coloring. I decided to try a third time and used a little less sugar, salt, oil, baking powder and baking soda. They didn’t fall as much in the center, but the texture wasn’t as moist, and they were not as dark. I really want this recipe to work. Any ideas?
I have no experience or knowledge in high-altitude baking. Sorry! That said, Good Life Eats has an amazing resource for converting cupcake recipes for high-altitudes.
What kind of gf flour do you use in this?
I have made them with Kinnikinick, XO Baking, Bobs Red Mill, Cloud 9, and a homemade blend.
I made this recipe into mini cupcakes! 350 F @ 16 minutes it made 22 mini cupcakes. Delish!
what a great idea!
Wow, I never take the time to leave comments but these are SO delicious!! Definitely the best dairy-free frosting recipe I’ve ever used – thank you!!
That thrills me to hear Chelsea. Thanks!