Do you like getting hair cut? I actually like it. I like the refreshed and new look it gives. It's a feel good thing. Btw, I'm talking about good hair cuts here, not the ones that has gone horribly wrong! Wait a min, you dont think I'm all about outward looks and appearances, do you? I was talking more about the happy feeling you have about a new look, after all a small change here and there can cheer you up sometimes, right?
Ok, I'll tell you about the connection between hair cuts and this recipe. Like a good hair cut, this cake gives you a refreshed feeling. The plain cupcake is light and fresh just like a haircut without any works. The frosted cupcake is like a haircut along with a blow dry ;) I know describing food with the help of haircuts, doesnt make sense. But whenever I have this cupcake, I kinda have the same feeling, is that weird?
Even if whatever I've just said, didnt make any sense to you, please try baking this. You will not be disappointed, it sure is a treat. The chilled version of frosted cupcake is a good dessert option.
Here is the recipe…
Recipe source: Everyday Cookery, Baking Series
Ingredients
- Refer notes for cup measurement
- 200 gms All purpose flour ( 7 oz)
- 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 150 gms Brown sugar (5 oz)
- 200 ml Vegetable oil ( 7 fl oz, I used sunflower oil)
- 3 medium Eggs (@ room temp)
- 225 gms Grated carrots
- 50 gms Chopped walnuts
For the icing
- 175 gms Cream cheese (6 oz, I used Philadelphia cream cheese)
- Finely grated rind of 1 orange (refer notes)
- 1 tbsp Orange juice (refer notes)
- 1 tsp Vanilla essence
- 125 gms Icing sugar ( 4 oz)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175 C, 10 mins before baking. Line the cupcake tin with cupcake liners. (Refer notes if you are baking it as a cake)
- Sift the flour, cinnamon powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together into a large bowl. Stir in the brown sugar and mix together.
- Lightly whisk the oil and eggs together, then gradually stir into the flour and sugar mixture. Stir well. Add the carrots and walnuts. Mix thoroughly, then divide the mixture between the prepared cupcake tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 15- 18 mins or until light and springy to the touch and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool in the tin for 5 mins before turning out on to a wire rack. Reserve until cold.
- To make the icing, beat together the cream cheese, orange rind, orange juice and vanilla essence. Sift the icing sugar and stir into cream cheese mixture. Spread the icing on the cupcake, once it's cooled.
Dear Maria, what could be the substitution for cream cheese. Its diffixuum to get it here in kerala. Can cheese spread be used. Any measurements if any?
Hi Annu,
You can use Amul’s cheese spread in place of cream cheese, use the same qty as mentioned in the recipe.
Cheers
Maria
I tried this with wholewheat n it cme out well.. A lil less sweet tho…
Will adjust it nxt time.. Bt with the frosting it ll be fine i think..
Attachin the pic.. Still nt able to decide if i shud mke the frosting… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1e5d392b6b97f1d53bc08219056f8086c08f8bfff998b69d589782061b6d55c1.jpg
Thank you so much Maria.. U hve no idea hw much colour u add in our lives..
Lots of love..
Hi,
You can use a combination of butter and cream cheese, instead of just cream cheese. I guess that works.
Cheers
Maria
Just saw the notes!! :P
:)
hi maria,
its been a long time i tried something frm here….reason is my naughty daughter who is 2 year old :).yest i tried out this as cake….it came really welll….dint do the toppings and all…cudnt wait till tht my daughter who doesnt like cakes was happy to eat this one.ya i found the batter a lil thick so i added 2-3 teaspoons of milk :)….it tasted heaven with vanilla ice cream the next day…thank u fr this recipe…by the way i hope u doing good….
regrads
sharika
Thanks Sharika :) I’m doing good dear. I’m really happy to know that your lil one also enjoyed this cake. My love to her…
Hope everything is great at your end.
take care dear..
Hi Maria,
I baked these cupcakes for my daughters preschool potluck the next day. I got 23 of them. By next day morning I had only 16 of them. All four of us in the house could not resist as the cupcakes were irresistable. They were so soft that it just melts in your mouth. Once again thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Thanks a ton Shinu for trying this recipe and also for leaving a comment here :) So happy to hear that it came out well for you.
Cheers
Maria
hi maria
now regarding the brown sugar,do u use powdered or granulated one?
Hi Manju,
I use the soft brown sugar, which has very fine granules and has a sand like consistency.
Cheers
Maria
Sorry to hear that the cake didnt come out perfect :((
Cake usually becomes dense, when the batter is over mixed. I used a manual whisk to combine eggs and oil.
Hope it comes out perfect next time. All the best n happy baking :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Smitha,
I mostly use spreadable cream cheese for recipes that calls for cream cheese.
Cheers
Maria
Cheers
Maria
Maria ,I love getting haircut I sometimes like shocking my family by going drastically short…ende koche irtreyum nalla mudi endina vetti kalanjeee.. atleast some of u reading this must be familiar with the comment he heee,,I have made carrot cake earlier by substituting half of a.p flour with rava.This one looks really good.
Hi Meena,
Even I do like you sometimes, I cut it really short and I’ve heard the exact same comment too ;)
I’ve never tried baking with rava, sounds interesting!
Cheers
Maria
Hi Meena,
Even I do like you sometimes, I cut it really short and I’ve heard the exact same comment too ;)
I’ve never tried baking with rava, sounds interesting!
Cheers
Maria
Maria ,I love getting haircut I sometimes like shocking my family by going drastically short…ende koche irtreyum nalla mudi endina vetti kalanjeee.. atleast some of u reading this must be familiar with the comment he heee,,I have made carrot cake earlier by substituting half of a.p flour with rava.This one looks really good.
Maria ,I love getting haircut I sometimes like shocking my family by going drastically short…ende koche irtreyum nalla mudi endina vetti kalanjeee.. atleast some of u reading this must be familiar with the comment he heee,,I have made carrot cake earlier by substituting half of a.p flour with rava.This one looks really good.
Hey Maria… I checked in the market around Pune… We don’t get cream cheese here. Could u help me learn how to make it at home..? Thanks in advance!
Rini i used to live in Pune..u will get cream cheese around camp area…check out Dorabjee…its a bit expensive although worth it.
Rini i used to live in Pune..u will get cream cheese around camp area…check out Dorabjee…its a bit expensive although worth it.
Hi Rini,
You can use Amul cheese spread, it’s similar to the cream cheese. However, if you want to make it at home, please check out my eggless mango cheese cake recipe. In the notes, I’ve given a link on how to make it at home.
Cheers
Maria
Hi Rini,
You can use Amul cheese spread, it’s similar to the cream cheese. However, if you want to make it at home, please check out my eggless mango cheese cake recipe. In the notes, I’ve given a link on how to make it at home.
Cheers
Maria
Please give some Easter Menus
very impressive & thanks for giving the cup measurements…
You are welcome Lovelin! Hope you get to try it sometime :)
Cheers
Maria
Im not a very big fan of icing or frosting. However the cakes as such luk YUM!! :D
Hi Tiji,
Thank you! I’m also not a big fan of icing. I was serving this cupcake as dessert, hence the icing.
Cheers
Maria
Hey Maria… what a coincidence!!! I too have made
carrot cupcakes 2 days back and is scheduled to post it for DB challenge :)…. Yours looks wonderful!
Thanks Swapna :)
Thanks Swapna :)
Hey Maria… what a coincidence!!! I too have made
carrot cupcakes 2 days back and is scheduled to post it for DB challenge :)…. Yours looks wonderful!