After a very long break I am posting a Daring Bakers’ Challenge. And even though I am posting for it, I actually took an easy way out and did not dare myself too much with this month’s challenge.
Ruth from Makey-Cakey was our March 2013 Daring Bakers’ challenge host. She encouraged us all to get experimental in the kitchen and sneak some hidden veggies into our baking, with surprising and delicious results!
Initially when I had seen the challenge I had plans to make a beets red velvet cake and try out a black bean brownie recipe I had been eying for a long time. But as you can see those plans did not pan out.
Instead I tried this recipe my mom uses to make whole wheat cupcakes. My sister-in-law loves these cupcakes and always requests my mom to make them. So since she is over I thought would make them for her and that ways I would be able to post for DB as well. Killing two birds with one stone! Pretty smart, aren’t I!
And with Easter this weekend, the recipe did seem apt. 🙂
I have attempted making these cupcakes earlier as well (remember this post about cake truffles and my life’s lessons?) but the recipe was a little amiss. Thankfully the failure was turned into absolutely sinful cake balls.
And since for my mom this recipe has always been a success, I knew I had done something wrong and that’s why I knew I had to try it again.
So well, if you think about it, I did challenge myself this time by trying to perfect the recipe that I had once failed in. Look how things have a way of working out. 🙂
Though completely unrelated to today’s post, I just have to mention that I have the most amazing friends. And their kids even more amazing. They are 5 and 2.5 and still did not mind lending their own toys to my niece for the rest of her stay at my place. I know I would have never done that at their age!
And since we talking about my niece….
I had to quickly take the pictures because there was somebody who was eying the cupcakes while I was trying to get some photographs for the blog.
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup oil
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup toasted walnuts, broken into small pieces
- 1 tsp baking soda (if using Indian baking soda my mom advices to use only ½ tsp)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar (my mom uses powdered sugar, but sugar in India is more coarse than the sugar we use in the States)
- Cream cheese frosting, optional
- Toast the walnuts at 425 F for 8-10 min. Chop into small pieces.
- Preheat oven to 350F (check the post link above for domed cupcakes- in that case preheat after step )
- Cream the sugar and oil in a stand mixer fixed with a paddle attachment.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating for 10 seconds before each addition.
- Sift the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Gently fold in the walnuts and grated carrots.
- Using an ice cream scoop, scoop batter into cupcake liners lined muffin pans.
- Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes, or until tester comes out clean (start checking around 26 minutes).
- Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool on wire rack before frosting.
- I used cream cheese frosting and topped each cupcake with shaved walnuts and cinnamon chips.
Beautiful, those look real real delicious. Anyone might look like than when going for the cupcakes. Cute kid 🙂
Your daughter is SO SO SO sweet. and I love all the shots you took, specially of her 🙂
Kankana recently posted..Fruit and Nut Coffee Cake
Hi Kankana! Thanks, but she is not my daughter :). She is my niece who had come visiting us. But I agree she is adorable! 🙂
Shumaila recently posted..Shit Happens!
Well, i have to admit – your lil one is cuter than the cupcake…. loved the snaps… Nice cupcake recipe – i love that you have used whole wheat flour
Shema George recently posted..Easter Bunny shaped Bread / Hokkaido Milk Bread with Tangzhong (Softest White Bread)
Great post…I love whole wheat muffins in whatever version they come in, and I have a particular favorite that is very similar to this but with apples and pecans (in addition to the carrots). Can’t wait to give this one a try…lovely (and adorable) photos!
Luv’n Spoonfuls recently posted..Hazelnut Cake with Cherries
New to the blog world, loving your blog…
Ash- foodfashionparty@blogspot.com recently posted..BREAD – slighly spiced up.
This is such a very beautiful photos you got. I just joined daring bakers this month. I have not entered anything yet, but I am so apprehensive, excited about it. It feels like the members there are seasoned bakers. I am so intimidated.
Oh dont worry Shobee, you will be absolutely fine- most of us are hobby bakers in this forum and the reason to join such groups is to challenge yourself and come out of your comfort zone. Plus you learn so much. In no time you will be as good as anybody else, if you aren’t already!
Pingback: Whole Wheat Carrot Cupcakes
I will try the recipe for my daughter’s party in the Nursery. But i have to tell you, your photos are a-ma-zing!
Good job!
Gamze recently posted..Gezi | Liverpool –> Alışverişmania İngilizler
I made these yesterday, using non-sweetened applesauce. They came out great! I’ve tried several carrot muffins recipes and I think this is my favourite.
Thanks for sharing! And congratulations on your pictures, they are always lovely 🙂
Thank you so much Maria for letting me know and for giving all of us an even healthier version of these. So happy to know you liked them 🙂
Nice recipe ! Could u also please give an eggless recipe for d same
Hi Krishya, I dont have an eggless recipe up on the blog yet, but will definitely post one now that you have pointed towards one.
I dont have a stand mixer… or a mixer. How do I still make these?
You will have to use your muscle power- a whisk and beat the heck out of the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
Thanks for this wonderful recipe. Your measurements and baking time estimation is perfect too, had fun baking your recipe. I think the blogger deserves due credit on the blog too, so putting it here in addition to our personal messages 🙂
Just to add, Shumaila helped me customize this recipe with honey instead of sugar and it worked out perfectly fine (the measurement being half to two-third cup honey for 1 cup sugar), added slightly more baking soda and decreased the other liquids (oil) a bit.
Thank you so much for letting me know it worked, and for the lovely comment Deepali mami 🙂 So glad Noor enjoyed it! Happy baking 🙂