Paleo Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe
I love carrot cake! And if you do, too then I have just the recipe for you to try!
This Paleo Carrot Cake Cupcake recipe contains no dairy, no grains, no refined sugar, and no nuts making it the perfect allergy friendly and healthy treat. But don’t let all those no’s fool you. These cupcakes are absolutely delicious! They are moist, perfectly sweet and filled with wholesome goodness like carrots, dates and metabolism boosting coconut oil.
I’ve been making a double batch the last few Easter’s and they always get gobbled up before I can even blink 🙂
And that icing! Can you say drool?! Yes, even the icing is dairy free & refined sugar free, too!
Enjoy the recipe! And I’d love to hear from you – are you a carrot cake fan, too? Or do you enjoy another type of treat for Easter?
That reminds me – you’ve got to try my Homemade Cadbury Creme Egg Recipe sometime. So so good!!! I wish I could make them for all of you!
Paleo Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe:
- 3 cups shredded carrots (about 4 large carrots)
- 8 pitted dried dates (I use THESE), finely chopped
- 4 eggs
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut flour (I use THIS)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup refined (unflavored) coconut oil (I use THIS)
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch sea salt
- optional: ⅓ cup arrowroot or tapioca starch (I use THIS) -- this helps to stiffen and stabilize the icing, but is not necessary
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Shred the carrots and then chop the dates (or use a food processor to shred and chop). Set aside the shredded carrots for later.
- In a mixing bowl, add in your chopped dates, eggs, coconut oil and vanilla. Beat mixture well. Add coconut flour, cinnamon, cloves, salt and baking powder and stir until combined.
- Fold in the shredded carrots.
- Fill cupcake batter to the top of each cupcake lined (or well oiled) muffin pan and bake for 25-28 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool then frost with icing (recipe below). Store frosted cupcakes in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Once out of the refrigerator, allow them to sit at room temperature for a few minutes so the icing can soften a bit.
- Your coconut oil must be solid to make the icing. If it is liquid, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until completely solid.
- With a stand or hand mixer, whip your coconut oil until it's light and fluffy.
- Add in your tapioca or arrowroot if using. Continue to whip (at first on low speed so it doesn't make a mess) until it's all incorporated into the coconut oil and is smooth.
- Slowly mix in your maple syrup, vanilla & sea salt. Continue whipping for 1 minute. Use frosting right away.
*Important note: Since the icing is made with coconut oil, it will melt in hot temperatures (temperatures above 76 degrees). Because of this, you should keep the cupcakes in the refrigerator until ready to eat. However, they will be fine left out for hours at a time unless they will be in an environment that is warmer than 76 degrees.
THESE are the unbleached parchment paper cupcake liners I use - love them!
This is definitely a yum! I love how allergy-free and healthy it is. I will try this. Very delicious!
Thanks, Maureen! 🙂
Will try these for Easter they look wonderful I make so many things you publish thank you
Hope you enjoy them, Beverly!
These look delish, I love dates in cakes. Can you freeze them iced or un-iced?
Hi Nancy! I have frozen these un-iced many times (I make this recipe often as carrot cake muffins and just eat them un-iced), but I’m fairly confident that you could freeze them iced, too!
Hello,
I am a new reader and I Love your blog.
Can I try to make these without dates, if not, what can I replace with dates?
Thank you.
Hi Priya! Love your name 🙂
You can use 1/3 cup of sweetener like honey or maple syrup!
I’m wondering if you have the nutrition facts for these scrumptious cupcakes?
My life is now complete with this recipe!! I made this into an 8×8 cake. I decreased the eggs to 3, decreased the shredded carrot to 2 cups and added 3tbsp of coconut milk. I also added in some raisins. This turned out perfect. thank you for a yummy recipe.
Can I substitute the dates with coconut sugar? If so how much coconut sugar? Thanks
Hi Ann! I haven’t tried it, but I would think it would work just fine. I would try 1/2 cup.
This sounds like a great recipe. I see you call for refined coconut oil. I have unrefined virgin coconut oil. Would that work? Thanks!
It will definitely work, Cassie, but there’s a chance you could taste a hint of coconut with the unrefined coconut oil.
How many cups of carrots do I need? I have a bag of mini carrots in the fridge that I hope to use up.
Tx
3 cups!
I tried these today and they are pretty good! The “frosting” is a bit weird, HOWEVER I am new to paleo so of course my brain is like WHOA! lol Thank you for the recipe though! I added a little raisins and chopped pecans as well.
hahaha! Thanks for the comment, Janey! Glad you liked them!
I hardly ever comment but I had to tell you how much I loved the frosting! I had no idea you could use coconut oil to make frosting. I tried a couple healthy frosting recipes for my daughter’s birthday last year but none were close to as good as this one.
Oh thank you, Carolyn! Thank you for taking the time to comment – it makes my heart so happy to hear this!
Hi Kelly,
I’m allergic to eggs . Do you have any suggestions on how to make this recipe egg free?
Thanks!
Hi Hannah! I’ve had a lot of good luck in the past using flax or chia eggs. I haven’t tried it with this particular recipe, but I imagine it would turn out well.
Hi Kelly,
Do you know how well these cupcakes would freeze? I’ve made this recipe a few times in a cake form and would like to make it again for an event, but I’m wondering if I can make the cake ahead of time and freeze it – then bring it out to thaw and frost it the day of.
Let me know what you think 🙂
Johanna
Yes, it freezes very well!
I have this in the oven right now. My mixture came our very thick (as do most paleo muffin recipes.) That is how it is supposed to be, correct? 🙂
Yes! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!!
Can you substitute honey for the dates?
yes!
I’m wondering if anyone has tried using carrot or beet juice to color this frosting? I have a juicer and I’m ready to add for my son’s 1st birthday cake!
That’s such a great idea, Chelsea – I think it would work beautifully! And happy birthday to your little man!!