Apple Carrot Cupcakes

It’s as if carrot cake and apple cake decided to get together and have babies. These apple carrot cupcakes are the best of both, and the cream cheese frosting is amazing!

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Elise Bauer
Updated September 11, 2019
Elise Bauer
Apple Carrot Cupcakes
Elise Bauer

These apple carrot cupcakes are what happens when you can't decide between carrot cake and apple cake; they're the best of both, combined. They are a little sweeter than a muffin, but with all of the texture and flavor from apples, carrots, coconut, and pecans, and topped with cream cheese frosting.

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

If you like carrot cake, you are going to love this apple carrot cupcake twist.

(Or not. Skip the frosting if you are being virtuous. You can pretend they're muffins, nobody will know. But watch out, skipping the frosting just may give you an excuse to eat more of these apple carrot cupcakes than you should. Not that I would know anyone who would do that. Ahem.)

Apple Carrot Cupcakes in baking tin
Elise Bauer

How to Adapt This Recipe

This recipe yield about 2 dozen cupcakes, so if you do not want that many tempting you, you can bake it as written and share them, or you can cut the recipe in half.

If you want to make this as a cake, you can make the batter as instructed, and pour it into two greased 9-inch round cake pans or one 9x13 cake pan and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes.

Don't like coconut? Leave it out. Want to use walnuts instead of pecans? Go for it!

Apple Carrot Cake Cupcake
Elise Bauer

Keeping, Storing and Freezing Cupcakes

These cupcakes should keep for 2 to 3 days, frosted and covered. You can freeze them for longer if you have leftover cupcakes, but it's best to freeze them unfrosted. Thaw on the counter, frost, and serve.

More Favorite Cupcake Recipes:

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Apple Carrot Cupcakes

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 24 servings

Ingredients

  • For the cupcakes:
  • 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 (250 g) cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (236 ml) vegetable oil (light olive oil or canola oil)
  • 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups packed coarsely grated carrots (about 3 medium)
  • 1 1/2 cups packed coarsely grated tart apples, such as Granny Smith (about 2 medium)
  • 1 cup (125 g) coarsely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
  • 1/4 cup (15 g) sweetened shredded coconut
  • For the frosting:
  • 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (260 g) powdered sugar, sifted

Method

  1. Prep the oven:

    Preheat oven to 350°F and place the rack in the center of the oven.

  2. Make the batter:

    In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.

    Stir in oil and eggs. Stir in carrots, apples, pecans, and coconut.

    Apple Carrot Cupcakes Combine walnuts, apple and carrot shreds for apple carrot cupcakes
    Elise Bauer
    Carrot Cake Cupcakes Batter in bowl for apple carrot cupcakes
    Elise Bauer
  3. Bake the cupcakes:

    Place paper liners in muffin tins. Spoon the batter into the paper cups, three quarters of the way to the top. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes (testing after 20 min), or until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

    Carrot Cake Cupcakes Eight uncooked carrot cupcakes in muffin tin
    Elise Bauer
    Carrot and Apple Cupcakes Eight baked apple cupcakes with carrots in muffin tin
    Elise Bauer
  4. Make the frosting:

    Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix until combined.

    Once the cupcakes are cool, apply frosting.