Name: Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1.75 cups whole-wheat pastry flour; 1.5 teaspoons baking powder; 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 0.5 teaspoon baking soda; 0.25 teaspoon ground ginger; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs; 0.5 cup unsweetened applesauce; 0.5 cup light brown sugar; 0.25 cup granulated sugar; 0.5 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, plus 2 tablespoons, divided; 1.5 cups grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots); 0.5 cup toasted chopped walnuts; 0.33333334326744 cup unsifted confectioners' sugar; 1.5 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

5.0

(6)

6 Reviews

Carrot cake meets muffins in this healthy breakfast recipe. Whole-wheat pastry flour along with plenty of carrots and toasted walnuts add fiber while applesauce keeps the muffins moist and helps cut back on sugar.

Marianne Williams

Updated on June 19, 2020

Prep Time:

20 mins

Additional Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs

Servings:

Yield:

12 muffins

Nutrition Profile:

Heart Healthy High Fiber Diabetes Appropriate Vegetarian Low Sodium Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
1 ½ cups grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
½ cup toasted chopped walnuts
⅓ cup unsifted confectioners' sugar
1 ½ ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners; coat with cooking spray. Set aside. Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk eggs, applesauce, brown sugar, granulated sugar and 1/2 cup yogurt in a large bowl; fold in carrots, walnuts and half of the flour mixture until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture; fold until just incorporated (some lumps can remain).
Fill the prepared muffin cups three-quarters full with batter (about 1/3 cup each). Bake until the muffins are golden and a wooden pick inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Whisk confectioners' sugar, cream cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons yogurt in a small bowl; whisk in 2 to 3 teaspoons water to reach desired frosting consistency. Dollop and spread the frosting over the cooled muffins.

Tips

To make ahead: Wrap airtight and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To freeze, wrap unfrosted muffins tightly in plastic wrap or foil; freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before frosting.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

198	Calories
6g	Fat
33g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 198
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 33g	12%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 18g
Added Sugars 15g	30%
Protein 5g	10%
Total Fat 6g	7%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Cholesterol 35mg	12%
Vitamin A 2369IU	47%
Vitamin C 1mg	1%
Folate 13mcg	3%
Sodium 201mg	9%
Calcium 70mg	5%
Iron 1mg	3%
Magnesium 13mg	3%
Potassium 114mg	2%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.