Carrot cake is a delightful dessert loved for its moist texture and warm spices, making it a popular choice for Easter celebrations. This classic cake is often studded with grated carrots, adding both flavor and moisture. The addition of nuts and raisins provides a pleasant crunch and bursts of sweetness, while the cream cheese frosting lends a creamy and tangy finish. Carrot cake cupcakes are a perfect Easter treat for several reasons. Firstly, their individual serving size makes them easy to serve and enjoy at gatherings. Secondly, their cute appearance, often topped with swirls of frosting and a sprinkle of nuts or grated carrots, adds a festive touch to any dessert table. Lastly, their portability makes them a great option for Easter picnics or parties. Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to enjoy after a hearty Easter meal or a delightful addition to your Easter brunch, carrot cake cupcakes are sure to be a hit with family and friends alike.
Step-by-step: Bunny butt cupcakes
Preheat oven to 320 °F / 165 °C/ Gas Mark 3. Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners. Dry ingredients – In a bowl, combine flour with baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside. Wet ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the whisk attachment, whip the whole eggs on medium speed for a minute. Then, gradually add both the white and brown sugar. Continue to whip until light and fluffy. Then, gradually add the oil and sour cream.Pro tip – Adding the sugar helps improve the emulsification properties giving us the maximum volume
Combine – Next, add in the flour mixture followed by the grated carrots, fruits, and nuts. Combine well but do not overmix.Pro tip – We don’t want to activate the gluten in our flour. Bake – Divide the batter between 12 cupcake liners in a muffin pan. Bake on the middle rack for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool – Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 to 7 minutes then cool on a cooling rack.Pro tip – Always cool cakes and cupcakes completely before decorating or the frosting will melt.
Frosting the cupcakes
Buttercream – In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, salt, and vanilla extract for a minute until creamy. Next, add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until light and fluffy. Add green food color gel for the grass and transfer to the piping bag with a grass piping tip.Pro tip – For the grass, you will need a stiff buttercream so avoid adding too much milk or cream.
Frost – Pipe the grass frosting on the cupcakes and let them chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.Pro tip – It is best to put the toppers on the cupcakes once the forsting is chilled slightly so they don’t sink in.
Bunny butts – Watch the video to make the fondant bunny butts. Color a small portion of the fondant with pink color for the paws. Butt – Shape a marble size fondant into a small ball and cut it in half. This makes two butts. Feet – Make two smaller size balls, shape them into an oval, and flatten them to make two feet. Use the back of your knife to make paws. Paw pads – Shape tiny balls of pink fondant and flatten them to make the paw pads. Tail – Shape a small ball of white fondant, dip it in sugar, and attach it to the tail. Topper – Add the bunny butt on top of the chilled grass frosting and press it down slightly so it sinks into the grass.
Creative variations
Cream Cheese Frosting Swirl: Instead of fully frosting the cupcakes, swirl a small amount of cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake for a more rustic and decorative look. Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle caramel sauce over the frosted cupcakes for a sweet and gooey addition. Spiced Frosting: Add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to the cream cheese frosting for a spiced twist. Carrot Cake Muffins: Skip the frosting and bake the batter in a muffin tin for a more breakfast-friendly option. Coconut Carrot Cupcakes: Fold in some shredded coconut into the batter for added texture and flavor. Pineapple Carrot Cupcakes: Add crushed pineapple to the batter for a tropical twist. Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: Use maple syrup instead of vanilla extract in the cream cheese frosting for a maple-flavored frosting.
Creative ways to celebrate with Easter cupcakes
Easter Basket Cupcakes: Arrange cupcakes in a basket-shaped display, using green-tinted shredded coconut as grass and candy eggs or chocolate bunnies nestled among the cupcakes to mimic Easter egg hunts. Bunny Ear Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with fondant or marshmallow bunny ears and faces, using candy-coated chocolates or frosting for eyes and noses. Arrange them on a platter to create an adorable bunny-themed display. Easter Egg Nest Cupcakes: Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting and top them with chocolate or candy-coated eggs arranged in a nest-like formation made from shredded wheat or pretzel sticks. Add a sprinkle of edible glitter or colored sugar for extra sparkle. Cross Cupcakes: Use a cross-shaped cookie cutter to cut out fondant or decorate cupcakes with piped frosting crosses, symbolizing the religious significance of Easter. Arrange them on a cross-shaped serving tray for a reverent display. Chick Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with yellow frosting and candy eyes to resemble fluffy chicks. Use orange fondant or candy corn for beaks and arrange them in a row to create a charming chick-themed display. Spring Flower Cupcakes: Frost cupcakes with pastel-colored frosting and arrange edible flower decorations made from frosting, fondant, or candy on top. Display them on a tiered stand to create a stunning garden-inspired centerpiece. Easter Rainbow Cupcakes: Create colorful layers of cake batter in each cupcake liner to resemble a rainbow when sliced. Top with fluffy clouds made from frosting and a fondant rainbow decoration for a vibrant and cheerful display. Egg Decorating Cupcake Station: Set up a cupcake decorating station with plain frosted cupcakes and an assortment of colorful frosting, sprinkles, edible glitter, and Easter-themed candy for guests to decorate their own Easter cupcakes. Easter Cupcake Bouquet: Arrange cupcakes on skewers or lollipop sticks and arrange them in a flower pot filled with Easter grass or shredded paper. Add ribbon bows or decorative accents to create a charming cupcake bouquet centerpiece.
Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes Caramel Apple Cupcakes Moist Honey Cupcakes Moist Vanilla Cupcakes (one-bowl) Coffee Cupcakes Maple Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting Funfetti Cupcakes See all cupcake recipes
Frequently asked questions
Did you LIKE this recipe? Save it for later. You can find my recipes on Pinterest. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Subscribe, and I’ll send you new recipes right to your inbox. Thank you for sharing - Save for later
