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Hydrangea Flower Carrot Cake Cupcakes!
 
Because your Tuesday needs a good cupcake, and because Easter is this Sunday, and because I just could not wait to share these with you. I mean, do you see how cute these are? Of course, they taste great too, but I’m not going to lie, their cuteness is what has me so excited.
So you guys…I’m sure you have noticed, but I love flowers. The older I get, the more I love them. And the more I love having them in my house! This may sound so stupid, but they bring my mood up almost instantly. I figure if flowers can do that for me than they are worth the money spent to buy them for the blog. Don’t try and tell me otherwise.
For as much as I love having flowers in my house, I think I love using them in my photography even more. Anytime it makes sense to incorporate edible flowers into my recipes, I do.
Today’s cupcake however, do not involve any kind of edible flowers. But, they have been decorated to look like flowers. Hydrangeas to be precise. Don’t you see it? Come on now, they look like Hydrangeas, right?
If you think they don’t, just lie to me and say you agree!
Just kidding…
In all seriousness whether you feel these cupcakes look like a hydrangea flower or not, they are still fun and delicious, and the perfect spring cupcake. Just looking at them makes feel a little more cheerful inside, which I think we could all use a bit more of these days.
My mom sent me this video of a very brave high school student confronting her classmates during a gun control walk out. If you have yet to see this video, please go watch it now. It’s so empowering and she sends one very simple, but very important message.
“…be nice, and care, and love each other. It’s not hard!”
It’s the golden rule our parent’s taught us. So let’s try to incorporate her message into our daily lives. Try to go a little out of your way to say hello to a new person, listen to someone who might need an ear, help a neighbor bring in groceries. If you have kids, talk to them about accepting other’s differences, and that even the simplest act of kindness can go a very long way.
Bake up some of these cupcakes (or whatever you enjoy making) and gift a few away…a neighbor, a friend, your mom, another mom, or even a complete stranger on the street, it truly is as simple as that. Just do something nice for someone today. Trust me, it’s going to make someone’s day, and probably yours too.
OK. Now some carrot cake cupcake details.
The base of these cupcakes is carrot cake, which is so very traditional around this time of year. What I love about them is that the cake is moist, soft, extra fluffy, and extra sweet. I have found most carrot cake recipes to be on the denser side, so I love that this recipe is light and airy, as cupcakes should be.
For the frosting, I kept things semi traditional with a mascarpone based frosting that I tinted with both freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries. I used the fruit mostly for coloring purposes, but they do add a slight fruity flavor to the frosting, which I think pairs nicely with the carrot cake.
The best part about these cupcakes? They are SO EASY. Yes, I promise! I know that piping a floral arrangement on top of a cupcake might seem hard, but it’s truly just a matter of using a star piping tip and applying a little pressure to your piping bag. If you can draw a line with a bag of frosting, you can make this cupcake design. I promise.
Originally, I had these in mind for Easter this Sunday, but as I mentioned above, I really think they should be made and gifted away as an act of kindness. It might seem like a stupid or silly thing, but I know for a fact, whoever is on the receiving end will greatly appreciate one of these sweet cupcakes. Of course doubling the recipe is an even better idea. Then you’ll have plenty to gift and plenty to enjoy. Because Easter just is not complete without a little carrot cake.
Hydrangea Flower Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Servings: 18 cupcakes
Calories Per Serving: 414 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated carrots
Mascarpone Frosting
- 8 ounces mascarpone or cream cheese, softened
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, softened
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries, ground until a fine powder
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 18 muffin tins with paper liners.2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.3. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand-held mixer) beat together the canola oil, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the carrots. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients with the mixer on low until there are no longer any clumps of flour. Batter should be pourable, but not super thin. 4. Pour the batter among the muffin tins and bake 15-18 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool completely before frosting.5. To make the frosting, add the mascarpone and butter to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat another 2-4 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy. Beat in the strawberry powder or raspberry powder. If desired, you can divide the frosting between 2-3 bowls and color each a slightly different color for an ombre effect.6. Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fit with a star tip (I use a 1M wilton tip). Pipe around the edge of the cupcake and work your way in. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
The happiest (most delicious) cupcake there ever was!
Where did you purchase the freeze dried berries? I’m searching and they are really expensive, especially since a cup is needed.
Hi Jennifer! Trader Joe’s has freeze dried berries for not too much. You can find them in the nut aisle. If that does not work please let me know! xTieghan
URGENT PLS – how many days can I make these in advance pls (both iced/uniced?) Do you think I could sub the flour for gf plain flour? Many thanks!! Im a huge fan xx
Hi Janelle! I wouldn’t make them too far in advance. Only a day or so. And yes you could swap your favorite GF flour blend such as Bob’s Red Mill or Cup4Cup!
I am completely blown away by these. I have been making Epicurious’ carrot cake for years, and everyone I know always requests it, calls it the best carrot cake ever. I can never leave a party without having to give someone that recipe. But I wanted something lighter to take to my yoga class, and I’ve never had a recipe of yours fail, so I impulsively tried these, and now I’m a convert. My yoga friends were hoarding cupcakes to take home to their significant others, they loved these so much. The texture was such a relief from the usual delicious-but-dense carrot cake, I’m making these as a cake tomorrow for my boyfriend’s birthday, and I hope he will love it! Oh, I didn’t have buttermilk, so I subbed in sour cream with total success.
I am so glad you and your yoga class loved this recipe Michele! Thank you so much! Also, Happy Birthday to your boyfriend, I hope he loves these!
Hi! Was wondering if you would do anything differently if you were trying to use this recipe to make a cake rather than cupcakes? Thanks!
HI! I would bake 2 (8 inch) round cakes and bake then 28-30 minutes. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
These were soooo good! My first attempt at any carrot cake recipe, and got lots of kudos from the fam! Can’t say I was able to make those little perfectly piped petals, but maybe next time!
I am so glad you and your family loved these Britt! Thank you!!
Hi! Can they be srores at room temperature or do they need to refrigerated? Thank you for all your wonderful reacipes!
Hi! I can’t wait to make these tonight. Which star tip did you use for best results? Thank you!
I use 1M Wilton tip. Hope you love the cupcakes!
Good morning! Could this be made as a cake instead? What size pan and baking time would you recommend? Truly beautiful, I can’t wait to make it!
Thank you!
Sure! I would use 2 (8-9 inch) round cake pans and bake 28-30 minutes. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
I love hydrangeas and these are the prettiest cupcakes!
Thank you Laura!
Wow these are gorgeous!
Thank you Leigh Ann!
These cupcakes are so beautiful! I love that you used freeze-dried berries to color the frosting, such a smart idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much Lauren!
These cupcakes are fantastic! Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and they definitely make me think of springtime!
I am so glad you like these! Thanks Jen!
Thank you for this beautiful recipe, and for your wise words about the Golden Rule and teaching and supporting our kids. You are so right about acts of kindness, large and small, and it’s a great idea to share these. Happy Easter!
Thank you Terry!
Actually obsessed.
Thank you!
WOW! This is incredible! SOOO pretty!
Thanks Gina!