Description
Deliciously soft carrot cake donuts topped with cream cheese frosting and garnished with nuts and cinnamon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan alternative)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups grated fresh carrots
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (dairy-free for vegan option)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened (dairy-free for vegan option)
- 1 to 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Light dusting of cinnamon or cinnamon sugar
- Grated carrot curls
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients—flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients—vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract—until smooth.
- Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently fold in the grated carrots. Be careful not to overmix to keep the donuts soft and tender.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a donut pan.
- Spoon the batter evenly into each cavity, filling about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow them to cool completely before frosting.
- While the donuts cool, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until silky smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Spread or pipe generous amounts of the cream cheese frosting on each cooled donut.
- Optionally, garnish with chopped nuts, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or grated carrot curls for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- This recipe is easily adaptable for a vegan option by using flax eggs and dairy-free cream cheese.
- For gluten-free donuts, ensure to use a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg