Healthier Carrot Cake Muffins

Healthy carrot cake muffins packed with carrots, coconut, raisins, and nuts, naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and applesauce. Top them with a light cream cheese glaze for a delicious snack or healthy treat!

Ingredients

12 muffins:

Dry ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour (all-purpose flour or all-purpose gluten-free flour also works!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:
2-3 carrots, finely shredded
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup natural unsweetened applesauce (or sub 1 mashed ripe banana)
1 egg
2 tablespoons olive oil (or melted coconut oil, walnut oil or avocado oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk (any milk will work)

Optional mix-ins:
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

For the glaze:
4 oz light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 tablespoons almond milk, to thin glaze

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin pan with liners and spray the inside with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the batter from sticking to the liners. You can also omit the liners and generously spray the muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Next add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to a medium bowl; stir to combine and then set aside.

3. In a separate large bowl, add carrots, maple syrup, applesauce, egg, oil, and vanilla. Whisk to combine wet ingredients, then slowly stir in milk and flour mixture until just combined.
4. Fold in shredded coconut and raisins, if you&’d like. Divide batter evenly between muffins cups or liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in pan then transfer muffins to a wire rack to finish cooling.
5. Once muffins are completely cool, you can make the cream cheese glaze: Place cream cheese in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 10-20 seconds, or until cream cheese is somewhat warm and a little runny. Stir gently and add in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk; stir again and add more milk if necessary until glaze reaches desired consistency; not too runny and not overly thick.
6. Dip each muffin top into cream cheese glaze, then place back on wire rack. Sprinkle with shredded coconut or walnuts/pecans if desired. Makes 12 muffins.