These Carrot Cake Cupcakes & Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, moist, delicious, and will be a hit at your next celebration!

Kelsie turned 12 on August 22nd, and I'm pretty sure I cried. Sappy? Yes. Y'all she's my baby. She's my youngest. She's most likely the last, because kids are expensive, and I want to go to Target without packing a diaper bag, and I want to go to Disney World and ride rides without having to use rider swap.
Yea, I guess that is selfish of me. But y'all, my youngest is 12, we would be starting over from scratch.
Does anyone else feel that way?
I'm in my mid-thirties. My oldest is in college, and my youngest is pretty self sufficient. We can leave her home alone to go on a date. She can ride all the rides at Disney World, and almost every ride at Universal. (she's short for her age - and I'm good with that!) So no rider swap. We can go on vacation, and she can pack her own bag.
But then, then I feel that twinge...the one that says, this is my last chance - have a baby now before you regret it, and can't have anymore.
Y'all my parents had me at the ripe age of 41, and I'm here to say that I don't want to be a parent at that age. You're tired. You don't want to argue with a toddler that can only manage to say "no" to you every time you tell them to do something.
It's just a constant battle with the thought, honestly. Do we try and have another, or just let it go. Gah, the mind games!
Anyway, y'all are here to see these Carrot Cake Cupcakes & Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting!
Kelsie chose these for her birthday celebration this year, and they were so good! I made this Perfect Carrot Cake last year that has been shared over a thousand times (because it's perfect!), and she remembered how delicious it was, and requested carrot cake cupcakes this year.
Instead of using the exact same recipe, and turning it into cupcakes, I remembered I had pinned a recipe from Lil Luna, and decided to use it. I altered it slightly from the original, and it was perfect.
What I really like is the brown sugar cream cheese frosting, that is hands down the best cream cheese frosting I've ever eaten. I may have eaten the remaining frosting with a spoon, straight from the mixing bowl.
This recipe is going to make 15 cupcakes, and every one is going to rave that you are carrot cake queen (or king), because these contain just the right amount of cinnamon spice that carrot cake should have. They are insanely moist, and totally perfect.
Can I freeze carrot cake cupcakes?
Sure! Just make the cupcakes, without the frosting - and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
If you want to freeze with the frosting, you can do that too. Just make sure when you place them in the container that it's large enough to keep the frosting from being smashed.
Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Can I make mini carrot cake cupcakes?
Yep! Just bake at 350 degrees, and check them at 10 minutes.
Add ins or toppings?
Nuts and raisins are popular carrot cake choices. Fold either ½ cup of each or both in at the end, before baking. It will make more than 15 cupcakes.
More carrot cake recipes?
Carrot Cake Cupcakes & Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

These Carrot Cake Cupcakes & Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, moist, delicious, and will be a hit at your next celebration!
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 ¼ cup flour
- ½ + ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ + ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup oil
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ cups carrots, grated finely
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake/muffin pan with liners. Set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl, and set aside.
- In a large bowl attached to a stand mixer, beat together the sugar, eggs, and oil for two minutes. Add the vanilla extract, Greek yogurt, and carrots. Mix until blended. Remove from the stand mixer, and using a spatula stir in the dry ingredients, until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Fill the liners ¾ths full, and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar for a full three minutes. Add the vanilla, and powdered sugar one cup at a time until the frosting comes together. Frost completely cooled cupcakes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
15Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 391Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 168mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 42gProtein: 3g
robin rue says
My dad is a BIG fan of carrot cake. Since he has a birthday coming up, I think I am going to make him some of these. He will love them.
Alli Smith says
Carrot Cake is in the top 3 of my all time favorite cakes! I love that this is in cupcake form and the brown sugar cream cheese frosting is something I'm going to have to try ASAP. I normally use my regular cream cheese frosting recipe so this will be a fun and delicious change for me. Looks so yummy!
Jeanette says
We love carrot cake in our family. With a birthday coming up soon this is perfect timing. It will be a tasty treat for the borthday boy.
Tomi c says
I think I have a new favorite cream cheese frosting. Your brown sugar cream cheese frosting looks absolutely delicious and nothing pairs better with a carrot cake anything than cream cheese. Saving this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
I am a huge fan of cream cheese frosting. I love the idea of using brown sugar! It looks really super delicious. I am going to have to try this out.
candy says
Carrot carrot cake is a favorite of mine and my daughters. The frosting has to be cream cheese.
JAlisa says
My mom is a huge carrot cake lover. Definitely a recipe I have to share with her.
Amber Myers says
Yes! I love carrot cake! These cupcakes look fantastic. I think I'd lick off all the frosting first and chow down on the rest.
Lisa says
I have a weakness for cream cheese frosting. Therefore I need these in my life now! `
Lori Geurin says
I'm loving the addition of the Greek yogurt in these cupcakes. And can I just say YUM! I can't wait to try these. Now if I can just learn how to make my icing look like a rose I'll be set. 🙂
Jeanine says
Yum! These look delicious and a perfect treat for the family! I'd love to make these. The brown sugar frosting sounds amazing too!
Erica says
My friend had a kid in her very earl 20s. Then, when he was almost grown and she was in her late 30s, she got pregnant again. She seems very happy. But she's also going to be a mom with school age kids from her 20s all the way to the time she pushing 60. I vote for building in some you time into life.
Stephanie says
Carrot cake anything is my ultimate weakness. I make them at least once a month during the Fall and Winter.
Jacqui S says
I'm not a carrot cake person, but that brown sugar cream cheese frosting looks and sounds delish! Will have to find another cake to try it on!
Terri Steffes says
We love carrot cake in our house! Brown sugar, cream cheese frosting though? Yummy! I cannot wait to eat, I mean, make, that icing!
Sue Reddel says
Fall is the perfect time for eating carrot cake. Your recipe looks and sounds delicious.
april brumm says
wow, these look amazing!!! thank you for sharing and i must point out that your pictures are fantabulous!!!
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I love cream cheese, it's a staple I always have on hand. The icing sounds particularly tasty, and nice and simple to make too!
AnnMarie John says
I feel you. My youngest is 6 and she's definitely my last baby. I'm dome with the diapers and all that! Ghese cupcakes look so good! And I've always enjoyed carrot cakes and cupcakes so this is totally a win!
Cheryl says
Omg these lo0k so yum! I can't believe I've never made carrot cupcakes. I bet the brown sugar cream cheese frosting was very good. I imagine it adds a slight caramel like flavor.
Cat says
Mmmm carrot cake cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting sounds amazing right now! Would that be terrible if I wanted this for breakfast?! Lol
Anosa says
Aww! I got excited to see this post and check out the recipe. However, makes me sad realizing that my oven was broken. Oh well, reality hurts, so for now I will save this for now.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
Oooh, I love the flavor of carrot cake, but I never made it into cupcakes! This recipe sounds amazing. The cream cheese frosting sounds so tasty too!
Our Family World says
These cupcakes look divine! I love the choice of frosting too. That would really compliment the taste of the cupcake. Thanks for sharing the recipe idea. I will try to make some this weekend.
Krystle Cook says
Carrot cake is seriously one of my favorites. I don't think that I have ever had it in cupcake form.
Heather says
These cupcakes are so pretty! I would love to share them with my family.
HilLesha says
How delicious! I have always loved carrot cake, but never actually tried carrot cake cupcakes before. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
Nadine Cathleen says
They look amazing. I should really stop reading the yummy dessert posts when I@m craving sweets haha
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I love this! It is just like bite sized carrot cake with a delicious frosting. Seriously, that brown sugar and cream cheese combo is the perfect compliment to the carrot cupcake.
Brittany says
Ooh these look so good! I love carrot cake and I can't wait to make this one! It looks so good! I'm not the best at decorating cupcakes and I would love to figure it out!
Kathleen says
Uhhh,, yum.. I'm craving for carrot cake now. I've never tried brown sugar cream cheese frosting before. Will try this out. Sounds delish. Can you just be my neighbor or taste tester though? Haha
Toni says
I totally understand the senimental feeling. My oldest turns 17 next week and #2 turns 16 a week after that. I think we have an idea for desserts next week that's beyond the traditional cupcakes. Thank you for sharing!