Beets, pineapple, and applesauce create a healthier gluten-free Carrot and Beets Cupcake everyone loves without the guilt.
We love these healthified cupcakes, Linda, at Savoring Every Bite created with all the goodness of fresh carrots and beets. Linda has a knack for delicious biscotti and cheesecakes—you’ll want to check out her Peanut Butter Lovers Cheesecake.
Her recipes have a simple elegance to them and you always feel welcome at her table which is why I invited her to share her beautiful cupcakes.
A Personal Note from Linda
Hello Savoring Today readers, I am Linda from Savoring Every Bite, and so very honored and pleased to have been asked by Judy to guest post.
Aside from Judy and I both sharing our passion of savoring…. days, bites, moments, experiences, life in general…I have found that she is so similar a woman to me in her faith, love of family, friends and hospitality.
With that inner driving force, I know that she will find her healing, comfort and peace during this season of her life. And with all of our prayers going out to her, I am sure she feels His presence!
Creating Healthy Cupcakes with Carrots and Beets
I have made some changes in my eating, though I have always eaten healthily, I’ve stepped up my eating clean, fewer carbs and a very conscientious effort in following this for every meal.
So as I began planning my Easter menu, I gave some serious thought to my traditional Carrot Cake recipe. The carrot cake recipe I have baked for family and friends since the 80’s is overloaded with goodness like carrots, crushed pineapple, golden raisins, and walnuts.
Unfortunately, all that goodness comes with white flour, oil and a ton of sugar! As I began experimenting, cupcakes seemed easier to taste test, plus I just love presenting my guests with a pretty, personal dessert.
Beets are fairly new to me, it wasn’t a veggie my mother made for us and honestly I only saw them sliced from a can and that did not appeal to me to even try.
So with this whole new healthy eating and learning of beets being one of the world’s healthiest, extremely nutritious foods, I incorporated grated beets along with the carrots.
As you can see, the beets turned the dough into a very pretty color! I switched the white flour to rice flour, initially concerned that rice flour has felt grainy to me in the past.
I think with all the extras thrown in, there wasn’t any noticeable texture difference using rice flour. Oil was replaced with applesauce and coconut oil; sugar was switched to coconut sugar.
In one batch I reduced the amount of sugar but felt that as these are for dessert and not a breakfast muffin, the full amount was needed.
Top Carrot Beet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Topping it off, of course, is the full-blown cream cheese frosting I love. Mile high gets you all the oohs and aahs every baker/hostess craves, however, a little less frosting is a bit healthier.
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Carrot and Beet Cupcakes [Gluten Free]
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 4 large eggs
- 8 ounces unsweetened crushed pineapple , well drained
- 2 cups rice flour (or oat or almond flour)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded beets , outer skin peeled off
- ¾ cup unsweetened coconut
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pans with paper liners. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar, vanilla, applesauce and oil together until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, blending well. Mix in the drained crushed pineapple.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add in the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl, adding in the shredded carrots and beets halfway until blended. Stir in the coconut, walnuts and dried cranberries.
- Using a large ice cream scoop, fill each liner cup about ¾ full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 minutes in the pan, remove to wire rack and allow to completely cool.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 packages (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter , softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Mix together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. On low speed gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth. When cupcakes are completely cooled, spread or pipe over cupcakes. Sprinkle on candies or additional chopped walnuts. Keep refrigerated; bring to room temp for serving.
Alana says
I wasn’t sure about the beets, but they worked great!
mjskit says
Oh Judy – so good to hear that you’ll be back cooking in the kitchen again! Thank you for introducing me to Linda. I wasn’t familiar with her and have already jumped over to her blog to check her out. I loves what I saw! Lots of great looking treats, as good as these delightful little cupcakes! Healthy sweets like this don’t normally look so good! Great guest post!
Geni says
I do so hope that you are doing better everyday. I am so sorry you have had to go through this and truly wish you the best Judy. I will add you to my prayers.
As for the carrot cupcakes, these look just up my alley since we are GF at our house and i frequently use coconut sugar instead of processed sugar. I know I can depend on any recipe from Linda. Good choice in having her sub-in.
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Dear Judy, well that is such good news! Keep getting well! We will all be here to greet you with open arms and big hugs when you come back. And thank you for the introduction to Linda : )
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Judy, so glad to hear you’re recovering well! Can’t wait until you’re messing in the kitchen again and sharing things with us! In the meantime, what a great guest post! Love these cupcakes. Thanks.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Judy, I’m so happy that you are doing well after the surgery…that is wonderful. I hope each day you continue to make progress. I’m also happy that your request to Linda to do a guest post got her back into the blogging world with a nice recipe.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
Judy, I’m so pleased to hear that your recovery is going well and that you are continuing to feel better!
Linda, it’s lovely to ‘meet’ you. I really like the recipe you have shared. I love baking with vegetables and am always looking for ways to use beets. Your Carrot Beet Cupcakes look so pretty and they sound absolutely delicious. It’s wonderful they are gluten free too. I’ve pinned them 🙂
Bam's Kitchen says
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take Care, BAM