With spring and Easter upon us, there is just something so perfect about using carrots for decor, crafts, and fun foods! Obviously, using real carrots (like I did in these carrot muffins) is the healthy way to go. But, sometimes sweet treats are just more fun! So, with these cupcakes (inspired by a version seen on Parents.com), you’ve got some seriously cute carrot cupcakes! 
Really, you could make the circus peanut carrot topper on any treat you like – and, you definitely could go with cake mix or even store-bought cupcakes. But, I think the candy carrots certainly are extra cute for carrot cake! So, the recipe below is for carrot cake from scratch. The directions also explain how to create the candy carrots!
Cute Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ¾ C buttermilk
- 1/4 C of vegetable oil
- 1/2 C applesauce
- 1 ½ C sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 C. flour
- 2 tsp. Baking soda
- 2 C. shredded carrots
- 1 C. raisins *optional
- 1 C. Walnuts *optional
- 24 cupcake liners OR spray the cupcake tin with nonstick spray
- 1 C white frosting (cream cheese frosting preferred
- 24 circus peanuts
- 1/2 package of green apple twizzlers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare muffin tins.
- In a medium size bowl combine the ground cinnamon, salt, flour and baking soda and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the 3 eggs, buttermilk, oil, applesauce, sugar and vanilla.
- Slowly fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture, mixing well. Add the shredded carrots and other optional items if desired.
- Bake on 350 for 20 - 25 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean). Let cool completely for several hours before to frosting/decorating.
- While the cupcakes are baking/cooling you can work on the decorations (and making homemade frosting if you'd like to use that instead of store bought). Here's how to make the "carrots":
- Take 1 Circus Peanut at a time and using a sharp/small paring knife whittle a small hole in the end of each peanut.
- Pull apart the green twizzlers. Using 3 strands at a time (you will want to shorten them) push them into the small hole you made (use the paring knife if needed). Repeat this process with the other Circus Peanuts.
- Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, use a small spatula to frost the top of each one and set the 'carrots' on top.
- Store in a airtight container for a few days or you can also store in the freezer for several months.
So, they do take a bit of time to create, but the end result sure is cute! I think these would make an adorable addition to our family’s traditional coconut Easter bunny cake! 
Be sure to follow my spring/Easter Pinterest board for more fun ideas like this!
What desserts do you like for Easter?
