This recipe for carrot cake cupcakes with dairy-free cream cheese frosting is something that I never thought I would be able to eat again. However, thanks to the brand Daiya that makes vegan (and therefore, dairy-free) cream cheese, this recipe is possible to make seamlessly with substitutions. The carrot cake cupcakes can be eaten alone as a muffin or topped with the vegan frosting. See how delicious dairy-free baking can be through the application of this classic. 

#SpoonTip: Carrot cake recipe inspired by Inspired Taste.

Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes

  • Prep Time:20 mins
  • Cook Time:27 mins
  • Total Time:47 mins
  • Servings:24
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 cups grated or shredded carrots
  • 1 cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
bread, chocolate
Allison Curley

  • Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cupcake baking sheet with paper holders.

    cream cheese, cake, muffin, cheese, chocolate, cupcake
    Allison Curley

  • Step 2

    Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and both sugars in a bowl.

    milk, wheat, bread, sweet, cereal, flour
    Allison Curley

  • Step 3

    Add the vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla slowly. Mix well.

    chicken, egg
    Allison Curley

  • Step 4

    Add in the carrots, raisins, and pecans slowly.

    seafood, vegetable, pork, beef, meat
    Allison Curley

  • Step 5

    Use an ice cream scooper to scoop the batter into each cupcake tin. Fill up 3/4 of the way. Bake for 25-27 minutes.

    sweet, cake, chocolate, pie
    Allison Curley

These cupcakes are naturally dairy-free, which is great because there is no substituting necessary and they taste just like the classic recipe. The cake is super moist and hardy, which could double as the perfect breakfast muffin and the base for a great cupcake. Of course, this recipe could be used for a cake pan as well. To avoid confusion, the disclaimer is that these cupcakes are not vegan due to the eggs. Only the frosting that I made below is vegan.

Dairy-Free and Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Prep Time:20 mins
  • Cook Time:0
  • Total Time:20 mins
  • Servings:24
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup Daiya plain cream cheese spread
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk
flour, egg, cream, dairy product, milk
Allison Curley

  • Step 1

    Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream cheese to a mixing bowl.

    cake, pastry, dairy product, cereal, sweet, milk, dough, flour
    Allison Curley

  • Step 2

    Slowly add in the milk drop by drop while the mixer is on low speed until all is combined and relatively stiff.

    cake
    Allison Curley

This recipe tastes like dairy-free heaven, and no one would ever be able to tell that the frosting is vegan. All in all there are a lot of steps, but this is the perfect dessert to serve at a party or some sort of large gathering. Frost some of the cupcakes and leave some out just to snack on. They are delicious either way.