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Home » All Recipes » Breakfast Recipes

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

Modified: Dec 1, 2021 by Monica Le · Published: Mar 31, 2020 · Leave a Comment

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These healthy carrot cake muffins are prepped in just 10 minutes and topped with a creamy coconut butter glaze. They make for a perfect breakfast, snack or even a light and fluffy dessert. The muffins are gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.

carrot cake muffins with glaze with cinnamon sticks on a wire rack

Gluten free carrot cake muffins

I have had my fair share of gluten free muffins, and I always get nervous making them myself because they easily can dry out in my opinion.

The combination of almond flour and rice flour are really lovely in these. I used the same flour combination to make my vegan blueberry muffins, and they are a true crowd favorite.

With the shredded carrot addition and the coconut butter glaze, these turn out incredibly moist, fluffy and absolutely divine.

Ingredients you'll need

  • Coconut oil
  • Maple syrup
  • Unsweetened applesauce
  • Non-dairy milk
  • Vanilla
  • Brown rice flour
  • Almond flour
  • Kosher salt & spices
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Carrots
carrot cake muffins with glaze on top and a bite taken out

A creamy coconut butter glaze

The glaze on top of these muffins really ties everything together so well. It's made with coconut butter, sweetener, lemon juice, vanilla and non-dairy milk.

It's truly a very simple and straight forward recipe that I use time and time again. I first made it for my keto strawberry muffins and have been repeating it since.

I've even made it to dip fruit into... truly fantastic!

If you want these to be more of a dessert, I'd recommend topping them off with vanilla frosting.

I have a killer recipe for keto buttercream frosting that would be killer on top.

carrot cake muffins in a muffin tin with glaze and nuts on top

How to make healthy carrot cake muffins

Heat oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Line a cupcake or small muffin tin with 10 parchment liners. Very lightly coat or spray with extra oil and set aside.

Wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients until well combined.

Dry ingredients: Sift in the dry ingredients. Stir softly until everything has been well incorporated, but do not over mix. Fold in the shredded carrots.

Pour batter: Fill each parchment liner about ¾ full. Don't worry too much about it going too high. The muffins won't rise too high. The batter should divide evenly among 10 liners.

Cook: Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While they are cooking, prepare the glaze.

carrot cake muffins with glaze and nuts on a wire rack

Prepare glaze: Using a double boiler method or in a small glass bowl in the microwave, gently melt the coconut butter until smooth throughout.

Add sweetener: Remove from heat and stir in sweetener. The mixture will be quite thick at this point and that's okay. Slowly pour in about 1 tablespoon of almond milk at a time.

Watch the consistency closely. You will want it to be between thin and thick. I found that having equal amounts coconut butter and almond milk was perfect.

Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Taste for adjustments and spoon on top of the cooled down muffins. Enjoy!

Recipe substitutions and questions

Can I use a paleo flour instead of the rice flour?

There isn't a paleo flour that substitutes 1:1 for rice flour.

How long will these keep?

I keep them on the counter in an airtight container for 1 day. Then, I will transfer to the refrigerator for another 2-3 days.

Are they very sweet?

Not at all. They are very balanced and would work well for breakfast but can also be enjoyed for dessert.

a healthy carrot cake muffin unwrapped with a bite taken out

More paleo breakfast recipes you'll love

Keto and Paleo Waffles

Paleo Blueberry Pancakes

Dairy Free Protein Waffles

Paleo and Vegan Acai Bowl

carrot cake muffins with glaze and nuts on a wire rack

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

Monica Le
These healthy carrot cake muffins are prepped in just 10 minutes and topped with a creamy coconut butter glaze. They make for a perfect breakfast, snack or even a light and fluffy dessert. The muffins are gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 216 kcal

Ingredients
  

Muffins

  • ¼ cup coconut oil melted and cooled
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce or 1 egg
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup brown rice flour see notes
  • ½ cup blanched almond flour
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon dried nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon dried ginger
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup carrots grated
  • ¼ cup pecans and walnuts finely chopped, for topping

Coconut Butter Glaze

  • ¼ cup coconut butter
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar see notes
  • ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Muffins

  • Heat oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Line a cupcake or small muffin tin with 10 parchment liners. Very lightly coat or spray with extra oil and set aside.
  • Wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients until well combined.
  • Dry ingredients: Sift in the dry ingredients. Stir softly until everything has been well incorporated, but do not over mix. Fold in the shredded carrots.
  • Pour batter: Fill each parchment liner about ¾ full. Don't worry too much about it going too high. The muffins won't rise too high. The batter should divide evenly among 10 liners.
  • Cook: Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While they are cooking, prepare the glaze.

Coconut Butter Glaze

  • Prepare glaze: Using a double boiler method or in a small glass bowl in the microwave, gently melt the coconut butter until smooth throughout.
  • Add sweetener: Remove from heat and stir in sweetener. The mixture will be quite thick at this point and that's okay. Slowly pour in about 1 tablespoon of almond milk at a time.
    Watch the consistency closely. You will want it to be between thin and thick. I found that having equal amounts coconut butter and almond milk was perfect.
  • Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Taste for adjustments and spoon on top of the cooled down muffins. Add a sprinkle of crushed pecans and walnuts

Notes

  • There isn't a 1:1 substitute for rice flour besides another kind of rice flour. I'd recommend sticking to the recipe.
  • You can alternatively use Swerve or erythritol as the sweetener. Be sure to run it through a coffee or spice grinder if it's granular and not powdered.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 145mgPotassium: 126mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gCalcium: 62mg
Keyword Carrot Cake Muffins, Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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