Winter Blues Remedy

Ingredients

Carrot Cupcakes

(Adapted from Reader's Digest - Creative Cooking)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes

For carrot cupcakes you will need:

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon orange zest

4 eggs

1½ cups finely grated or shredded carrots

½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

2½ cups AP flour, sifted

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup warm water

For Cream Cheese Frosting you will need:

1 8oz. package of cream cheese

1½ cups confectioner’s sugar

Juice of half an orange

Dried craisins for garnish

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake tins. Grate carrots into a medium side bowl with a paper towel, to soak up some of the excess water. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Next beat in cinnamon, nutmeg sugar, and grated orange zest. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then gradually stir in the carrots and nuts.

Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to the carrot mixture with the warm water. Fold in the flour just until it is well moistened.

Pour the batter into the cupcake tins and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the cake tester comes out clean.

A few minutes after removing from the oven, loosen the cupcakes from the sides and turn out on a rack to cool.

Combine cream cheese, sugar and orange zest for frosting and generously spread over each cupcake once cupcakes have completely cooled. If desired, add a few dried craisin on top. (I have an apparent obsession with craisins, but they go really well with these cupcakes)!