I wonder what's going on? Is every ones baking powder and soda up to date? I just threw mine out and bought some new a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if the sugar ratio is too high? That wouldn't account for us whos did rise OK though. I feel so bad for those that didn't work out. They really are good!

I made the cupcakes, but wanted to decorate. So, I added the nuts & raisins etc. into the batter, and used regular cream cheese frosting. They were great! Everyone loved them. What a great flavor. I also made the Chocolate/pumpkin cc's (with the same cream cheese frosting) that is on the other thread, they were awesome! I took all of these to church Sunday and they were a real hit! I will use both recipes again. Thanks!

GrandmaG..YES I checked my dates and they were fine but remember mine rose fine while baking, they sunk after they were half cooled ! Well off to house sit for a neighbor for a couple hrs check in later !

Ok, Let me first start by saying, I HATE CARROTS!!, but because this was the inaugural (sp?) recipe for the cupcake club, I wanted to give it a go. You should have seen me trying to find the carrots in the produce section My daughter has always eaten the baby carrots raw, so when I was looking for normal size carrots she kept pointing at the baby carrots and saying, there they are

Anywho, The only problem I had was that, 1/2 of my cupcakes domed beautifuly and half sunk, not sure why that was the case, but they smelled delightful while they were baking. I tried one right out of the oven, and guess what, I LOVED THEM. The flavor and texture to me was wonderful. I agree with others, that the icing recipe could be half as much more. I was doubtful of how the icing would taste with the raisins, cocount, and pecans in it, but again, I LOVED IT , I willl take that recomendation of chopping up the raisins before putting them in the frosting next time, so not so big of chunks. I will definately make these again, because so far everyone has liked tham that I have given them to.


My only quetions is, does anyone think this recipe would be good without the carrots and maybe add the raisins to the batter instead and keep the frosting just like it is?? Would that be too much raisins?

Can't wait for the next recipe, this was lots of fun!!

Dawn

Dawn, the only problem with taking out the carrots is that you need something in their place. I don't think the recipe ratios would be quite right without them, plus you'd get like 9 cupcakes! I have a zucchini sitting here that is begging to be substituted for the carrots! I might try that too!

Fiddle, mine sank considerably too and that always frustrates me. The only saving grace is that the frosting hides it. But they look so pretty when they come out all slightly domed, and then your heart falls as the begin to sink. That's also what causes them to pull away from the liner or nut cup. ERGH!

I think I am remaking them today... one suggestion, I think they work better and the texture is better if you use the fine shred option, not the normal shred. Just my opinion!

I think it would be fine without the carrots. Do you like zucchini bread? I bet you could substitute with zucchini. Or no vegetable at all should be fine. I read a recipe where they put craisins in it instead of raisins. That would be a great twist with Cranberry sauce cream cheese frosting!

Ya, you're right Melvira. With 3 cups of carrots you would have to substitute it with something. I took my shredded carrots and processed them until they looked grated. Couldn't really tell they even had carrots in them.

Really Grandma? You don't think it would mess with the proportions of the recipe?? That would be cool, then it would just be a nice spice muffin!!

Edited to add: Ok, your second entry just popped up there. Hehehe. I think we would have to do something differently. There's a good job for someone who wants to play around with it!!

Melvira, that was why I was wondering if the raisins would work in place of the carrotsand keep the frosting as the recipe call for. Too much you think?? and I love zuchinni, would be willing to try that.

GrandmaG, ooooh, the craisins sound like a great idea in either the cupcake or the frosting, yummo!! I love craisins

Could you substitute chopped apples or would they break down too much?

Well, I know my baking powder was to date, but maybe my baking soda was not? I will have to check when I get home, but I do want to try these again this week to see if I'M the problem!!

They smelled really good, I just hate when something overflows in my oven and the smell of that burning with the smell of the wonderful cuppies counteracts with each other. And of course, I didn't put a cookie sheet underneath so now I will have to clean my oven. It's need a good cleaning though, I just hate doing it. I will keep you posted on when I complete them again this week.

I think mine has a lot to do with my German oven. I have to try things several times to get it just right.

Shred the apples, it will work perfectly. Although, I would suggest adding another tablespoon or two of flour as the apple are juicier than the carrot. The flesh is softer and more 'watery'. You will flip over it if you like apples! I make an old fashioned apple cake and the recipe is similar to this. It's amazing. With old fashioned caramel boiled frosting on top. Mmmm. That is actually what these reminded me of when I was making them. So, in short, I whole heartedly recommend apples as your substitution. Although... zucchini is awesome too! (And I have some of those, but I'm out of apples!)

I googled a substitute for carrots in a cake recipe. They suggested grated sweet potato or butternut squash. Although they said that finely grated carrot wouldn't be noticed. They said adding apples might alter the taste and consistency.

It would definitely alter the taste, which would kind of be the point. You know, just changing it up! And it would change the consistency somewhat, which is why I suggest a bit more flour. I think sweet potato sounds awesome too!! Talk about a real fall flavor!! Sweet potato cuppies with chunky frosting... oh yah!!

I made the cuppies last night. I agree that the tops do look a little different. Mind didn't dome but didn't fall either. My best friend, who said she hated carrot cake, just wanted a taste of mine. "Get your own, this is mine" was the response I got from her. She said"carrot is my new favorite cake." From that I would consider these very successful.

That is the ABSOLUTE measure of success!! WAY TO GO!!

My cupcakes rose fine as I said before. I only filled halfway-so I wonder if that helped and I baked at 325.

Mel, it looks like I'm contradicting you but I think we're just posting at the same time! LOL I don't see your post until after I post mine and mine ends up after yours. But you're right about adding extra flour if you use apples.

Count me in too!! My husband LOVES cupcakes!

Does anyone think the baking powder to baking soda amounts seems off? Most recipes call for twice the amount of baking powder to baking soda. (I thought it seemed odd as the choc/pumpkin recipe called for more baking powder than baking soda). Just a thought-I could be way wrong.

I gave cuppies to the ladies that work in the office across the hall. I also gave some to the office down the hall. The ladies across from me said"you shouldn't have given those other cupcakes away." I asked why and they said "We're going to have to go down there and get them back." We LOVE them. Another success.

When a person gets picked to submit the next CCCC recipe, can if be from our large file we created in the other thread or does it have to be from somehwere else?? I can't seem to find cuppie recipes except on CC. There are so many in that file that I haven't tried yet and would love to.

That is 100% up to the person posting. You can choose any recipe from any source. It's totally your choice!!

Have you tried an internet search on 'cupcake recipe'? I bet you'd find lots!

yeah, lots of ordinary everyday recipes, not anything different, and I am not always creative thinker

Hmmm... well, I guess you'll just have to pick something from the recipe file that you're dying to make!! No arguments there from me for certain!!

Ok, I remade these cuppies with my changes.

Going through the recipe, here is what I changed:

Added 1 t. home made vanilla extract during the egg/sugar mixing.

Used 2 packed cups of flour. Instead of lightly spooning into the cup and leveling, I did the unthinkable... scooped with the measuring cup and tamped it down a bit. I think that was necessary to counteract the high amount of oil.

Used a full teaspoon of table salt and heaping teaspoons of cinnamon.

Put my shredded carrots through a quick spin in the food processor for a more 'minced' carrot texture. This made them really break down into the batter during baking.

Filled the cups every so slightly fuller, only got 23 cuppies out of the batter. Baked for 3 minutes at 400 degrees, then lowered the heat to 350 and baked for about another 18 minutes, for a total of 21 minutes. Could've gone another 2 minutes honestly, but I am always afraid of overbaking.

What went right: They did not sink this time. The added flour and higher baking temp worked together to make them rise, very slightly dome, and then not sink in on me! The vanilla and added salt helped the flavor a little.

What's still wrong: Once you get the icing on these bad boys, this point is moot, but I feel there is not enough flavor in this recipe for the cake part. If you eat one uniced, it's just a bit boring. I'd like to add some spices to it like a dash of cloves, some ginger and nutmeg especially. Give it more of a spiced carrot cake taste. Like I said, once you get the icing on there, it's definitely not as boring, but I like to taste the cake separately too.

I'm moving this one up to a 3.75 cuppies on a 5 cuppy scale.

Ok everybody! I'm a lurker! I will definitely try the recipes when I have time but I was also wondering if anyone has a link to the choc/ pumpkin cc?? And are the recipes that you all are referring to now and again just sporadically throughout the ginormous cuppie thread or are they all together somewhere? I have only made it to page 19 of the big one so far....thanks!

Considering the responses I've had so far, I give it a 4 on the 5 cuppy scale. I wouldn't mind some extra spices also.