Carrot cake cupcakes (Easter edition)

There is a certain kind of magical uplifting that happens when the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and freshly grated carrots spreads through one's kitchen. Mainly associated with the smell of comfort, home, and the feeling of something warm in my heart. Carrot cake has always meant safety to me - a soft place to land, a bite of something familiar when the world feels anything but.

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These carrot cake cupcakes recreate the nostalgic charm of the classic carrot cake into miniature portions of joy. Just the right balance between the moist, tender, sweet, and bursting with notes of carrot and warm spice. Topped with delicious cream cheese frosting that hugs every bite like a long-lost friend. These cupcakes are perfect for spring afternoons or whenever you need a reminder of something comforting.

They’re especially perfect around Easter. The time of year is always associated with pastel colours, soft light, and quiet memories.

Disclaimer: this is nothing for the weak hearted ones out there. If you're sensitive to violence and blood, please skip this section: skip.

I’ve never told anyone what has really happened that day – have been living with that secret far too long. But I cannot stay quiet anymore – cannot keep the silence any longer. People deserve to know – she deserves the truth to be known.

It was Easter break, when we went for our trip. A trip to the theme park – not far from where we lived. We wanted to have a fun day off – enjoy ourselves a little bit before the stressful exam season would start. It was our annual tradition. We would rent a car, pack some snacks and blast music during the car ride – to get us into the mood of full relaxation and fun. Because girls just wanna have fun, right? In the theme park we had our must-rides. We would typically start with the free fall, where I’d almost shit my pants every single time, because I’m terribly scared of heights. Before the ride I would panic and try to make a run for it. But Meghan would take my hand, look me in the eye and tell me that she’s right here with me. Oh, how I miss this girl. After getting the first adrenaline kick at the free fall, we would crave more and try to find another cheap thrill at the fastest roller coaster. Hyped up by all the quick turns and high drops, we’d hop into a bumper car to burn off our energy. Then we’d get some ice cream, sit in the sun and just yap about our lives. In the afternoon we’d take some more rides – the carousel, teacup and splash boats, to name just a few. When it would get dark, it was finally time to visit our favourite attraction before we’d hit the road again and drive back home: the horror mansion! And this is where the story begins – the horrible truth is hidden.

“I’m so excited,” Meghan said, pulling a hoodie over her head. “The horror mansion is my favourite.” She was beaming – happiness written all over her face. “I know,” I beamed back at her – her smile was infectious. “It’s my favourite too.” The queue in front of us was surprisingly short – usually, the horror mansion was the most popular attraction in the park. Besides gruesome replicas and set design, eerie music and sound effects and flickering lights and fog machines, the mansion had live actors dressed up as ghosts or ghouls who would take any chance to jump scare the mansion’s visitors.   “Just the two of you?” asked the girl at the entrance, holding up two fingers. I nodded, and she lifted the rope closing off the entrance and let us in.

It was pitch-black inside the mansion and not a sound could be heard. “They really changed a lot this year,” I heard Meghan murmur, her voice shaking slightly. “Maybe they realized they needed to step it up a notch so their yearly visitors wouldn’t get bored,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, my hand reaching for hers in the darkness. Hand in hand, we continued further into the mansion, our empty hands guided only by the walls. The further we got into the mansion, the stronger my discomfort grew. Something felt off here – something didn’t feel right. Finally, there was some light at the end of the hallway – but the uneasy feeling didn’t go away. Illuminated by the light, a gallows stood. With trembling steps, we moved closer. When we were only a few steps away, a figure stepped out of the dark. It was clad in a white bunny costume – perfectly fitting the Easter theme. It was holding a rope in its hand, using the other free hand to signal us to come closer. Meghan and I looked at each other – our expressions equally filled with fear. “I’m right here with you,” I whispered, gently squeezing her hand. We gathered all our courage and stepped into the light.

The bunny seemed excited – happy that we followed its lead. It walked around us in a circle, studying us intensely. Then it took the rope into both hands and showed it to us. My heart was racing – pounding heavily in my chest. They indeed stepped up a notch with this year’s mansion set up. In one smooth motion, the bunny opened the sling of the rope and slipped it around Meghan's neck. Before I could realise what was happening, it jumped back and flipped a switch on the gallows. Suddenly, the rope was drawn up onto the gallows, pulling Meghan off her feet and lifting her into the air.

“Meghan,” my voice broke through the silence, horror-stricken and filled with desperation. The bunny looked at me, his index finger close to its mouth signalling for me to stay quiet. Paralysed by fear, I watched as my friend was strangled on the gallows. The rope bit into her neck, cutting off the air she was so desperately trying to gasp for. Her red face was slowly turning purple and her eyes bulged, while her whole body was twitching, fighting for air – fighting for her life. I wanted to help her – free her from her suffering. But I couldn't move. I just stood there, watching my friend die slowly. When she finally stopped twitching – her body was hanging limp from the rope – the bunny moved a step towards me. Its eyes fixated on me, while it slowly moved its index finger back to its mouth, signalling for me, yet again, to stay quiet – to keep our little secret. Then it lunged toward me – snapping me right out of my paralysis. Freed from my paralysis, I turned around and ran as fast as I could.

I’ve never told anyone what really happened that day. Haven’t told anyone about the bunny and its silent threat. When I arrived outside of the mansion, it was already closed off for the public and an ambulance was on the way. But it was too late, Meghan was already dead. The incident was dismissed as an accident – a malfunction of the gallows they installed as a new interactive attraction. And I didn’t speak out – kept silent. Until today.

Therefore, on the first day of the Easter weekend, I share this recipe of carrot cake cupcakes with you. Not just as a recipe, but as a piece of memory. Perhaps, a little bittersweet. But then again, the best recipes always are.

Let’s get started.

P.S. the original recipe is by sugarspunrun and can be found here.

Ingredients

for the Cupcakes (12 muffins)

157 g All-purpose flour

100 g Granulated sugar

100 g Brown sugar

170 g Grated carrots

60 g Chopped walnuts (optional)

180 ml Vegetable, or canola oil

2 Large eggs 

2 Tablespoons milk

¾ Teaspoon baking soda

½ Teaspoon baking powder

½ Teaspoon salt

1  Teaspoon cinnamon

¼ Teaspoon nutmeg

1½ Teaspoons vanilla extract

for the Cream Cheese Frosting

115 g butter (soft)

220 g cream cheese

250-300 g icing sugar

a little bit of vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 175 C, prepare the muffin pan by lining it with baking paper or butter.

2. In a large bowl mix together all the dry ingredients - flour, brown and regular sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. When the dry ingredients are properly mixed, stir in the oil.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mix properly in between adding the eggs. Beat until well-combined.

5. Then stir in the vanilla extract and milk.

6. Finally add the carrots and nuts (optional). Stir until the mixture is evenly mixed.

7. Evenly divide the mixture into the cupcake liners, filling each to about ⅔ to the top.  

8. Transfer to the oven and bake at 175 C for about 20 minutes. Or until a toothpick comes out clean or with moist crumbs.  

9. When the cupcakes are done baking, allow them to cool in the baking tin for 5 minutes. Then carefully move to a cooling rack, allowing them to cool completely

10. When the cupcakes are cooled down completely, decorate them with the cream cheese frosting. To make the frosting add butter and cream cheese in a bowl and mix.

11. Add the sugar little by little and continue mixing. Lastly add the vanilla extract and give it one last good mix.

12. Decorate the cupcakes with the cream cheese - if you feel creative, grab some shredded coconut, food colouring and chocolate to add some Easter touches to it.

Enjoy!