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Zucchini Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Zucchini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Zucchini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting These zucchini cupcakes are the ones I bake when the garden hands me more zucchini than I can keep up with. They come out extra moist with a warm spice cake flavor, and each one gets a generous swirl of cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

  • Total Time: 100 min
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Zucchini Cupcakes
1 cup grated zucchini, about 1 medium zucchini
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted (188 grams)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil, (80 ml), or canola oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar, (100 grams)
1/2 cup brown sugar, (105 grams), light or dark
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon orange zest
1/3 cup milk, (80 ml), room temperature

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
3/4 cup unsalted butter, (170 grams), softened but still firm to the touch
4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, (112 grams), be sure to use brick style cream cheese
2 – 3 cups powdered sugar, (220 – 300 grams)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, more or less, to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon heavy cream, (15 ml), or whipping cream, if needed

Instructions

Zucchini Cupcakes
1-Preheat the oven to 350F (180C): Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Line a 12-cavity muffin pan with papers.
2-Chop the ends off of the zucchini: Chop the ends off of the zucchini. Grate using a cheese grater. Then blot with paper towel.
3-In a large bowl, whisk together the: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
4-In a separate bowl, whisk together the: In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, orange zest, vanilla and milk until you no longer see lumps of sugar or pieces of egg.
5-Make a well in the dry ingredients: Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Gently fold the mixture together until almost combined
6-Add in the blotted zucchini and gently: Add in the blotted zucchini and gently stir together until you no longer see streaks or lumps of dry ingredients.
7-Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake: Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling each about 3/4 full. You should end up with about 12 cupcakes.
8-Bake in the middle of the preheated: Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the tops look just set and an inserted toothpick comes or clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting
9-In a large bowl, beat the butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth.
10-Add in the cream cheese (cut into: Add in the cream cheese (cut into chunks) and beat into the butter until just combined.
11-Add in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar: Add in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (sift the sugar if needed), along with the cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract. Beat together starting with the mixer on a low speed and gradually increasing to medium speed until combined.
12-Beat in the rest of the powdered: Beat in the rest of the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time until the desired sweetness is reached. If needed, beat in 1 tablespoon of cream
13-Ensure the cupcakes are fully cooled: Ensure the cupcakes are fully cooled. Then frost with a piping bag or flat edge knife. I used a piping bag with a 1M tip. If using a knife, you will likely have some leftover frosting.

Last Step:

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  • Prep Time: 45 min
  • Cook Time: 25 min
  • Method: bake

Nutrition

  • Calories: 418kcal
  • Sugar: 38g
  • Sodium: 194mg
  • Fat: 23g
  • Saturated Fat: 11g
  • Carbohydrates: 51g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 73mg