This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Please read our disclosure policy.
Why I Love These Muffins
Carrots are one of those items that you wouldn’t typically think of when it comes to baked goods. We usually gravitate towards chocolate or other fruit flavors. But carrots have an innate sweetness that actually makes them the perfect candidate for any baked dessert. And when it comes to the fall, there’s no reason why carrots can’t be the star of the show.
These spiced carrot muffins combine a few of my favorite things when the weather turns cooler outside: dates, molasses, and deep spice notes. So whether you want a simple snack to serve that lends toward the “healthy” side, or you need a hearty breakfast to pair with coffee, these muffins have you covered. Plus, they’re super easy to whip up, even with a streusel topping. The most time-consuming thing you’ll have to do with this recipe is wait by the oven for them to be done baking. You’re going to love them!
Spiced Carrot Muffins Ingredients
- Dates are an easy choice for a sweet choice. They are naturally like candy with a soft, chewy texture that is sweet. The flavor is complex, with hints of molasses and caramel.
- Carrots, because of their sweetness, are a natural choice for muffins, especially ones that tend to be considered healthier. While they do contain sugar, their sweetness means that less white sugar has to be added and still satisfies all palates.
- Walnuts are a healthy way to add a rich texture to baked goods. The toasted walnuts take on a deep flavor that works well in the streusel.
- Ground ginger adds warmth to the muffins, which makes them feel even cozier when in a cold season, like fall. Ginger also has slightly peppery notes, which adds to the complexity of the overall muffins.
- Cinnamon has natural sweetness, and even though you don’t think about sugar when it comes to cinnamon, it can work to enhance the perceived sweetness of the muffin. This allows no extra sugar to be added, which is great when trying to achieve a healthier muffin recipe.
The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Spiced Carrot Muffins
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients – In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Mix everything together until it is homogeneous.
Step 2: Create the batter – Using a grater, shred the carrots. Add the carrots to the dry ingredients along with molasses. In a smaller bowl, break the eggs and lightly beat them, then add them to the rest of the ingredients. Next, chop the dates into small pieces, removing the pit. Lightly chop the walnuts. Add the dates and walnuts to the rest of the ingredients, along with the melted butter. Fold all of the ingredients together. Line a muffin baking tin with paper baking cups and portion the batter into each one.
Step 3: Create the streusel – In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, salt, and walnuts. Pour over the melted butter and mix until the butter has clumped together with the dry mix. Then, portion it evenly across the top of each unbaked muffin.
Step 4: Bake the muffins – Place the muffins in a 350°F oven for 18-22 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and let cool before serving.
Recipe Tips
- To chop the dates more easily, place them in the freezer. Chilling them will remove some of their tackiness and prevent them from sticking to your hands or the knife.
- After adding the final ingredients to the dry mixture, fold them together. You do not want to overmix, and it is perfectly fine if the batter still has some dry mixture. Just be sure to break up any of the pieces of dates that may have stuck together as you are folding everything.
- Using an ice cream or cookie scoop helps portion out the batter quickly and easily. It also makes sure the muffins are similarly sized so they all bake at the same rate.
- To test whether the muffins are done baking, use a large skewer or cake tester. After inserting it into the center of a muffin, there shouldn’t be any sticky residue left on the tester.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Toasted pecans work well as a substitute, or if nut allergies are a worry, leave out the nuts completely.
No, dates do not have to be in the muffins. In a pinch, if this is the one ingredient not on hand to make the muffins, make them without. But the dates do add sweetness and flavor and elevate the baked muffin.
These muffins are best served fresh. The streusel will soften if kept at room temperature. If stored for later, these muffins should be kept in the freezer for optimal freshness. At room temperature in an airtight container, they will be good for up to three days.
Yes! Sorghum is made from the sorghum plant, and molasses is made from sugar cane. They are interchangeable in this and every other recipe.
More Muffin Recipes
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Spiced Carrot Muffins
Ingredients
For the muffins
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 large eggs whisked
- ½ cup chopped dates
- ½ cup chopped and toasted walnuts
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
For the streusel
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup chopped and toasted walnuts
- 2 ½ tbsp unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, cinnamon, and ground ginger.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger
- Add the shredded carrots, molasses, whisked eggs, chopped dates, chopped walnuts, and melted butter. Fold together until no dry streaks remain. Portion the batter into the prepared muffin pan evenly.1 cup shredded carrots, ½ cup molasses, 2 large eggs, ½ cup chopped dates, ½ cup chopped and toasted walnuts, ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- In a small bowl, make the streusel. Mix together the flour, brown sugar, kosher salt, and chopped walnuts. Add the melted butter and mix until it is sandy in texture. Sprinkle the streusel over the prepared muffins.⅓ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup light brown sugar, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ¼ cup chopped and toasted walnuts, 2 ½ tbsp unsalted butter
- Bake the muffins in the preheated 350°F oven until they are domed and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, 18-22 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
Haven’t tasted the muffins yet, but the batter was delicious! I didn’t use the dates or the nuts. Still delicious!
These muffins are fabulous! So very moist with a spicy kick and wonderful warm molasses flavor. I replaced the nuts with raisins since we do not like nuts in our bake good. This is one of many recipes of yours that I have tried and they are all so very good. Please keep making your videos they are so very entertaining.
Can these be made as a bread? In a loaf pan? If so how long would they bake? Thanks, M
This is a delicious recipe for an autumn morning. Easy to follow recipe. Since we are in CA with access to date syrup I used this instead of molasses and it works wonderfully.
I love the date, carrots and nut combination.
Thanks WyseGuide for this yummy treat!