Carrot Cake Mini Cupcakes from Bird Bakery in San Antonio, Texas

I recently saw this recipe being made on a Food Channel on television. I didn't get the entire story behind the Bakery in Texas, but I researched the recipe and here it is.
The recipe is billed as award-winning.
I have my favorite recipe for Carrot Cake and it's the only one I make. It also comes from a Texas establishment that has since gone out of business. It's  Rebecca Rather's, who is one of my favorite Pastry Chefs. I thought I'd try these Mini Cupcakes.

They sell them in these Egg Cartons. Very clever !

Bird Bakery Award-Winning Carrot Cake Mini Cupcakes:

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mini Cupcake Pans with Cupcake Liners.

2 C Flour
1/2 TBS Baking Soda
1/2 TBS Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
3 Organic Brown Eggs
3/4 C Vegetable Oil
3/4 C Buttermilk, room temperature
1 3/4 C Fine Sugar
1/2 TBS High Quality Vanilla Extract
1 C Chopped Pineapple, drained well.
1 1/4 C Shredded Carrots.
1/2 C Shredded Sweet Coconut
3/4 C Golden Raisins
1/2 C Chopped Walnuts, + extra chopped Walnuts for Garnish.
1 recipe of Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

16 TBS Butter, softened
1 1/2 C Cream Cheese, softened
5 3/4 C Confectioner's Sugar
1/4 C Whole Milk
3/4 TBS High Quality Vanilla Extract
Zest and Juice from 1 Small Orange

Cupcake Batter:

In a small bowl:
Flour
Baking Soda
Cinnamon
Salt
Sift together.
Set aside.

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Oil
Buttermilk
Sugar
Vanilla
Eggs, one at a time.
Mix well until incorporated.

Add:
Flour mixture, slowly.
Mix to combine well.

Add:
Pineapple
Carrots
Coconut
Raisins
Walnuts
Mix well.

Use a cookie scoop and pour batter into the pans, filling about 3/4 full.
Bake 12 - 15 minutes, rotating the pans after 6 - 7 minutes.
Remove pans to racks to cool completely.
Frost the cooled muffins and garnish with additional chopped Walnuts.


Cream Cheese Frosting directions.

In a Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment:

Butter
Cream Cheese
Confectioner's Sugar
Beat well to combine.
Slowly Add:
Milk
Vanilla
Orange Zest
Orange Juice
Continue mixing slowly until well combined.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!