Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes with Orange-Ginger Frosting

These are delicious little treats; my favorite cupcake!
I've made them numerous times. You can also make a cake version of this,
which I have not tried. It would be a perfect cake for family at Easter.

Makes 12 cupcakes.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup (2 ounces) pecan halves
• 6 carrots (about 7 1/2 ounces), peeled
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan. Transfer to oven, and roast until toasted and brown, about 8 minutes. Give the pan a shake midway through roasting to make sure they roast evenly. Remove pan from oven, and let stand until completely cool. Finely chop pecans, and set aside. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. Using the smallest holes (less than 1/4-inch in diameter) of a box grater, grate carrots to yield 1 3/4 cups. Place grated carrots, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, sugar, vegetable oil, and ginger in a large bowl; whisk until well combined.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the carrot mixture until just combined. Fold in toasted pecans.
4. Using a large metal spoon, fill each cupcake to the top of the paper liner. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, rotating the pan halfway through, 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to cooling rack to cool completely. Spread about 1/ 4 cup frosting on each cupcake and serve. Store in an airtight container up to two days.

Frosting Makes about 3 cups. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup confectioners' sugar 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger Pinch of salt	Directions Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and confectioners' sugar, beat until well combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. Add orange zest, grated ginger, and salt. Beat an additional 5 minutes.

This recipe is courtesy of Martha Stewart