Happy first day of spring! Excuse me while I go find another blanket to wrap up in. . . Despite the fact that it is currently 16 and snowing outside, I am excited that today is the first day of spring. At least we are one day closer to the the sun shining and the warm weather arriving! So, while I wait, I continue filling my kitchen with “springy” foods and pastels!
Carrot cake is a popular dessert around Easter, so why not enjoy it in donut form this year? A lot like the carrot cake muffins from last week, these are a lot healthier than your average slice of carrot cake. Whole wheat flour and significantly less butter and sugar make these donuts a great way to enjoy your favorite flavors in the morning for breakfast. Top off the donuts with rich, creamy cream cheese frosting and it really does taste like you ate a piece of carrot cake!
As an added bonus, they are super easy to make. Easy enough to whip up for an Easter brunch without causing added stress. Make the frosting ahead of time and you can breeze through the preparation!
- 1 C whole wheat flour
- 1 C all-purpose flour
- ⅔ C brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp allspice
- ¼ C butter, melted and cooled
- 2 eggs
- 1 C non-fat milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 C shredded carrots
- 4 oz ⅓ of the fat cream cheese
- 2 tsp butter, softened
- ½ C confectioner's sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
- *If you are a big frosting lover, you may want to double this recipe.
- Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice until well-combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk together butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in shredded carrots.
- Pour batter into a pastry bag or a ziploc bag with a corner cut off. Fill donut cavity about ½ full.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow donuts to cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While donuts are cooling, start preparing the frosting.
- Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth.
- Spread frosting over the top of cooled donuts. Best served the same day.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerators.
This recipe is linked with Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Time to Sparkle, Weekend Potluck, What’s Cookin’ Wednesday, What’s in Your Kitchen Wednesday.
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Where have these been all my life?!
These would be perfect with my morning coffee today! Happy Spring to you – it’s snowing like crazy here and I can’t wait for warmer weather either!
These doughnuts make me smile!! What a perfect way to welcome spring!
I have been craving carrot cake lately. These are awesome!
Carrot cake donuts are actually my all time favorite flavor that I have made too!!! I love that you made yours more healthy with wheat flour!!! They look great!
I’ll take any excuse to enjoy carrot cake for breakfast. These are adorable!!
Oh these look fab! I need to dig my donut pan out ASAP!
I love this idea! I really need to invest in a donut pan so I can start making baked donuts. I’ve been using mini muffin pans and calling them donut holes, but they just aren’t the same. The cream cheese frosting might be my favorite part about these. And the sprinkles make them so festive and perfect for Easter brunch!
I think carrot cake makes a great breakfast! Even more appropriate in donut form.
mmm carrot cake is my favorite!!!
Someone brought donuts to work this morning but these look WAY BETTER! Maybe I should tell them to make these instead.
All kinds of yes.
Oh Yes please! These look so good! I found you on What’s in your kitchen Wednesday’s!
these are adorable!! i totally wish i had these for breakfast right now!
Carrot cake has always been a favorite in our house, and I can only imagine how crazy everyone would go for these donuts.
Yep, donuts definitely need to be made now 🙂 I love the carrot cake version. Carrot cake is one of my faves! Im pretty sure we can will warm weather to be here by baking in pastels 😉
Oh yeah! I forgot today was the first day of Spring! I was thinking how cute and springy these donuts were when I first saw the photo, too. Adorbs! 🙂
Definitely be making these! I love carrot cake and baked doughnuts, these are just perfect 😀
These look delish Jessica! I keep telling myself that I need to try making donuts at home.
xo Jackie
Lovely donuts!! So yummy!!
You had me at carrot cake! Love the colorful sprinkles too!
Two great sweet treats in one! I love that donuts can be baked and not fried! Thanks for sharing…
Cute, fun, and tasty! I am in.
I love carrot cake but I’ve never had a carrot cake donut! I’ve got to get one of those donut pans!
I have to get a donut pan ASAP. I am missing out on so many great recipes like this one. Carrot Cake is my weakness!
Well it might not FEEL like spring…but we can certainly eat like it does! Carrot cake is my favorite and I love that you’ve turned it into donuts!
Your spring recipes just keep being amazing, Jessica!! I love carrot cake and I’d adore a donut version!
Love these so much! Carrot cake is one of my faves and I can’t even imagine how amazing it would be in donut form! Genius and so fun for Easter / spring.
Oh, hello there Easter Breakfast. You’re looking mighty delicious.
Thanks for linking up to What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
I love carrot cake, so I know i’d love these delicious-looking donuts. YUM!
I’ve been craving carrot cake lately. These donuts are perfect!
This is the best donut idea ever!
These are AWESOME!!!
These are some stunning looking doughnuts. 🙂
These look amazing! I love carrot cake and these look like a winner! Between these and your carrot cake muffins, which do you like better?
These look amazing!!!! I need to get one of those donut pans, what a great alternative to frying donuts! These sound so good!!!
carrot cake DOUGHNUTS! whoa! love it 🙂
Uh.. are you telling me I can finally have carrot cake for breakfast!!! Love it!
Awesome idea Jessica! These look perfect and such a fun idea for Easter!
pinning!! looks so good!
Oh my gosh. That frosting! I can’t.
These look like the most incredible baked donuts ever. I love carrot cake but I love cream cheese frosting even more. And the sprinkles! Eeee. 😀
Um, how in the heck did I miss this recipe? Donuts!!! I love donuts, and I can definitely get on board with healthified donuts. Yum!