Join Me in My Addiction!

Thank you for visiting my blog...and for allowing me to share with you my addiction. I love to collect recipes. I love to read cookbooks. I have been collecting recipes for as long as I can remember, and on any given day there are one or two (or more!) cookbooks residing on my nightstand!

This blog is chronicling my adventure as I fulfill my resolution of trying (at least) one new recipe each week. I hope that you enjoy!

I invite you to join me in my journey, simply by clicking the "Join this Site" link below. And please feel free to comment on any of the recipes, and pin away. Thanks, I look forward to sharing with you!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Carrot Pineapple Raisin Bran Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

My son's preschool held their Easter party this week and each family contributed a little something to the "Easter Buffet".  Originally I wrote down that I would bring "something sweet" with good intentions to make some fun Easter treat, but time got away from me (we re-did our oldest son's room this past weekend...and our house is still a mess!) so I opted to go for something a bit healthier but still with a little sweet.  I decided on an old favourite of ours, and one that is always popular with the kids, Carrot Pineapple Raisin Bran Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing.  Hey...it's Easter, we needed a little bit of carrot!  And it turned out that one of his classmates (and teacher) were both celebrating their birthdays this week, so a cake was brought to the Easter party - I'm glad I changed my "something sweet" choice...imagine all those 4 and 5 year olds after a tonne of sweet?!

And, since it is Easter I did feel the need to dress the muffins just a little.  Off to the Dollar Store and I found the cutest little chicks that were the perfect size for mini-muffins.  Here is the recipe, slightly adapted from Company's Coming - Muffins & More:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup natural bran
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup crushed pineapple and juice
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts (I didn't add the walnuts this time as my son's classroom is a nut-free zone)

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine flour, brown sugar, bran, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.  Stir together well, and make a well in the centre.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs until frothy.  Add in oil, carrots, pineapple, juice, raisins and walnuts.  Add to dry ingredients, into the well.  Mix, but only to moisten.  The batter will be lumpy.  Fill lined or greased muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes (regular sized muffins) or 10-11 minutes (mini muffins).  Cool on wire rack.  Frost if desired.

Make 12-14 large or 24-30 mini muffins.

Cream Cheese Frosting (from Company's Coming - Desserts)

4 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups icing sugar

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla.  Beat well.  Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy.  Spread over muffins.

VERDICT:
These are delicious muffins.  Nice and moist, and a nice blend of "stuff" inside.  Not overwhelming with too much carrot, pineapple ot raisins.  And the cream cheese icing, which is optional but a nice a way to dress them up a bit, is always so so so good!  My son and I enjoyed cleaning off the spatula and mixing bowl when we were done icing the muffins    :-)

blog hop button April Blog Hop: Favorite Fruit Recipes Plus Giveaway

58 comments:

  1. I love carrot cake so I know these are just amazing! Yum! Plus I love the cute little chick's on top so cute! Have a fabulous Easter!

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    1. Thanks Serena! I hope you have a fabulous Easter too!

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  2. Carrot cupcakes are my favorite! And chicks rule! :D

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  3. Oh yum…these sound somewhat healthy…I have to try this recipe!

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    1. Please let me know what you think! Thanks for stopping by Courtney!

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  4. These look great! New follower from the Thursday hop. I was looking through some of your older posts and can't wait to try the ham and egg cups this weekend!

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    1. I hope you enjoy them! They are a nice, different way to serve up breakfast or brunch. Have a great weekend, and we'll see you again!

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  5. Oh my gosh, how yummy do those look???? Really creative!

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  6. I love to read cookbooks too! These muffins sound great, and they're so cute with the chicks on top. I'm here from the Thursday blog hop, and I'll be a new follower now.

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    1. Wonderful! Thanks Patricia! Have a great weekend, and don't stay up too late counting jelly beans :-)

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  7. Replies
    1. Thank you! They were pretty cute, and all the 4-5 year olds LOVED them :-)

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  8. These are sooooooooooo cute
    You turned these cupcakes to something very unique and beautiful

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  9. love the chicks on top, new follower from FRIDAY HOP, hope you can visit some time. Look forward to more ideas. Love the mini pizza party too.

    www.stayingclosetohome.com

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    1. Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I'm following back :-) Still wondering who doesn't LOVE chocolate?! Love that post. Hope you got spoiled on yout birthday!

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  10. These look so good. I am going try this recipe this weekend! I am a new follower. Please follow me back. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Ashley! Following back! I hope you enjoy the muffins :-) Have a great weekend!

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  11. these are so cute and looks and sounds like a wonderful recipe. have a great day andi

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  12. These look so cute! I love the little chicks on the top. Thanks for sharing at Must Try Monday!

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  13. Anything with cream cheese frosting is a YES in my tummy! Thanks for sharing with us at Kids in the Kitchen! Have a great week and see you next Tuesday :)

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    1. I agree!! Cream cheese icing is so good :-) See you soon!

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  14. The chicks really caught my eye. The recipe sounds really good too. I would love it if you would stop by and link up this recipe to my new linky party, Dare to Share.

    Pam
    http://pamspartyplanning.blogspot.com/2012/04/dare-to-share-party-3.html

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    1. Thanks so much Pam! And thanks for the party invitation, I linked up!

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  15. These sound delicious! I have pinned this to my Pinterest breads board. Cherished Handmade Treasures Pinterest

    Thanks for linking up to the Creative Corner Hop. I hope you will be back again next week!

    Sandy
    Cherished Handmade Treasures

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    1. Wow!! Thanks! And yes, I will be back. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  16. This looks AMAZING! I can't wait to try this with my kids. I know they will love them. :-) Please consider coming over to my blog for "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" and linking this up! :-)))

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I hope everyone does like them! I will stop by your party, thanks for letting me know!

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  17. Mmm these look great! Thanks for sharing at Beautify It Monday - We hope to see you again next week!

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  18. Those look very cute and delicious too! Anything with cream cheese is a must try!

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    1. Thanks Marie! I have a weakness for cream cheese icing... :-) Thanks for visiting!

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  19. Hi,

    I followed you over from Mix it up Monday and these look amazing! My favorite kind of muffin. Thanks for sharing.

    I would love to invite you to share this, and any other posts you would like to, at my Creative Thursday Link Party at www.michellestastycreations.blogspot.com.

    Have a great day,
    Michelle

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    1. Thanks Michelle for the invitation! I will come by your party for sure! Hope to see you again soon!

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  20. What precious cupcakes and the recipe looks delicious! Hope you have a fabulous week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  21. Mmmm...carrot cake is so good! And how cute are those chickies?! Thanks for sharing at Shine on Fridays!

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  22. Thank you so much for linking up at Dare To Share. I really hope you come back and link up some more wonderful recipes.

    Pam
    http://pamspartyplanning.blogspot.com/2012/04/dare-to-share-4.html

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  23. These sound delicious! The little chicks are too cute!

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  24. Thanks Claire! I will be sure to stop by!

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  25. These look good, the chicks are cute! Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday. I hope to see you there next week!

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  26. thanks for linking with KIK- these are great!

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  27. You have some very original ideas.
    A hug from Spain

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  28. Yum! And what a wonderful way to get fiber and veggies in my babies!

    Thanks so much for joining Flock Together on 6/12 at Mom’s Best Nest . You're welcome to join in this week at 6 p.m. tonight!

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  29. Understand your addiction. Thought I was alone! I have thousands of recipes and will never get to all of them. These muffins may have to be tried soon though. Love carrot cake. Thanks. Good bloc.

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  30. That is so cute, the little chicks on top.

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Thank you so very much for visiting Addicted to Recipes! I love reading all your comments and will do my best to reply as quickly as I can. I sure hope you will come back and visit again soon!