2.01.2010

Carrot cake muffins with cinnamon toasted pecans for my bloggy birthday

I began my blogging journey last February. Before I started blogging, I truly had no clue what a blog even was really. I had been hooked on The Pioneer Woman's blog (not knowing it even was a blog) for several months. I got to thinking, "Boy, this sure does look like fun. I think I'd like to try this!". -And so it began... I researched...I surfed...I studied...and finally...I BLOGGED.

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I've been hooked from the very first post! I have had such a great year and I've made so many great friends along the way.

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Some of my first visitors were: Cairo Typo, Kathy B!, Alicia, the Snowflake, Debbie, Connie, jenjen, and, of course, my dear momma.

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My blog has really grown up over the course of a year and is completely different from the way it looked when I started. It will be fun to see how things evolve around here as this year rolls on.

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I thank you all for your kind, encouraging comments. I look forward to reading all of your amazing posts this year as well!

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Now, let's all raise our muffins for a toasted pecan! Tee-Hee!!

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Carrot Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Toasted Pecans
by theUngourmet

makes about 18 muffins

Print recipe

2 large carrots, peeled and grated
1 large apple grated
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup ground golden flax
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut
3 large eggs
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, flax, brown sugar, and coconut. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla. Stir in the carrots and apple.

Fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture just until moistened. Divide batter evenly into lightly oiled muffin cups.

Bake in a 350 degree oven to 18-20 minutes. Remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.

Frost and top with toasted pecans.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

1/4 cup softened butter
4 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp milk
1 cup powdered sugar

Blend the butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk until creamy. Add the sugar a bit at a time until smooth and creamy. Adjust milk and sugar to gain desired consistency.

Cinnamon Toasted Pecans
Adapted from Paula Deen

2 cups chopped pecans
1 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp light corn syrup
1 tbsp agave nectar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Combine the butter, corn syrup, agave, cinnamon, and salt. Toss in the pecans and give 'em a good stir.

Bake on a cookie sheet at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool.

Good Stuff!

Thanks for joining me today! Come back and visit anytime!! :0)



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62 comments:

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Your muffins are a work of art! Happy bloggy birthday!!!

XOXOX
Jen

Kate at Serendipity said...

Happy Bloggiversary! I wonder what the percentage is of new blogs that make it to a year. That's an accomplishment!

I'd happily raise this muffin to your bloggy birthday. It looks delicious.

love lives in the kitchen said...

ly love your recipe and love all the pictures! thank you for this beautiful post!
have a very sweet day!
justyna

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Happy blog birthday/anniversary. Congratulations - a lot of people drop out quickly and you've made it. Your carrot cake muffins look like the perfect way to celebrate.

I'm looking forward to the coming year with your posts.
Sam

Ginger said...

Kim,

Happy Blog Birthday!! Those muffins need to be in the best Bake Shop in the UNITED STATES or the WORLD for that matter! Yummy! Your muffins are gorgeous! Have a great week....

Gin

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Congratulations on your first year! It has been fun, hasn't it? And carrot cake muffins....well, that is a great way to celebrate. I consider myself one of your 'regulars' and will do so through this next year.

The Blonde Duck said...

What a fabulous way to celebrate your bloggy b-day!

Jen said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday!

I am so glad that you started blogging. I LOVE your recipes.

Chef E said...

Funny how so many of us are barely over, or are a year old! This has been a fun journey...

If your muffin was in a joust with me, well I was just knocked off my horse. Just make sure you throw me a few before it comes back and finishes me off...

Cathy said...

Congratulations, Kim! Two years ago I didn't know what a blog was and now I can't imagine my life without my blog and all my cyber friends. You have such a terrific blog and I'm looking forward to the second year of your posting.

Your carrot cake muffins look wonderful... the perfect birthday celebration.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I am celebrating my bligaversary today too Kim. We are a part of such a generous and supportive group of people. Thanks for sharing the muffins with us they are delicious.

Gill - That British Woman said...

A Happy Bloggy birthday to you, and that recipe looks good!

Gill in Canada

TKW said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday! I really enjoy your yummy recipes and fun personality!

Rambling Tart said...

I'm so glad you started blogging! You are an absolute delight. :-)

Reeni said...

Happy Blogiversary! What scrumptious muffins - a fitting way to celebrate! Have another great year!

Randi Troxell said...

oh! this looks awesome, and so up my alley!!

happy bloggy birthday!!!!

chow and chatter said...

happy birthday your a pro and i adore your blog, heres to many more blogging years

Love Rebecca

Chiara "Kika" Assi said...

Happy bloggy birthday! Those carrot cake muffins look fantastic... great way to celebrate!

Joanne said...

congrats! A year is such a big achievement. And what a way to celebrate with those muffins! Carrot cake is my favorite kind...especially with cream cheese frosting.

And now I'm suffering from intense cravings...a normal occurrence when reading your blog.

A Cooking Bookworm said...

I'm so glad you began blogging...because I love your pretty blog! :-D Enjoy your blog birthday!

Those carrot cake muffins look fabulous...and fairly healthy! I mean, the shredded carrots and apple cancel out that little bitty ol' bit o' butter in the frosting, right?!! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Happy bloggy birthday! I could eat a whole bunch of those carrot cake muffins!

Jenn said...

Happy Blogiversary!!!!! Here's to more fun-food filled years. W00T! It's crazy to think that a year has passed already. That means my first years is coming up soon. Eek. hahaha...

Lovely pic on the muffins to celebrate!! I take two. One for me and one for my "friend" (meaning me).

teresa said...

happy bloggy birthday my friend! i'm so glad i've been able to get to know you! the muffins looks just fantastic!

noble pig said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday!! And beautiful Muffins!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

Great pictures, great rec

Faith said...

Happy Bloggiversary! These delicious muffins look like the perfect way to celebrate! I love the coconut in this recipe...yum!

Krista said...

Happy blogoversary! Way to celebrate with another one of your signature cupcake/muffin-frosting combos. These look and sound amazing! Congratulations and keep these taste tempting treats coming!

nanny said...

Happy Anniversary and I for one am so glad you started!!!! What a joy to read and see your beautiful works of art that are edible/ha

The Old White Barn said...

These look supremely great! Happy Anniversary - I was a little like you - I needed to read, and surf, and study before I jumped in. Love your blog! Thanks for sharing.
Susan

Kitchen Butterfly said...

Congratulations....I love blogging. carrot cake. and pecans!!!!!!!!

Catherine said...

The photos are beautiful, the recipe sounds fantastic, and a very happy blogiversary to you!

Gloria Baker said...

Really love these and your pictures are georgeous, gloria

Christo Gonzales said...

happy blog birthday - and cinnamon frosting - wow sounds good...I turn 5 this year...I am a blog dinosaur!

Jeannie said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday:D Love reading your blog posts and drooling over your tantalising food pictures. Those muffins look to die for!

Anonymous said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday! I would love to have some of these cupcakes right now! How do they mail? LOL!
Great recipe and pics!

Becca @ My Crazy Good Life said...

Happy {blog} birthday!

Yum. Yum. Yum.

marla {Family Fresh Cooking} said...

Congrats on your blogs birthday! Can u bring some of those muffins over here now! They look so good. I love everything carrot cake...and cream cheese and pecans, all of it. Lovely photos.

Delicious Dishings said...

Happy bloggy birthday! Those muffins look incredible... and cinnamon toasted pecans sound delicious to me!

Pam said...

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! These muffins are truly making me drool. Happy blogiversary.

BarbaraJean said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday Daughter! Your Blog is simply amazing and you have so many nice friends! I am proud of you. You got me started in the world of blogging in the same month... so I guess I am having a Birthday as well. Hmmmm... maybe I had better to post something on my Blog. Love you!

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh I have just loved getting to know you ... blogging is the best...happy blog birthday!

Mmmm another perfect muffin :)
xoxo

Katy ~ said...

Happy blogoversary. It has been so much fun visiting with you here and seeing and enjoying your wonderful recipes. I'm looking forward to another tasty year.

This carrot cake muffin recipe sounds like a TREASURE chest of goodness and goodies. Oh my, love, love, love all the flavors in this one.

I did the same thing, before I started blogging: surfed, researched, talked to people about it, for about six months before I jumped it. And even then I was scared of what I was doing. But as you said, after that first post, Wow!

I'm so delighted to have met you. You're a gem.

ck said...

Happy One Year! I can't believe you've only been doing this one year, though. Your recipes and photographs are so professional. I'm really glad I found your blog.

NKP said...

Happy blogiversary!
Gorgeous muffins. Yum!

The imPerfect Housewife said...

I'm sure I speak for ALL of us that we're very glad you did start blogging - you've kept our stomachs and families happy without even knowing it! Congrats and have a good day ~ ♥

Dajana said...

Only your first year? Wow, happy birthday to your bloggy, dear. Hope to see many more together.
Muffins are gorgeous, as always. Love the cream cheese topping as well.

Chef Aimee said...

I toast to YOU and these muffins! May you have a wonderful blog birthday!

Claudia said...

Happy Blogiversary! Isn't it fun to see what evolves? I am celebrating with you - by attacking those muffins. Sweet celebration!

CaraBee said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday!!

Juliana said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday! Your muffins look so yummie, and I like it with pecans...nice pictures as always :-)

Alicia The Snowflake said...

Happy Blogging Birthday!

I am so proud of you! I remember the early days and now you have lots and lots of followers w/lots and lots of comments. Good for you! May you have another blessed year my friend! I can't wait to see all the yummy recipes you are going to create this year.

Anonymous said...

Happy blogiversary! The muffins look fantastic, I'm loving the cinnamon toasted pecans on top!

Allyson said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday!!! Sorry I'm just now making it over here...that pesky Valentine's Day holiday is coming up and I have to get the shop in order for husbands to make OMG-it's-Feb.13th!! purchases.

These muffins look FANTASTIC. I'm a latecomer to carrot cake and cream cheese frosting...but now that I'm here, I think "how could I have ever NOT loved this stuff?" Definitely putting this on my list to try this weekend.

Also? Your blog is amazing after only a year! I can't wait to see what the next year holds for you. You're growing by leaps and bounds and I enjoy being around for it!

koralee said...

Yummm...another winner of a recipe! Happy blog birthday to you! Oh and your cookies were amazing..I think I ate the most of them...I will post about them soon! xoxo

Selba said...

Happy Blog Anniversary!

Your carrot cake muffins look so yummy.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Happy bloggy bday!! What a delicious way to celebrate. : )s

jacqueline said...

Happy belated blog BIRTHDAY!! So greatful that i found your lovely blog and i love all the recipes you share here with us! I look forward to many more happy baking with you! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

scrappysue said...

this is EXACTLY how i got started - except one feb BEFORE you kim! hooked on PW then eventually decided to try it after thinking about it for ages.

love your blog and your recipes and your photography - how DO you get those round corners?!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Happy bloggy birthday! Looking forward to your second year creations! the muffins are amazing.

Unknown said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday tooooo yooooouuuuuuu!!! Is there a muffin left for me?

Judimae said...

These muffins look awesome. I can't wait to try my hand at making them.

I just found your blog, and I am totally hooked. The recipes are wonderful as well as the photos to accompany them. I will come back and read often.

Judi

~Kathie~ said...

These muffins look amazing! I love carrot cake and am going to have to try these!!

Happy bloggy birthday!

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