Zucchini Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients

CUPCAKES:
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
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CARAMEL FROSTING:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup 2% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil, orange juice and extract. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in zucchini.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

For frosting, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool to lukewarm.

Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 1-1/2 to 2 dozen.
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REVIEWS:

I like trying new things and my Mother was talking about making zucchini bread which I don't believe I have ever eaten, but for some reason sounded good. I came across this recipe. I LOVE carmel so the idea of a carmel frosting on top sealed the deal. I just completed baking and frosting my cupcakes. They are pretty good. Like a spice cake as one review said. They weren't as moist as I had imagined from the reviews. I think I will make them bigger next time. I don't believe I made them big enough for the moistness. The carmel frosting is DEFINITELY worth the time and effort it takes to make it. I know I will use it on cakes and other things. It is DELICIOUS! I put the left over frosting in the fridge to put on brownies or something later. Or just eat like carmel. Thank you for the healthy alternative to normal cupcakes. We will see what my coworkers think of it tomorrow when I take it to work.

Absolutely fantastic like everyone said. I expected nothing less. I too, like others, cut down the sugar and they were still fantastic. Could probably cut even more as icing makes up the sweetness. These tasted fantastic even without icing.

I made these cupcakes with my granddaughter and they were delicious. She carefully spooned the flour into the measuring cups without packing...and mixed together dry ingredients just until flour was blended. Her cupcakes were soooo tender.

Quite by mistake we ended up making 'maple bar icing' instead of frosting by adding two sticks butter, instead of one, and some additional confectioner sugar so icing could be swirled around on top of cupcakes. My oh my, was it ever delicious!!! Will try the frosting recipe next time, but will be keeping the 'Maple bar icing' for this cupcake as well. Excellent treat for all ages.

These are amazing! No one is ever going to know that I am using up my zucchini this way!! They are so moist and yummy!

This was a great recipe - very tasty cupcake - a bit like a spice cake and the frosting went so well with it. Caution, the frosting is very sweet, but it frosting!

These are delicious! My frosting did not come out fluffy as shown, but then my mixer broke before I was done. Very moist. Cake and frosting are a great compliment to each other

Wow! These cupcakes are great; the icing certainly sets these cupcakes apart from the many other recipes available. We made some to share with neighbors and they also enjoyed them much.

I found that 2/3rd full was a little to much, next time I'll use less. Tastes like spice cake, very moist and everyone loved them.

Just made these cupcakes! What a great recipe! So moist and a great way to use up that zucchini!

I've been making these since the original recipe came out in TOH. My kids grew up eating these almost every summer, and sometimes with frozen zucchini in the winter. A truly awesome way to use zucchini and enjoy a delicious treat, as well.

I LOVE THESE CUPCAKES!!!!!!!! I have amde these many time & each time I get only good compiments & everyone askes for the recipe =D I also entered them in our local fair this year & got 1st Juges fav. best of class & best of show!!! My mom craves these cpucakes all the time ;) Highly recomend them!!!!

I have made this recipe again and again. I really think it's the frosting!

I made this recipe using sugar substitute (good hints on the Splenda site on how to bake with it) and added a half cup of ground flax for some added omegas. Moist, tasty and even without the decadent frosting, simply delicious. A real keeper. Thanks for this one.

I followed the recipe to a "tee". These cupcakes were delicious. Texture was perfect. Icing is wonderful. Definitely a keeper!

Excellent recipe, the cupcakes went to my husbands work and they fought over them! Very moist and full of flavor! Thank you

I have been subscribing to Taste of Home since 1994, which is around the time that this recipe appeared as a contest winner. I have made it many times and it is fantastic! Some of the best cupcakes I have ever eaten.

I made 2 batches of these for my husband to take to work. They were a huge hit. I kept some home with no icing on them because I can't have dairy, and they were really good with no icing too! If I were to change anything, I might use a touch less cloves. I think people that don't like the intensity of cloves won't like these much, so try them with less and you might find another way to use all those zucchini!

Made these and boy did they get raves! The caramel frosting was fabulous as well.

These were very good. Loved the spices and icing made it so good.

I'm not a big zucchini fan but I loved these. My fiance and his kids really like zucchini so I thought I'd try it. I was really impressed and the caramel icing was very good. I definitely will make these again.

These cupcakes are delicious! Definitely a new family favorite.

I made this recipe today and it was great! Everyone loved it, and it smells wonderful baking! The caramel icing just made it that much better!

We love these! Anyone I've made them for has asked me for the recipe. The frosting is to die for.

I love these! I didn't have almond extract so I used vanilla instead in the actually batter they still turned out delicious!

Very delicious and moist!

I've been making these cupcakes for years from the original recipe printed in a ToH magazine from the '90s. They are outstanding! The cupcakes are moist and spicy. The frosting is wonderful! I do end up with more frosting than I need though.

I have already written something about this recipe but I have to write again. Previously I used my mom's zucchini recipe and this frosting recipe. I decided to try this recipe just as it is written and they were incredible. I did not drain the zucchini either...and there was a lot of liquid too. This is how good they are...I first made them and accidentally added 1 third cup sugar instead of 1 and a third cup ( my bad handwriting). My 6 nephews and nieces ran in from outside and grabbed one even though I told them what I did. They were all gone in less then 5 minutes!!! I personally didn't care for them but they still raved about how good they were. I then made a second batch...to me it was much better:))

I have been making these for years. They are my daughters favorite. She especially loves the icing. They are so moist. Most of the time people wrinkle their nose when I tell them what are they then they are asking for the recipe as soon as they taste of them.

The cupcakes were moist & were liked by the crew of volunteers at the food pantry. I did not like the frosting, much too sweet, so instead frosted them with cream cheese frosting.

WOW, this is a great recipe, I did add nuts and raisins. I will make this again and again.

Made the cupcakes for friends and it was a big hit. Great way to use up the extra zucchini in the garden. The almond extract makes it unique. It is also delicious with Philadelphia Cream Cheese frosting, although the maple is very good and easy to make. Cream Cheese gives it a different but excellent flavor also.

This was a nice treat! The frosting is very sweet, but my family loved it. I think they tasted much better the second day as the flavors seemed to blend more, and the intensity of the frosting seemed to mellow a bit.