Spiced Parsnip Cupcakes
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These rich, moist cupcakes take everything you love about carrot cake to the next level, thanks to the sweet spiciness of parsnips and warm, fragrant cardamom. We took a page from the carrot cake playbook and paired these cupcakes with a classic cream-cheese frosting.
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon ground cardamom or 1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, divided
2 cups grated parsnip (from 1 large peeled parsnip)
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, cardamom, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, eggs, oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and parsnip. Stir in flour mixture.
Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners. Divide batter among cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
In a large bowl, with a mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, and remaining teaspoon vanilla until combined. Spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.