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Home » Quick and Easy Recipes On Tasty Ever After

Carrot Cake Donuts {with brandy candied walnuts}

04/02/2015 Updated: 04/07/2022 By Karrie 18 Comments

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Moist Carrot Cake Donuts are topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with brandy candied walnuts to make the perfect breakfast, brunch, or even dessert!  Made quick and easy with a donut baking pan in less than 30 minutes. 

Carrot Cake Donuts

Happy (almost) Easter!!  Although I really cannot believe the holiday is already here this Sunday. 

Maybe I feel this way because it's still cold with snow on the ground up here in New Hampshire.  It definitely does not feel like Spring.  How am I coping? 

Well, I booked the family a June 4-day camping trip to Vermont and I made these baked Carrot Cake Donuts with Brandy Candied Walnuts!

Vacation planning, brandy, and sugar all in one day.

I am happy again and don't care anymore that snow is still in my back yard (and front yard and side yard).

Carrot Cake Donuts

By the way, I had a bunch of Easter related recipe ideas written down in my little notebook that I wanted to share on the blog (they were great ones too!). 

However, before I knew it, the holiday is upon us and there's no time left to develop/test the recipes.  Easter came up super fast for me this year, as in I blinked and it was already April 1. 

I mean seriously, where did March go?  Did we skip that month? 

Well, you see how on top of everything I am because I barely got this recipe out before the weekend and on time.

On a side note, this week has been a little exciting for me because I found out I'm one of 16 finalists in the First Ever National Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest!!  I submitted my Thin Mints White Chocolate Biscotti recipe and people can vote on it once a day. 

Even if I don't win, I am so honored to have been selected as a finalist and been given the opportunity to participate in this wonderful Girl Scout event.

Carrot Cake Donuts

Okay, back to the recipe...I love carrot cake and wanted to make some baked donuts for our Easter brunch, so I combined the two for this recipe. 

I named these "donuts" because they are baked and I usually use the name "doughnuts" to describe the yeast-raised variety. 

The brandy came into play when I decided to soak some raisins in it.  Rum could be used here too, but I like brandy, so that's what I used. 

So there were my raisins soaking and, while I was making the donut mixture, I start snacking on the now-plumped-up-with brandy raisins. 

Oh my, let me tell you, liquor soaked raisins are really good.  Like, really, really good.  Much better than the sad, dried up little ones that come right out of the container. 

Well, halfway through making the donut mixture, I realize I have to stop eating them because:

  • I still needed them to put in the donuts 
  • I think I was catching a little buzz off of them.

It was an even worse situation when the brandy candied walnuts were finished drying because I ate all of them before putting them on top of the donuts. 

I don't really know how that happened, other then the fact that I was buzzing from the liquored-up raisins. 

This might be a lesson for me to not use brandy in recipes since I can't stop eating the food I make with it. 

Regardless, they were delicious and I immensely enjoyed eating them all so, without another guilty thought, I made another batch of walnuts and it's as if it never happened.

carrotcakedonut4

Hope you like this recipe and have a wonderful Easter holiday with these Carrot Cake Donuts With Brandy Candied Walnuts for brunch! 

Carrot Cake Donuts {with brandy candied walnuts}

Moist Carrot Cake Donuts are topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with brandy candied walnuts to make the perfect breakfast, brunch, or even dessert!  Made quick and easy with a donut baking pan in less than 30 minutes.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Bread, Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

FOR THE DONUTS:

  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 whole eggs
  • ½ cup brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 medium carrots grated

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk or half & half
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE BRANDY CANDIED WALNUTS:

  • ¼ cup walnuts toasted
  • 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons brandy (can substitute water)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

FOR THE DONUTS:

  • In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves, and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, beat eggs. Add brown sugar, yogurt, oil, vanilla, and carrots; mix well.  Add egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.  Fold raisins into the donut mixture.
  • Preheat oven to 350F/176C. Lightly grease a 12 cup donut pan and spoon mixture into each cup.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Let donuts cool for 1 minute in the pan, then remove to a cooling rack.  Allow to cool, then top with the cream cheese frosting and brandy candied walnuts.

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • Beat together cream cheese and butter until fully incorporated.  Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.  Set aside.

FOR THE BRANDY CANDIED WALNUTS:

  • In a small saucepan, stir together brown sugar and brandy (or water) over low heat until sugar has melted.  Add cinnamon and walnuts, stir well, then spread out over parchment paper to dry (about 20 minutes).

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  • Frosted donuts should be eaten the same day as baked 
  • Unfrosted donuts can be keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days
  • For non-liquor option:  substitute water for brandy in the glazed walnuts
Nutrition Facts
Carrot Cake Donuts {with brandy candied walnuts}
Amount Per Serving
Calories 212 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 14mg5%
Sodium 193mg8%
Potassium 228mg7%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 2716IU54%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @tastyeverafter or tag #tastyeverafter

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 ©  Tasty Ever After  All images and content are copyright protected, so please do not copy or claim my work as your own.  Please do not use any images or republish this recipe without prior permission.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post.  Thank you.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    June 06, 2016 at 9:59 am

    I am so glad I'm not the only one who eats all of the toppings before they ever make it to the actual food. It's quite tragic, actually. These carrot cake donuts look like everything I've ever wanted in the world. Candied walnuts and a fantastic cream cheese frosting? Sign me up!!

    Reply
  2. simonacallas

    May 10, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    5 stars
    They look so cute and delicious ❤❤ I have great plans for making baked donuts but I still haven't find a good doughnut pan.

    Reply
  3. Vince

    January 31, 2016 at 11:24 am

    Looks great. Have you tried frying these or are they too dense?

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      February 01, 2016 at 8:31 am

      Thank you Vince! I haven't tried frying these donuts but I'm sure they could be. If you do decide to fry them, you may want to refrigerate the batter first for about 30 minutes to 1 hour to firm it up a little and you may want to just make donut holes instead of whole donuts. I'm thinking the yogurt in it may make the batter too light and loose to withstand the structure of a full donut.
      Please let me know how it turns out if you try frying them and I'll make that note in my recipe

      Reply
  4. Ben Maclain@havocinthekitchen

    May 27, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    That's just outrageous that the first recipe from your blog I've been introduced to, are these fabulous donuts! I've made some carrot cake donuts, and I know they've got to be delish.But the thing I love even more - these candied walnuts. That's just an amazing idea! Good work, Karrie!

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      May 28, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      Thank you Ben!

      Reply
  5. Erika

    May 23, 2015 at 3:55 am

    Oh my word Karrie these look amazing!! I'll be trying these for sure!

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      May 25, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Thank you Erika. Let me know how they turn out

      Reply
  6. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

    April 29, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Wow...those donuts look fantastic. I definitely want to try them! Like your photos too, your website is so pleasant!

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      April 29, 2015 at 8:04 pm

      Thank you Nicoletta. I really appreciate you stopping by

      Reply
  7. Sharon @ Savormania

    April 05, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Wow, love the brandy candied walnut idea! these donuts look AMAZING. Happy Easter!

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      April 06, 2015 at 11:06 am

      Thank you Sharon! Hope you had a wonderful Easter.

      Reply
  8. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    April 03, 2015 at 11:31 pm

    A carrot cake donut sounds good as is.. but the addition of brandy candied walnuts definitely kicks this up a notch! Just delicious!

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      April 04, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Thank you Thalia

      Reply
  9. Thao @ In Good Flavor

    April 03, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    Just voted....I hope you win, Karrie! These donuts look delicious!! I would definitely make extras of the brandy raisins and walnut for sampling. I plan to have as much fun making them as you did! My yard is still snow covered too (over 3 feet in some areas).

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      April 04, 2015 at 10:26 pm

      Thank you for voting Thao! I appreciate it. A few patches of grass are starting to show through here and there in my yard and I'm sooooo happy. Yay!! Happy Easter to you and your family!

      Reply
  10. Cheyanne

    April 03, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    Oh no you didn't go and make these freggin' fantastic donuts and not send me some to taste test first?!? Whaaaaaa????? These look off the hook, delish! *licking computer screen* brandy candied walnuts? Genius, pure unadulterated genius. I could just eat those... by the gallon bag full. I'm all over this. Asap. Ps. You deserve to win that contest. Voting daily. #GotYourBack

    Reply
    • Karrie@tastyeverafter

      April 04, 2015 at 10:12 pm

      Thank you so much #foodiebff! I wish I would have mailed you some because I've been eating them for 4 days straight. Tonight I think I'm going to save the calories and just pick out the brandy raisins and walnuts. Plus it's fruit and nuts and that's healthy

      Reply

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