Carrot Muffin Cakes

I made these lovely muffin cakes for Father’s Day.

Actually the day after Father’s Day…because things didn’t quite go as I had expected.

I had planned on picking up lunch for the Daddio with the BF, but BF’s dad was unexpectedly in town so of course BF wanted to spend the day with his own dad.  So I had to drive by myself and I ended up driving 40 minutes more than I actually needed to since I didn’t think about the fact that church was right next to one of the Chilis I could have gone to for food.  Duh Amanda!

I will blame it on my car.  

My car is not air conditioned.  It broke about three years ago and my awesome car repair shop figured out that we could actually just add freon periodically and it would work until the freon leaked out.

Good ol’ Frankencar…got into an accident when an enormous mound of snow blocked my sight and a car swiped my bumper off.  BF and his dad repaired it. 🙂

About a month ago I went in to get my usual freon injection, and they told me my A/C died for good this time.  Ah!

No air conditioning + black car + summertime in Nebraska = one crabby Amanda driver.

I’ve had Frankencar since I was 17!

I had also stayed up late in a heated discussion with the BF.  Like crazy late.  Like 4am.  I don’t know what it is…when there is a disagreement, I need it settled right then and there. 

You know how you will talk to someone and they will tell you that he/she and their significant other are “in a fight?”  I don’t think I’ve ever said that about Dave and I.  Because I’m persistent (sometimes to a fault) about resolving things ASAP.

I stayed up till 4am and had to get up early to play with the babes in the nursery on Sunday.  Not the best choice of my life.

All of this may have contributed to the fact that I bawled when I realized I shouldn’t have gotten the Daddio a side of broccoli with his wrap…because he doesn’t like broccoli.  Seriously, cried like a baby.  I felt like a terrible daughter for making him wait FOREVER for food AND not knowing exactly what he would want.

Sometimes I feel like I’m awful at gift-getting.  (My sister is amazing at it and makes me look bad every time btw.)

I was planning on making carrot cake for the Daddio after lunch, but I was so exhausted physically and emotionally that I just could not.

I also thought that I wouldn’t be seeing BF for another week and had barely seen him at all that weekend, so, feeling even terribler of a daughter, Daddio told me I should go hang out with BF.  (yep, terribler is a word.)

Monday, after a full night’s sleep (and then some–I was very tired), I resolved to make Daddio the best Father’s Day treats ever.

I had already bought the cake mix, thinking there were actual carrots in the carrot cake…nope.  “Carrot-flavored pieces.”  I will have to remember this next time.

Sister Courtney and I made Daddio a from scratch carrot cake for a major bday of his, but it was crazy messy.

I do like the semi-homemade aspect of cake mixes, really, anything from a box makes a regular appearance in my house.

I think it’s really a balance…. of cooking from scratch and using whole foods, and using a mix then adding my own spin to it.

Carrot Muffin Cakes

What’s in it?

• 1 carrot cake mix
• substitute almond milk for the water in the recipe
• substitute chia seeds + water for eggs (1 TBS + 3 TBS water for each egg)
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts + few handfuls rough chopped (for tops)
• few handfuls of chocolate chips (for tops)

How do you make it?

1.  Mix according to the box.
2. Add finely chopped walnuts.
3. Pour into cupcake liners.
4. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Bake according to package.  Voila.

How was it?
Honestly, it was delicious, but it fell apart a little.

Not when they were hot out of the oven, and not when I had one last night after getting home from the Nebraska State Shoot with the BF, but somewhere in between that.

Anyone have suggestions for that?  I thought it might be from the chia seed mixture, but I’m not sure.  Or baking it longer?

Still, deliciously spiced, just sweet enough and a little crunchy.  I couldn’t decide if the texture was like a cupcake or muffin…thus muffin cake!

The Daddio took a bunch of these to work and they were gone in a day.  This is saying something since sometimes he brings sweets back because people are on diets and they either won’t eat the sweets or split them in half. 

I also brought some of these to the trapshoot and BF had one for breakfast one day and I had one (or two) for dessert each evening.


Lessons Learned:

1. I need sleep.
2. I need a car with a/c.
3. I should plan ahead.
4. Carrot cake mixes don’t actually have carrots in them.
5. Chocolate chips makes everything better. 🙂

Have a productive and blessed day friends!

Have you ever messed up royally for a bday or some other significant event?


What’s your favorite kind of cake?

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