For the love of cooking with Chef Laura Strath

In partnership with Town of Oakville-Carrot Cupcakes

Make every meal, treat or snack a successful one by attending this session, watching the demonstrations and asking questions!

Join us for a fun, lively discussion and take away some handy tips that you can apply in your own kitchen right away. Each week will feature a new topic.   Directions below. 

Instructor Bio: Chef Laura Strath is bursting with cooking and baking knowledge. With a Red Seal certification in Pastry and Baking Arts, she loves to share recipes, discuss useful kitchen tools, and demonstrate cooking techniques.

Please click on this link to access this free virtual program

Recipe

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting 
Prep time:  25 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes:      12

Ingredients or muffins:

1 1/4 cups (157g) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
3/4 tsp/teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp/teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp/teaspoon salt
1 tsp/teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp/teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cups (180ml) canola oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 tsp/teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tbsp/tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups (170g) carrots, grated
you can also add 1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts, optional

Ingredients for frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick/113g) unsalted butter softened
1 cup (8 oz/ounces, 226g brick) cream cheese softened (not the spreadable kind)
1 tsp/teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 tsp/teaspoon salt
4 cups (500g) powdered sugar
Instructions
Follow along with Chef Laura via Zoom or by phone.

Directions for muffins:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a standard 12 cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
Using an electric/stand mixer, whisk together the flour, white and light brown sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/2 tsp/teaspoon of salt.
Stir in the canola oil.
Add the eggs one at a time, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl after each, and beat until well-combined.
Stir in 1 1/2 tsp/teaspoons of vanilla extract and the milk.
Add carrots (and nuts, if using) and stir until combined.
Evenly divide the batter into cupcake liners, filling each 2/3-3/4 full.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
Allow to cool completely before decorating with cream cheese frosting.

Directions for frosting:

Using an electric/stand mixer, combine butter and cream cheese well until smooth and lump-free.
Add vanilla extract and salt, stir well to combine.
With the mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until it is completely combined.
Use to frost completely cooled cakes or cupcakes.

Accessing the program using Zoom:

Option 1: From oakville.ca using your computer, tablet or smartphone
1. Shortly before the program is scheduled to begin, select the Go to Zoom button on this page to open the program automatically.
2. If this is your first time using Zoom, you will have to allow the program to download. You will not have to do this again. Depending on the Internet Browser you use, you may have to click to allow “Zoom Launcher”
3. The virtual program will begin promptly at the advertised time and the instructor will appear on screen.

Option 2: Using the Zoom app on your computer, tablet, or smartphone
1. Open the Zoom application on your device shortly before the program is scheduled to begin.
2. Select the Join or Join a Meeting button.
3. You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID code. Please enter 760 209 0528.
4. Next, the screen will ask for a passcode. The passcode is #Oakville.
5. The virtual program will begin promptly at the advertised time, and the instructor will appear on screen.

Option 3: Using your Touch-Tone phone
1. Shortly before the program is scheduled to begin, dial 647-374-4685 on your Touch-Tone phone
2. When prompted, enter meeting ID code 760 209 0528#.

Disclaimer
The Town of Oakville records our free virtual programs to post on YouTube for residents to enjoy at a later date. Those enabling their video camera during these sessions may be recorded.