These mini carrot bundt cakes are so EASY to make! I'll share how to make ANY cake mix cake taste amazing by adding two ingredients. You'll love our homemade cream cheese frosting, and I'll even show you how to ice them just like the ones from your local bakery! This post contains affiliate links.
Looking for Easter desserts? Try our lemon sweet rolls, Easter sugar cookie bars, or homemade chocolate Easter eggs!
Watch our step by step video!
Everything is better in miniature form. This is why cupcakes are so popular! Delicious single portion desserts that are just plain fun to eat. I bought a mini bundt cake pan so that I could start making my own knock-off Nothing Bundt Cake creations. Their cakes are so delicious, but the mini bundt cakes are my favorite.
I love how simple these are to make. No shredded carrots or mixing up spices. However, if you’d rather make your carrot cake completely from scratch, you’ll love our homemade carrot cake recipe! If you’d like to check out my semi-homemade version, stick around! I rarely make cakes from scratch. I took a series of cake decorating classes ten years ago and my instructor said that when she ran her business, she used cake mixes and doctored them up. I’ve been doing this ever since!
Tips for Making AMAZING Cakes Using Cake Mix
You don't need to do all of these. Just making one change will elevate your cake!
- Add ½ -1 c. of sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to the batter.
- Add 1 small box of pudding mix to the batter.
- Use milk instead of water.
- Use butter instead of oil.
- Add a teaspoon of your favorite extract.
It's really that easy.
For our mini bundt cakes today we are going to just stir in ½ cup of sour cream and add a packet of pudding mix.
I use a box of vanilla pudding in the carrot cake recipe that I linked above, as well as a box of banana or vanilla pudding mix in my bakery style banana bread. Experiment with different flavors of pudding mixes to see what you like!
If you'd like added crunch, toss in a handful of chopped walnuts or sprinkle pecans on top after the cakes are frosted.
These chocolate carrots are so fun for spring desserts and Easter egg fillers!
How to Bake Mini Bundt Cakes
There are many different sizes and versions of a mini bundt cake pan. The bundt cake pan that I have is 16" x 10" and bakes 6 (4") cakes. You can also buy 12 cavity cake molds that make even smaller cakes. I like the larger 6 cavity pan because the cakes are just the right size for an adult. The perfect single portion to wrap up and give as a gift. This recipe makes 8 mini carrot bundt cakes.
How to Frost Mini Bundt Cakes
I watched a news clip from a local morning show recently, and one of the managers from Nothing Bundt Cakes was on the show sharing how they frost their cakes! It isn't rocket science, but I still found it helpful.
- The first thing you need is a good frosting. Don't worry, I've got you covered (see recipe below). Cream cheese frosting is creamy and perfect for frosting bundt cakes. I find it easier to work with than buttercream frosting.
- You'll also need a #12 frosting tip and a disposable icing bag. Trim the bottom of the icing bag just enough to be able to slide the tip inside. Alternatively, if you have a frosting coupler you can use one. I like using a coupler because I think it creates a better seal without any frosting leakage from the bottom.
- Begin icing from the BOTTOM and work your way up, ending in the center of the bundt hole. Frost on each side of the ridge. You can see in the photo above that I am icing the right side of the ridge. After that I iced the left side. Any excess frosting falls into the bundt hole. Then I swirled a small circle to close up each hole. For a step by step guide, see my video above!
Mini Carrot Bundt Cake Recipe
Mini Bundt Cakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- mini bundt pan
- frosting bag, tip and coupler
- bowls, measuring cups, and spoons
- electric mixer
- scoop
Ingredients
- 1 carrot cake mix
- 1 3.9 oz. box vanilla pudding mix
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ cup sour cream
Frosting
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix cake mix with pudding mix, water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl. Add sour cream. Mix well, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Spray a mini bundt cake pan with non stick cooking spray.
- Scoop/spoon carrot cake batter into each cake cavity (3 medium cookie scoops in each).
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow cakes to sit in pan for 5 minutes. Turn pan over to remove cakes and let cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Mix frosting ingredients together using an electric mixer.
- Fill a piping bag with frosting and frost cooled cakes starting at the bottom and finishing in the center of the bundt hole. Repeat until the cake has lines of icing all the way around.Frost the remaining cakes, add a chocolate carrot (optional), and you're done!
Notes
Nutrition
Mini bundt cakes are so fun and easy to customize! Now that you've made our carrot cake version which one will you make next? Lemon bundt cakes with vanilla glaze and lemon zest? Chocolate with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips? Funfetti with sprinkles and vanilla buttercream? The possibilities are endless!
Valerie Mohr says
I was wanting to make a normal size Bundt cake. Have you ever baked this and do you change anything?
Brandy says
I haven’t made it in a large pan, but I’d just change the baking time to accommodate.
Maria Weese says
Is the pudding instant pudding? Thx- Maria
Brandy says
Yes
Synthia Shurtleff says
Hello,
Do I still bake them for the same amount of time if I have 12 smaller mini Bundt pan?
Brandy says
I’d start checking them to see if they are done sooner. They will probably bake up a little faster.
Carol Hogan says
I love your tips on the mini Bundt cakes but in your video it shows that you put the dough in and it looks as though you’re covering the center. I’m confused by that. And I fill the mini buns about 2/3 of the way up is that about what you’re using? I’m trying to make them as a gift for my grandchildren‘s teachers and I want them to be really special!! Thank you
Brandy says
Hi Carol! You can spoon the batter around (avoiding covering the center), I was lazy and just added it right over it. It will bake up around the center anyway. Whatever you want to do will work just fine. I am using a mini bundt pan, but there are a couple of sizes. Some are really small and make 12 per pan. The one I used makes 6 small bundt cakes. Here is the exact pan that I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DIX7S/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=homswehom0f-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0000DIX7S&linkId=2fd76466a69a3abdb7ed941f2c6cc44d
June Leathers says
Dash has a mini bundt cake maker now if you want to fix just one mini bundt cake. I ordered one and I'm waiting for it to be delivered. Great idea for just one person. Your receipe sounds good and I'll have to give it a try.
Joe Pierce says
What kind of mini bundlt pan you use.... so many out there and want to get a good one.. so I can make gifts.. don't want cheap
Brandy says
Hi! This is the one that I have (https://amzn.to/2TNeTru) although it appears to be out of stock. But this is the brand and size that I have that you might be able to find somewhere else. It's a great pan!
Amber says
Great idea! If I freeze some what would be the best way to do that? Thanks!
Brandy says
Hi Amber! So I love this article on freezing cakes and have used the techniques that Sally mentions. For these mini bundt cakes I'd wrap them then place them in a gallon ziploc bag. If you are going to use them soon you can just stick them in a ziplock bag, but if you are going to freeze them for a couple of months, I'd wrap them individually before putting them in the bag to reduce freezer burn, etc. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/how-to-freeze-cakes/