Moist Carrot Cake (Printer-friendly)

Spiced, moist cake packed with carrots and nuts, topped with creamy frosting.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
06 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

→ Wet Ingredients

10 - 1 cup vegetable oil
11 - 4 large eggs
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Mix-Ins

13 - 2 cups grated carrots (3-4 medium carrots)
14 - 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
15 - 1 cup well-drained crushed pineapple
16 - 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

17 - 8 ounces softened cream cheese
18 - 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
19 - 2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
20 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
21 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In another bowl, beat together granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
05 - Fold in grated carrots, chopped nuts, pineapple, and raisins if using.
06 - Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
07 - Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
10 - Once cakes are completely cool, spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of the cake. Garnish with extra nuts or grated carrot if desired.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • The moisture from crushed pineapple keeps this cake tender for days, unlike other cakes that dry out
  • Theres something deeply satisfying about transforming humble garden carrots into an indulgent dessert
  • The cream cheese frosting-to-cake ratio in this recipe is practically perfect
02 -
  • Cooling cakes completely is nonnegotiable—warm cake melts cream cheese frosting into a sliding mess
  • Draining pineapple thoroughly is the secret to preventing soggy spots in the crumb
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent curdling and create that silky smooth frosting texture
03 -
  • Grate carrots by hand instead of using a food processor for better texture and moisture distribution
  • Sprinkle a thin layer of chopped nuts on the frosting to cover any imperfections
Go back