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The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe - delicious moist cake bursting with carrots, nuts, raisins and spices, with a rich cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 889 kcal
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups grated carrots
  • 8 ounces canned crushed pineapple drained well
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts divided
  • ½ cup raisins
  • For the cream cheese frosting:
  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with baking spray. Take a pastry brush and brush the spray all over the inside of the pans to make sure they are evenly coated.
  2. Add a circle of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan, not up the sides. Spray with baking spray, set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. 
  4. Place the butter and sugars in the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or you can do this in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, mix until smooth.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time until incorporated and add the vanilla.
  6. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined, scrape down the sides, and stir for about 30 seconds until everything is mixed in well. 
  7. Add the carrots, pineapple, half of the walnuts, and the raisins, stir until everything is incorporated. 
  8. Divide the batter between the two cake pans.
  9. Smooth out the top and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, a few crumbs hanging on is okay but no wet batter.
  10. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Invert the pans and let cool completely on a wire rack. 
  11. While the cakes cool, make the frosting by adding the cream cheese and butter to the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
  12. Whip on medium until smooth.
  13. Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and cinnamon, mix to combine. Scrape down the sides as needed.
  14. Turn the mixer on to medium-high and whip until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
  15. Once the cakes are cool, take the parchment paper off the bottoms.
  16. Place one of the cakes bottom side down onto your serving platter.
  17. There should be very little doming but if there is you can trim off a bit to make it more even. Add 1 & ½ cups of the frosting on top of the cake and smooth it out to the edge.
  18. Invert the second cake and place it bottom side up on top of the frosting. Add a crumb coat to the entire cake.
  19. Place cake in the fridge for at least 2 hours to set. 
  20. Frost with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
  21. Add the walnuts along the bottom edge of the cake.
  22. Slice and serve!

Notes

  • Any leftover cake needs to be store in the fridge covered with plastic wrap due to the cream cheese frosting.
  • This is a recipe where you can add and subtract ingredients. The addition of the nutmeg and clove gives a nice warmth to the cake but you can leave it out and add more cinnamon in its place.
  • Raisins, nuts, and pineapple are all optional. The raisins plump up nicely in the cake while baking and give a great texture.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 889kcal (44%) Carbohydrates 101g (34%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 53g (82%) Saturated Fat 28g (140%) Polyunsaturated Fat 21g Cholesterol 168mg (56%) Sodium 366mg (15%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 78g (156%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 889

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 889kcal 44%
Carbohydrates 101g 34%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 53g 82%
Saturated Fat 28g 140%
Polyunsaturated Fat 21g 124%
Cholesterol 168mg 56%
Sodium 366mg 15%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 78g 156%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.