Carrot cake is a moist and flavorful cake that is often served as a dessert or snack. It is made with grated carrots, flour, sugar, eggs, and spices, and is typically frosted with a cream cheese frosting. Carrot cake is a popular choice for potlucks and bake sales, and it is also a favorite among children. This article provides three different recipes for carrot cake, each with its own unique flavor and texture. The first recipe is a classic carrot cake recipe that is sure to please everyone. The second recipe is a healthier version of carrot cake that uses whole wheat flour and less sugar. The third recipe is a gluten-free carrot cake recipe that is perfect for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. No matter which recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile cake.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CARROT CAKE
Carrot Cake is one of those classic recipes that works so well for any celebration. The bright orange color offset by creamy white frosting makes Carrot Cake the star of any dessert tray. As the name implies, the shredded carrots give this easy Carrot Cake recipe its bright color, but the taste is subtle. Warm cinnamon and vanilla help create a swoon-worthy flavor as you bite into the moist, dense cake. One of the best parts of Carrot Cake is the famous sweet-and-tangy cream cheese frosting. Follow our homemade recipe, or save time, and substitute Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting instead.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 1h5m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of one 13x9-inch pan or two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans with shortening; lightly flour. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed about 30 seconds or until blended. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the salt; beat on low speed 1 minute. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into pan(s).
- Bake 13x9-inch pan 40 to 45 minutes, round pans 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
- In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Frost 13x9-inch cake or fill and frost round layers with frosting. Sprinkle nutmeg on frosted cake, if desired. Store in refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 440, Carbohydrate 46 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Fat 5, Fiber 2 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 3 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 230 mg, Sugar 27 g, TransFat 0 g
CARROT CAKE
My family's best carrot cake recipe dates back to my great-grandmother! We bake up a few of these carrot cakes for special occasions to make sure there's enough to go around. You'll love the texture this pretty, moist treat gets from pineapple, coconut and, of course, carrots! -Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h10m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, oil, carrots and vanilla; beat until combined. Stir in pineapple, coconut and nuts. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter in a small bowl until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost cake. Sprinkle with additional nuts. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 819 calories, Fat 49g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 76mg cholesterol, Sodium 346mg sodium, Carbohydrate 91g carbohydrate (72g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 8g protein.
INCREDIBLY MOIST AND EASY CARROT CAKE
This is the best carrot cake recipe I've ever used. We prefer to use a hand grater when preparing the carrots since it creates delicate carrot shreds that melt into the cake batter. Pre-shredded bags or shredding carrots using a food processor are also options, but the carrot shreds will be larger. This recipe is forgiving. You can make this with or without the nuts or raisins. We love the combination of granulated and brown sugar, but if you only have one of them, use it, and the cake will still be delicious. Frosting: Our creamy frosting recipe shared below is not a traditional cream cheese frosting. Thanks to whipped cream, it's creamier and has soft peaks (you can see it in our video). We love it, but if you prefer a more traditional frosting, see the tips section below the recipe. We have provided instructions for a classic cream cheese frosting that works nicely with this cake.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Dessert
Time 1h5m
Yield Makes 1 (9-inch) double layer cake (16 thin slices) or 22 to 24 cupcakes
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottom with parchment paper and then grease the top. Or grease and flour the bottom and sides of both pans.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176C).
- Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl until very well blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each one.
- Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the dry ingredients in three parts, gently stirring until they disappear and the batter is smooth.
- Stir in the carrots, nuts, and raisins.
- Divide the cake batter between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake until the tops of the cake layers are springy when touched and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.
- Cool cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then carefully turn the cake layers out onto cooling racks. Remove the parchment paper and cool completely. If you find that a cake layer is sticking to the bottom of the pan, leave the cake pan upside down and allow gravity to do its thing.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with a handheld mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
- Beat in the powdered sugar, a 1/4 cup at a time, until fluffy.
- Pour in the whipping cream. Beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the frosting is whipped and creamy. This frosting resembles the texture of whipped cream. Chill covered until ready to frost the cake.
- When the cake layers are completely cool, frost the top of one cake layer, and place the second cake layer on top.
- Add the remaining frosting to the top of the carrot cake and use a butter knife or small spatula to swirl the frosting around. Leave the sides of the cake unfrosted. Finish with a handful of nuts on top.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 slice (1 of 16), Calories 535, Fat 33.4g, SaturatedFat 6.9g, Cholesterol 69.3mg, Sodium 315.9mg, Carbohydrate 56.4g, Fiber 2.4g, Sugar 40.5g, Protein 5.6g
CLASSIC CARROT CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: carrot, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, allspice, kosher salt, baking powder, baking soda, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, large eggs, vegetable oil, raisin, crushed pineapple, unsalted butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, walnuts
Provided by Kiano Moju
Categories Desserts
Time 1h55m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Grease 3 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
- Grate the carrots on the small holes of a box grater. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift together 2½ cups (310 G) of flour, the cinnamon, allspice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and eggs together with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until just combined.
- With the mixer running, gradually pour in the vegetable oil.
- With the mixer on medium-low speed, add ⅓ of the flour mixture at a time to the wet ingredients. Beat just to incorporate. Stop mixing when there is just a small amount of flour visible.
- In a small bowl, toss the raisins with the remaining tablespoon of flour.
- Add the raisin, grated carrots, and pineapple to the batter and fold to incorporate with a rubber spatula.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a fork inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes on a wire rack until the pans are cool to the touch. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely on the rack.
- Make the icing: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer on medium-low speed. Once combined, mix on medium-high speed for 30 seconds, until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, ½ cup (60 G) at a time, beating on medium-low speed to incorporate each addition.
- Assemble the cake: Check to see if the top of each cake is flat. If not, use a serrated knife level off the cakes.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter or cake stand. Spoon ¼ of the icing on top and spread in an even layer. Add another layer of cake and spread with another ¼ of the icing. Set the last cake layer on top with the bottom up to ensure a very flat surface. Spread the rest of the icing over the top and sides.
- Gently press the walnuts into the icing around the sides of the cake.
- Chill for 30-60 minutes to let the icing set, then slice and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1012 calories, Carbohydrate 94 grams, Fat 68 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 11 grams, Sugar 63 grams
EASY CARROT CAKE
Top this classic carrot cake with moreish icing and chopped walnuts or pecans. Serve as a sweet treat with a cup of tea any time of the day.
Provided by Cassie Best
Categories Afternoon tea, Dessert, Treat
Time 1h5m
Yield Serves 10-12
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, yogurt, eggs, vanilla and zest in a jug. Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg with a good pinch of salt in a bowl. Squeeze any lumps of sugar through your fingers, shaking the bowl a few times to bring the lumps to the surface.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry, along with the carrots, raisins and half the nuts, if using. Mix well to combine, then divide between the tins.
- Bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins, then check again. Leave to cool in the tins.
- To make the icing, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add half the soft cheese and beat again, then add the rest (adding it bit by bit prevents the icing from splitting). Remove the cakes from the tins and sandwich together with half the icing. Top with the remaining icing and scatter with the remaining walnuts. Will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Best eaten at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 680 calories, Fat 37 grams fat, SaturatedFat 8 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 78 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 61 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 8 grams protein, Sodium 0.6 milligram of sodium
CARROT CAKE
You've got enough frosting to fill the layers and cover the sides and top of the cake, but Dorie Greenspan covers each layer generously, so generously that when the next layer goes on the frosting ripples out around the edges. Then just swirl the frosting over the top, leaving the sides bare.
Provided by Dorie Greenspan
Categories brunch, lunch
Time 1h45m
Yield 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- For the cake: Position the racks to divide the oven into thirds and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour three 9-inch round, 2-inch deep cake pans, flour the insides and tap out the excess.
- Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside. In another bowl, stir together the carrots, chopped nuts, coconut and raisins.
- Working in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a whisk, beat the sugar and oil together until smooth. Add the eggs one by one and continue to beat until the batter is even smoother. If you are working in a mixer, reduce the speed to low, if you're working by hand switch to a large rubber spatula, and gently stir in the flour mixture - mix only until the dry ingredients disappear. Just as gently, stir in the chunky ingredients.
- Divide the batter among the baking pans and slide the pans into the oven. Bake the cakes for 40 to 50 minutes, rotating the pans top to bottom and front to back at the midway point. The cakes are properly baked when a knife inserted into the centers of the cakes comes out clean; the cakes will just start to come away from the edges. Transfer the pans to cooling racks, cool for 5 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool to room temperature. (At this point, the cakes can be wrapped airtight and kept at room temperature overnight or frozen for up to 2 months; thaw before frosting.)
- For the frosting: Working in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until the frosting is velvety smooth. Beat in the lemon juice or extract.
- If you'd like to have coconut in the filling, scoop out about 1/2 of the frosting and stir the coconut into this portion.
- To frost the cake, place one layer of the cake, right-side up, on a cardboard round or a cake plate. If you've added coconut to the frosting, use half of coconut frosting to generously cover the first layer. Use an offset spatula or a spoon to smooth the frosting all the way to the edges of the layer. Top with the second layer, this time placing the cake top-side down. Frost with the remainder of the coconut frosting. Top with the last layer, right-side up and use the plain frosting to cover the top - and the sides, if you want - of the cake. Finish the top layer with swirls of frosting. If you want to top the cake with toasted nuts or coconut, sprinkle on these ingredients now, while the frosting is soft. Slide the cake into the refrigerator for 15 minutes, just to set the frosting.
- Serving: The cake can be served as soon as the frosting is set. It can also wait, at room temperature and covered with a cake keeper, overnight. The cake is best served in thick slices at room temperature and, while it's good plain, it's better with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or even some lemon curd with a little whipped cream folded in.
- Storing: Covered the cake will keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. It can also be frozen, uncovered, and then, when it is firmed, wrapped airtight and kept in the freezer for up to 2 months; defrost, still wrapped, in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 969, UnsaturatedFat 33 grams, Carbohydrate 118 grams, Fat 54 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 580 milligrams, Sugar 92 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh, organic carrots for the best flavor and texture.
- Don't overmix the batter, or the cake will be tough.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it.
- Use a cream cheese frosting for a classic carrot cake flavor.
- Decorate the cake with chopped walnuts, pecans, or raisins.
- Serve the cake at room temperature for the best flavor.
Conclusion:
Carrot cake is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed all year round. With its moist texture, sweet flavor, and cream cheese frosting, it's a favorite of many. Whether you're a beginner baker or a seasoned pro, there's a carrot cake recipe in this article that's perfect for you. So preheat your oven and get ready to bake up a delicious carrot cake today!
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