Best 6 Classic Carrot Cake Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Carrot cake**, a classic dessert with a moist, tender crumb and a sweet, spiced flavor, is a beloved treat that has been enjoyed for centuries. This versatile cake can be customized with various nuts, fruits, and cream cheese frosting, making it a perfect choice for any occasion. Our collection of carrot cake recipes offers a range of options, from traditional to modern, ensuring that you'll find the perfect recipe to satisfy your cravings.

Whether you prefer a classic carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, a gluten-free version for those with dietary restrictions, or a unique twist with pineapple or coconut, we have a recipe that will delight your taste buds. Our recipes include detailed instructions, helpful tips, and beautiful photos to guide you through the baking process, ensuring that you create a carrot cake that is both delicious and visually stunning. So, grab your apron, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey to carrot cake perfection!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CLASSIC CARROT CAKE



Classic Carrot Cake image

I entered this yummy, moist cake in a Colorado Outfitters Association dessert contest. My carrot cake with pineapple earned first place! -Cheri Eby, Gunnison, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h5m

Yield 15 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups shredded carrots (about 4 medium)
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking dish., Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use). In a large bowl, beat eggs, carrots, sugars, oil, drained pineapple and reserved juice until well blended. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into carrot mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts. Transfer to prepared dish., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread over cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 555 calories, Fat 34g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 88mg cholesterol, Sodium 361mg sodium, Carbohydrate 59g carbohydrate (44g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein.

CARROT CAKE



Carrot Cake image

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

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups Gold Medal™ All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded carrots (5 medium)
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
Nutmeg, if desired

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



Carrot Cake image

Here's an old-fashioned carrot cake that's got more carrots than spice. Pecans can be substituted for walnuts.

Provided by Marc Boyer

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Holiday Cake Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 cups white sugar
¾ cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup buttermilk
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup flaked coconut
1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
½ cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. Stir in carrots, coconut, vanilla, and pineapple. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; gently stir into carrot mixture. Stir in chopped nuts. Spread batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter or margarine, cream cheese, vanilla, and confectioners sugar. Blend until creamy. Frost cake while still in the pan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 615.5 calories, Carbohydrate 83.5 g, Cholesterol 70.4 mg, Fat 30.2 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.8 g, Sodium 540.4 mg, Sugar 67 g

CARROT CAKE



Carrot Cake image

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

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups grated carrots (you can grate the carrots in a food processor fitted with a shredding blade)
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
1/2 cup moist, plump raisins (dark or golden) or dried cranberries
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola or safflower oil
4 large eggs
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pound (3 3/4 cups) confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract
1/2 cup shredded coconut, optional
Toasted finely chopped nuts and/or toasted coconut, for topping, optional

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

OLD FASHIONED CARROT CAKE



Old Fashioned Carrot Cake image

This is a sweet, heavy delicious cake that you will never fail on making. I can't keep it in my house for any more than 24 hours... Everyone eats it as soon as it's ready. The kids love this recipe for a school snack too, it's so heavy and filling for a recess snack! You can add pineapple, raisins and/or walnuts if you like... I don't!

Provided by Momoftwo797

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h20m

Yield 20 pieces, 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon (heaping)
1 1/2 cups olive oil
4 eggs
4 -5 cups grated carrots
1 (250 g) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2-2 1/2 cups icing sugar

Steps:

  • Grate 4-5 medium carrots.
  • Pre-Heat oven to 350.
  • Grease 9x13 pan (I use an air-bake pan with a lid so I can just refrigerate after cake cools and is icing-ed).
  • In a large bowl mix sugar, flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon (stir together).
  • In a medium bowl mix oil, eggs & carrots. (blend on medium with mixer).
  • Combined wet & dry ingredients and mix till all ingredients are wet (Blending is not required).
  • Bake 50 min, check with knife. Cake should be perfect at 50 minute.
  • Blend cream cheese till smooth.
  • Add vanilla, blend.
  • Add icing sugar to preference of thickness. I like the whole 2 cups, sometimes a little bit more.
  • Refrigerate icing till cake cools (30-40 min) Then spread evenly over cake & enjoy!

CLASSIC CARROT CAKE



Classic carrot cake image

Perfect a classic with our next level carrot cake recipe. It's been meticulously tested so you can bake the best version of this traditional cake

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Categories     Afternoon tea, Dessert

Time 1h10m

Yield Cuts into 12-14 slices

Number Of Ingredients 17

vegetable oil, for the tins
200g butter, softened
200g light muscovado sugar
4 eggs
150g self-raising flour
50g rye or spelt flour (optional - use a total of 200g self-raising flour if you prefer)
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp mixed spice
250g (about 3 medium) carrots, trimmed and coarsely grated
75g raisins or sultanas
75g light muscovado sugar
100g pecans
150g butter, softened
150g icing sugar
340g full-fat soft cheese
½ lemon, zested

Steps:

  • For the praline, line a baking tray with baking parchment, then tip the sugar into a saucepan with 1 tbsp water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1-2 mins until the sugar starts to caramelise. Scatter in the pecans and a pinch of sea salt, and stir until the nuts are fully coated. Carefully scrape the hot pecan mix onto the tray and leave to set for at least 10 mins. Break about 12 whole pecans out of the praline and reserve for decorating later, then chop or smash the rest of the praline into small shards. Set aside. Will keep in an airtight container for a day.
  • Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil two 20cm round sandwich tins and line with baking parchment. Tip the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat using an electric whisk for 3 mins until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs, one at a time - or do this using a stand mixer. When the eggs are incorporated, fold in the flours, bicarb, spices and a pinch of salt, followed by the carrots, raisins and half of the smashed praline.
  • Divide the batter between the tins and level the surface with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 mins until the sponges are springy and a skewer inserted into the middle of each comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 10 mins, then put on a wire rack to cool fully. Will keep wrapped overnight.
  • To make the icing, beat the butter and sugar using an electric whisk until smooth. Add half the soft cheese and lemon zest and beat again, then add the remaining and beat until smooth.
  • To assemble, place one sponge, flat-side up, on a cake stand or plate and spread with a third of the icing. Scatter with most of the remaining smashed praline, then top with the other sponge, also flat-side up. Spread the rest of the icing over the top and sides, then decorate with the whole praline pecans. Chill for 1 hr to set, then slice and serve with any remaining smashed praline for sprinkling over. Will keep in an airtight tin for three days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 442 calories, Fat 28 grams fat, SaturatedFat 17 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 42 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 30 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 5 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium

Tips for Baking a Classic Carrot Cake

  • Use fresh carrots. Fresh carrots will give your cake a more vibrant color and flavor.
  • Grate the carrots finely. This will help them distribute evenly throughout the cake batter.
  • Toast the nuts. Toasting the nuts will bring out their flavor and make them more crunchy.
  • Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing the batter can make the cake tough.
  • Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This will ensure that the cake is cooked through.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting it. This will help the frosting set properly.
  • Use a cream cheese frosting. Cream cheese frosting is a classic pairing for carrot cake.
  • Decorate the cake with carrots, nuts, or sprinkles. This will add a festive touch to your cake.

Conclusion

Carrot cake is a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its moist texture, sweet flavor, and cream cheese frosting, carrot cake is sure to be a hit with everyone. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give carrot cake a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics