Best 4 Just Plain Carrot Cake Recipes

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**Carrot cake**, a delectable dessert that combines the sweetness of carrots with a symphony of spices, is a classic treat enjoyed by people of all ages. Originating in the Middle Ages, this cake has undergone various transformations over the centuries, resulting in a diverse range of recipes that cater to different tastes and preferences. From the traditional British carrot cake, characterized by its moist texture and generous frosting, to the American version known for its cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts, carrot cake has become a staple in bakeries and homes worldwide. This article presents a collection of carrot cake recipes that capture the essence of this versatile dessert, offering both classic and contemporary interpretations. Whether you prefer a simple yet flavorful cake or one adorned with intricate decorations, these recipes provide a step-by-step guide to creating a carrot cake that will tantalize your taste buds and impress your loved ones.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

EASY CARROT CAKE



Easy Carrot Cake image

This recipe makes a fabulous and moist carrot cake. Try it for Thanksgiving instead of or in addition to pumpkin pie.

Provided by AUTUMN/FALL

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Holiday Cake Recipes

Yield 14

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube pan.
  • Combine the sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, soda, oil. With an electric mixer beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the carrots and the walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour 20 minutes. Note: this cake can be made in two 9 inch layer cake pans just change the baking time to 40 minutes.
  • To Make Frosting: With an electric mixer blend the cream cheese and cream. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar. Frosting can be spread and a still warm cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 593.4 calories, Carbohydrate 68.6 g, Cholesterol 65.6 mg, Fat 34.4 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 5.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 312.7 mg, Sugar 52 g

INCREDIBLY MOIST AND EASY CARROT CAKE



Incredibly Moist and Easy Carrot Cake image

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

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ¼ cups (295 ml) canola or other vegetable oil
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1 cup (190 grams) lightly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3 cups (300 grams) grated peeled carrots, 5 to 6 medium carrots
1 cup (100 grams) coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup (65 grams) raisins
8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ¼ cups (140 grams) powdered sugar
1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup (50 grams) coarsely chopped pecans, for topping cake

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

JUST PLAIN CARROT CAKE



Just Plain Carrot Cake image

This WAS a zucchini cake recipe but the first night I was going to make it, I dumped my grated zucchini on the floor. Now its morphed into my favorite carrot cake recipe! goes great with your favorite cream cheese frosting.

Provided by CoffeeMom

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h45m

Yield 1 cake

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups finely grated carrots

Steps:

  • Combine eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Mix well.
  • In a separate bowl, combine and mix dry ingredients.
  • Add to wet mixture, mixing well.
  • Stir in finely crated carrot.
  • Pour batter into 13x9 cake pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
  • Allow to cool before frosting with your favorite cream cheese frosting.

OLD-FASHIONED CARROT CAKE



Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake image

I got this recipe from a magazine and the picture looked so good that i had to share it with you. It's a pleasently moist cake that's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffly buttery frosting is scrumtious with chopped walnuts stirred in!! ONE PIECE IS NEVER ENOUGH!!

Provided by OveGlove

Categories     Dessert

Time 50m

Yield 1 frosted cake, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 -3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 -3 tablespoons milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
carrot curls or more walnuts, for garnishing (optional)

Steps:

  • CAKE: In a mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar and oil; mix well.
  • Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg, and beat into egg mixture.
  • Stir in carrots.
  • Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans.
  • Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
  • FROSTING: Cream butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl.
  • Gradually beat in confectioner's sugar and vanilla.
  • Add enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency.
  • Stir in walnuts.
  • Spread frosting between layers and over tops and sides of cake.
  • Garnish with carrots and walnuts if desired.
  • Refridgerate left overs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 784, Fat 45.8, SaturatedFat 11.2, Cholesterol 99, Sodium 297.4, Carbohydrate 90.6, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 71.4, Protein 6.6

Tips and Conclusion

  • Prep is Key: Grating the carrots finely and whisking the dry ingredients together before combining wet and dry ingredients will ensure an evenly mixed batter.
  • Measure Accurately: Using a kitchen scale for ingredients like flour and sugar yields more consistent results than measuring cups.
  • Don't Overmix: Overmixing can make the cake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no streaks of flour remain.
  • Bake at the Right Temperature: A low oven temperature (325°F/163°C) helps prevent the cake from drying out and promotes even baking.
  • Cool Completely Before Frosting: Allow the cake to cool completely before applying the frosting. This will prevent the frosting from melting and seeping into the cake.
  • Store Properly: Keep the frosted cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Freeze unfrosted cakes for up to 3 months.

Conclusion

With its moist, tender crumb, sweet-spiced flavor, and irresistibly creamy frosting, this carrot cake is a classic for a reason. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, this recipe provides detailed instructions and helpful tips to ensure a delicious and impressive result. From the initial prep to the final frosting, each step is explained clearly, making it easy to follow. So, grab your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a delightful baking journey together!

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