This home made Carrot Cake Recipe is moist and tender with a smooth crumb and the right mix of spices. It’s loaded with carrots and studded with crunchy pecans and tangy-sweet raisins (that are non-compulsory however good!).
You’ll love the layers of Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s the identical frosting we use for Crimson Velvet Cake – a keeper of a recipe! Watch the video tutorial and discover ways to make and adorn this iconic carrot cake.
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The Greatest Carrot Cake Recipe
I’ve at all times cherished carrot cake, however store-bought carrot truffles have at all times missed the mark for me – they’re both too candy, too dense, or too dry. This home made carrot cake units the bar excessive for any carrot cake lover. It’s a profitable mixture of the right cake base and fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting.
Carrots ought to be the outstanding ingredient of any carrot cake and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s additionally tremendous moist from the addition of applesauce and olive oil. This cake is so satisfying, you may even take pleasure in it with none frosting. There’s a lot occurring within the taste and texture of the cake between the shredded carrots, crunchy pecans, and candy raisins.
Carrot Cake Video
Watch Natasha make this Carrot Cake. You’ll be stunned at how shortly and simply this cake comes collectively. This can be a terrific weekend baking undertaking and It’s the right springtime or Easter dessert.
What Makes Carrot Cake Moist?
- Carrots – the star ingredient and so they naturally include lots of water. The secret is to finely larger the carrots in order that they launch their moisture within the baking course of and likewise disperse extra evenly within the cake with out sinking to the underside. Get natural carrots if potential. They at all times appear sweeter to me.
- Oil – we use gentle olive oil so as to add richness to the crumb, however you’ll be able to substitute it with canola oil or vegetable oil. Oil is most popular over butter as a result of oil stays liquid at room temperature which helps hold the crumb smooth and moist.
- Brown Sugar – accommodates molasses which provides moisture and a little bit little bit of acidity to create a extra tender crumb.
- Eggs – add moisture and richness to the cake. Additionally they assist maintain the cake collectively.
- Applesauce – provides additional moisture, and creates a denser, extra tender crumb. We love home made applesauce however storebought works fantastic. You may as well substitute with crushed pineapple.
Substitutions
Excellent news – you’ll be able to swap out a number of components on this cake. These are a few of our favourite substitutions:
- Pecans – you’ll be able to go away the nuts out or substitute with walnuts, almonds, cashews, or shredded coconut.
- Raisins – add nice texture and taste. You may substitute for golden raisins or chopped pitted dates. For those who don’t like raisins, go away them out.
- Spices – alter to choice. Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice are handy substitutes as an alternative of utilizing a number of particular person spices.
- Pineapple – you’ll be able to substitute applesauce for calmly drained crushed pineapple. Pumpkin puree or mashed ripe bananas would additionally work as substitutions however could have totally different taste profiles.
How one can Make Carrot Cake
The method for making this carrot cake comes collectively in 2 bowls; stirring the dry components, stirring the moist components, and mixing them together with your carrots and non-compulsory mix-ins.
- Dry components – In a big mixing bowl, whisk collectively the dry components: flour, sugars, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, breaking apart the brown sugar in case you see clumps.
- Moist components – in a second mixing bowl, whisk collectively the moist components – oil, apple sauce, and eggs till properly blended.
- Mix – Pour the moist components over the dry components and stir till moistened, scraping down the bowl.
- Add-ins – Fold in carrots, pecans, and raisins (if utilizing) simply till included.
- Bake – Divide the batter between 2 ready 9-inch cake pans and bake at 350˚F for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
- Cool – Relaxation within the cake pans for 15-20 minutes then run a knife or spatula across the edges to launch the truffles and switch to wire racks to chill.
Professional Tip:
As soon as your cake layers are on the wire rack, be sure they’ve cooled utterly to room temperature earlier than making use of the frosting, in any other case, your frosting will soften and received’t look good. I begin beating the frosting as soon as the cake layers have cooled.
How one can Frost a Carrot Cake
You may adorn this cake any approach you want. You may roughly unfold on the frosting for a country look or pipe the frosting as we’ve executed right here. If you wish to replicate this look, watch the video tutorial above to see detailed directions for adorning this dreamy carrot cake. Right here’s what you will have:
What does carrot cake style like?
Since carrots are the principle ingredient of carrot cake, it has an excellent earthy carrot taste with heat spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. The cake itself isn’t overly candy which makes it an ideal match for the candy and tangy cream cheese frosting.
Can I make this in a 9×13 cake pan?
You may bake this carrot cake in a 13×9 cake pan. Put together your pan as directed within the recipe then bake at 350˚F for 40-45 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
Can I make carrot cake cupcakes?
Sure! Try our Carrot Cake Cupcakes recipe for directions on changing this recipe to cupcakes.
Storage Ideas
How lengthy does carrot cake final? This cake might be made upfront with out struggling in high quality or taste. You may both make particular person elements forward or totally assemble the cake forward of time because it retains rather well within the fridge or freezer.
- Cake Layers – as soon as the cake layers are cooled to room temperature, wrap in plastic wrap and hold them at room temperature in a single day. Cake layers can be frozen for as much as three months.
- Assembled Cake – as soon as the cake is totally assembled, you’ll be able to cowl and refrigerate it for as much as 3 days. Carrot cake might be frozen for 2-3 months.
- To Serve – If frozen, thaw within the fridge in a single day. This cake might be served at room temperature or chilled from the fridge. Simply slice and serve.
Carrots are such a flexible ingredient. We love Carrot recipes from Roasted Carrots to Creamy Carrot Soup and naturally carrot desserts. For those who’re a fan of carrots, this Traditional Carrot Cake is a must-try! Layered with our Cream Cheese Frosting, it’s such a nostalgic and comforting dessert that makes everybody pleased.
Extra Traditional Cake Recipes
For those who love basic truffles like this Carrot Cake, then you definitely received’t wish to miss these time-tested cake recipes:
Simple Carrot Cake Recipe (VIDEO)
This carrot cake is smooth, moist, loaded with carrots and pecans and has tons of taste. You’ll love the layers of fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting. Carrot cake is a nostalgic and comforting dessert.
Servings: 16 slices
- unsalted butter, to grease the pans
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, *measured appropriately
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed gentle brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp floor cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp floor nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp floor allspice
- 1/4 tsp floor cloves, non-compulsory
- 1/2 tsp fantastic sea salt
- 1 cup additional gentle olive oil, or vegetable or canola oil
- 4 massive eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup applesauce, or drained crushed pineapple
- 3 cups finely grated carrots, 14 oz or 6 medium carrots
- 1 cup pecans, *plus extra to garnish, non-compulsory
- 3/4 cup golden raisins, or common raisins, non-compulsory
- 1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting
Stop your display from going darkish
How one can Make Carrot Cake:
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Preheat the oven to 350˚F with a rack within the middle of the oven. Butter two 9-inch spherical cake pans, line the bottoms with a ring of parchment paper and calmly butter the parchment. Put aside.
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In a big mixing bowl, add flour, each sugars, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and salt. Whisk to mix and break up any brown sugar clumps.
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In a second mixing bowl, whisk collectively the moist components: oil, eggs and applesauce simply till properly mixed. Add the moist components to the dry components and use a spatula to fold till mixed.
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Use a spatula to fold within the carrot, nuts and raisins if utilizing and fold till properly included.
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Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and bake in a completely preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
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Let the cake relaxation within the pans for 15-20 minutes then switch to a wire rack and funky to room temperature earlier than making use of frosting and adorning. In the meantime, make the Cream Cheese Frosting.
To Frost The Carrot Cake:
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Set the primary cake layer on a cake platter and unfold on a beneficiant quantity of Cream Cheese frosting (about 1/4 of the batch).
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Set the second layer over the frosting with the top-side-down to create a good frosting floor. Frivolously crumb coat the cake with frosting then apply extra frosting to the highest and sides of the cake.
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Use a piping bag fitted with a big open star tip to pipe puffs of the remaining frosting across the prime of the cake and sprinkle remaining pecans across the edges.
*To enhance the flavour of pecans, toast them on a dry skillet, tossing steadily till aromatic then cool and chop. You may as well substitute pecans with walnuts, almonds, cashews or shredded coconut.
345kcal Energy41g Carbs4g Protein19g Fats
Vitamin Info
Simple Carrot Cake Recipe (VIDEO)
Quantity per Serving
% Each day Worth*
* % Each day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight loss plan.
