This Homemade Carrot Cake is the perfect dessert for any occasion. It's moist, flavorful, and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting. Made with fresh carrots and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. This cake is sure to become your favorite cake recipe.
Not only is this moist carrot cake delicious, but it's also relatively easy to make at home. You don't need any fancy ingredients or equipment – just some basic baking staples like flour, sugar, eggs, and carrots.
The result is a decadent and indulgent treat that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Looking for specifics on the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- You only need simple ingredients that are easy to find at the local grocery store, so you don't have to worry about spending bakery prices to make this classic carrot cake recipe.
- This homemade carrot cake is beautiful enough for holiday meals, but it also makes a tasty birthday cake for carrot cake lovers.
- Plus, this recipe is so easy to make that even beginner bakers can impress their friends and family.
🧾 Ingredient List
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Carrot Cake Batter
- all-purpose flour
- granulated white sugar
- light brown sugar
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- vegetable oil
- large eggs
- pure vanilla extract
- whole milk
- shredded carrots
- non-stick cooking spray
Cream Cheese Frosting
- unsalted butter
- cream cheese
- confectioners' sugar
- pure vanilla extract
- chopped pecans
🍲 Equipment
- 2 8-inch round pans
- Hand Mixer
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Whisk the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl; all-purpose flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Step 3: Gently fold in the shredded carrots.
Step 4: Split the batter between the two round cake pans and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 -35 minutes. Cook the cakes before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting Step-by-Step
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add the softened butter and cream cheese. Use a hand mixer with beaters attached to blend the two until smooth.
Step 2: Add the vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar about 3 cups at a time, to the cream cheese mixture, blending in between each addition of confectioners' sugar.
Step 3: Set aside the frosting until the cake is done baking and cooled completely before frosting.
Step 4: Place the first layer of the cake down and add frosting in the center. Spread evenly.
Step 5: Add the second layer of carrot cake and add more frosting. Spread evenly and around the edges of the cake.
Step 6: Garnish the chopped pecans around the sides of the cake. Cut, serve, and enjoy.
👩🏻🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
- I've found that it's best to use a box grater to make the grated carrots. You will get the best flavor from freshly grated instead of purchasing the pre-shredded carrots at the grocery store.
- Make sure that the frosting ingredients are completely room temperature so that they mix evenly and give you the perfect tangy cream cheese frosting.
- A pinch of salt added to your velvety cream cheese frosting will help bring out a little more of the sweetness.
- Once you add the wet ingredients to your cake batter be careful that you don't overmix. If you do, it can lead to a dense and tough cake instead of a light and fluffy one.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you can vary the flavor of this dish.
- Want to increase the flavor of your homemade carrot cake? Add ½ cup of drained crushed pineapple to your cake batter for a tropical flavor and extra moisture.
- Don't want to use vegetable oil in your cake batter? You can replace it with sour cream, or any neutral oil that your family uses. I would not recommend using olive oil due to the flavor, however, canola oil will work well.
- Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? Swap it out and use a coconut pecan frosting instead. Or even a vanilla frosting will work great on this recipe.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Make ahead: One of the great things about making this moist carrot cake is that you can make it a day ahead of time so that you can spend less time in the kitchen on the holiday or birthday with your family and friends.
Storage: Store the baked carrot cake in a covered airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you don't have an airtight container like a cake stand, you can cover the top of your cake loosely with plastic wrap to keep it fresh.
Freezing: Wrap individual slices of carrot cake in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This allows for easy portioning and quick defrosting when you're craving a slice.
You can also freeze unfrosted cakes by wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
- We love to serve this easy carrot cake recipe with a hearty meal like this Baked Honey Glazed Ham. Plus, you will have tons of leftovers to make tons of recipes with.
- If you ask my family you can't have a hearty family meal without a side dish of these Instant Pot Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes. They are creamy, buttery, and super easy to make.
- Looking for a fresh and healthy side dish to pair with this family-friendly meal? If so, check out these Easy Oven Roasted Green Beans. Even the picky eaters in your family will enjoy it.
🍽 Similar recipes
- Do you love chocolate cake? Next time you are craving chocolate you should check out these Moist Chocolate Cupcakes. They are the ultimate chocolate dessert.
- Looking for a beautiful and festive summer dessert recipe to make to wow your friends? This Red White and Blue Cake is perfect for summer celebrations.
- This Easy Tres Leches Cake is a classic dessert that is rich, creamy, and delicious. Perfect for any occasion!
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
To get flat layers that are perfect for easy stacking. Just a cake leveler to cut off the top domes of the cake layers, so they stack nicely.
I find that oil works best in this homemade carrot cake recipe, however you can use melted butter as well.
Carrots do not need to be dried for this simple cake recipe.
I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.
Keep up to date with recipes by following me on:
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TWITTER
Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Save the Recipe?
Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!
Best Carrot Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/176°C. Spray 2 8-inch round baking pans with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add and whisk together until combined the dry ingredients; all-purpose flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add wet ingredients vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Whisk until the batter is smooth.
- Fold the shredded carrots into the batter until thoroughly combined.
- Evenly split the batter between the two prepared baking pans
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, make the cream cheese frosting.
- When the cake is done baking, let it cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.
- In a large mixing bowl add the softened butter and cream cheese. Use a hand mixer with beaters attached to blend the two until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar about 3 cups at a time to the cream cheese mixture, blending in between each addition of confectioners' sugar.
- Set aside the frosting until the cake is done baking and cooled completely before frosting.
- Place the first layer of the cake down and add frosting in the center. Spread evenly.
- Then add the second layer of carrot cake and add more frosting. Spread evenly and around the edges of the cake.
- Add the chopped pecans around the sides of the cake for garnish.
- Cut, serve and enjoy
Comments
No Comments