Carrot Cake is a classic dessert made with shredded carrots, spices, oil, pineapple, and added pecans for a nutty crunch in every bite. Then, the cake is topped with cream cheese frosting. It’s the perfect cake to share at celebrations, potlucks, or if you are simply craving carrot cake! For the same delicious flavors, try my Carrot Cake Cruffins, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Oil: Vegetable or canola oil is added to the cake batter to keep the cake moist and tender. It also helps distribute the flavors and spices more evenly.
Spices: I used the common spices of cinnamon and nutmeg in the batter.
Pineapple: Pineapple isn’t always added to carrot cake, however, I like the added moisture it brings. I also appreciate the flavor and texture the pineapple provides.
Nuts: I love the crunch that comes with added nuts. I used pecans, but almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts would also be delicious. Of course, you can certainly leave out nuts if preferred.
Frosting: Cream cheese frosting is the traditional choice when it comes to carrot cakes. You could also frost the cake with buttercream, which would also be delicious. I also have another Homemade Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting that is SO GOOD! Or, surprise everyone by making my Cream Cheese-Filled Carrot Cupcakes with a cream cheese-filled center!
How to Store Carrot Cake
Frosted carrot cake should be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cake for up to 3 months. Be sure to save a piece of cake to make my Carrot Cake Milkshake!
More Popular Cakes
Carrot Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (218 g) vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups (330 g) shredded carrots
- 1 cup (109 g) chopped pecans
- 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (500 g) confectioners' sugar
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs with a mixer until it is a light yellow, about 3 minutes.
- In a separate bowl sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly and gently add the dry ingredients to the oil mixture. Mix until JUST combined. (Can also mix by hand!)
- Fold in the carrots, pecans, and pineapple. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Frost the cooled cake with the cream cheese frosting.
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I have always loved to involved my children in baking mini treats with lots of pastel colors. Now that I am a grandma I continue on with the tradition making little houses for the Easter Bunny that is completely edible.
I love to bake Lemon Pound Cake and blueberry muffins in the spring.
Spring brings a fresh tart flavor alive in my palette. Here are just a few of my favorites… Let’s see if you see a theme! Oatmeal Lemon Creme Bars, Strawberry Lemonade Scones, Pink Lemonade Cheesecake, Luscious Lemon Delight, Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon Pudding Poke Cake, Triple Layer Lemon Bars, Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares, and my new favorite is Lemon Cream Butter Cake.
Great, I think I’ll tell my boss I have to go home for an emergency. I’m craving LEMON!!!
For some reason, Spring always makes me think of Banana Pudding. I just can’t make it any other time of year. Maybe it’s the color? 🙂
I love to bake anything with Lemon! Lemon cake, lemon cheesecake, lemon cake balls…
I love making my Bunny cake for my little girls, they always love it!
Michelle Torres
decorater4life@aol.com
Technically, it isn’t baking, but I like to make those no-bake chocolate bird’s nests with Chinese noodles. I also LOVE baking your garbage cookies with pastel M&M’s!!! Yum!
carrot cake is a staple for our easter celebrations. we also like bird’s nest cupcakes!
I am ready to bake anything with rhubarb! I actually have some frozen from last year so I can use that and feel like spring even though our rhubarb isn’t ready yet!
Every year since I was small we have baked a cake in the shape of a rabbit. It was pretty much the only fancy cake pan my mother owned and it was always a big event as she almost never let us have sweets. Now, I still get excited to bake it, although it’s no longer a calendar event for me to have sweets!