Description
A moist and flavorful carrot cake with a delightful balance of spices and sweetness, topped with creamy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- Grated carrots: 2 cups (about 4 medium carrots)
- All-purpose flour: 2 cups
- Granulated sugar: 1 ½ cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Baking powder: 2 teaspoons
- Ground cinnamon: 2 teaspoons
- Chopped walnuts: 1 cup (plus extra for garnish)
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
- Vegetable oil: 1 cup
- Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons
- Raisins: 1 cup (optional)
- Pineapple: 1 cup (crushed and drained, optional)
- Shredded coconut: ½ cup (optional)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by gathering all essential items and letting them reach room temperature.
- Mix the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, walnuts, and salt in a large bowl.
- Combine the wet ingredients: whisk eggs, oil, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
- Merge the wet and dry mixtures gently until just combined.
- Add grated carrots and any optional ingredients, folding them in carefully.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and divide the batter between two prepared 9-inch round cake pans.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.
- Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Frost the cooled cakes with cream cheese frosting and garnish with crushed walnuts.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best results.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend.
- For vegan, replace eggs with flax eggs and use vegan cream cheese for frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Carrot Cake, Dessert, Baking, Cream Cheese Frosting