Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake layers are made with grated carrots, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and a neutral oil that keeps the crumb moist for days. A tangy cream cheese frosting balances the sweetness of the cake. From mixing to frosting, the whole process takes roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Equipment
- 1 9-inch round cake pans
- 1 Mixing Bowls
- 1 Electric Mixer
- 1 Rubber spatula
- 1 Cooling Rack
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 3 cups grated carrots fresh and finely grated
- 0.5 cup chopped walnuts optional
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup cream cheese room temperature
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the sugar and oil together until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with each addition until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Fold in the grated carrots and, if using, the chopped walnuts.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Smooth the top with a spatula and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer the cakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- For the cream cheese frosting, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Once the cakes are completely cool, spread a generous layer of frosting on the top of one cake layer. Place the second layer on top and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with additional nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
Notes
To enhance the flavor, try adding a teaspoon of orange zest to the batter for a citrus twist. For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts. Always use fresh carrots for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 1040kcalCarbohydrates: 129gProtein: 10gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 523mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 3gSugar: 100gVitamin A: 8892IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 121mgIron: 2mg
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