Classic Easy Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting that’s ultra moist, perfectly spiced, and easy to make—your go-to fall dessert recipe.
Equipment
- Two 9-inch round cake pans
- Parchment paper
- Grater (for carrots)
- Large mixing bowl (for wet ingredients)
- Medium mixing bowl (for dry ingredients)
- Sifter or fine mesh strainer (for dry ingredients)
- Whisk or electric mixer (for mixing)
- Spatula (for folding and frosting)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wire cooling racks
- Oven
- Toothpick (for testing doneness)
- Knife (for chopping pecans and slicing cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans optional, plus extra for garnish
- 1/2 cup raisins optional
- 8 oz cream cheese softened (for frosting)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened (for frosting)
- 3 cups powdered sugar for frosting
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 🥚 eggs, 🍬 sugar, 🍯 brown sugar, 🧈 oil, and 🥄 vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, sift together 🍚 flour, 🧂 baking powder, 🧂 baking soda, 🧂 salt, 🍂 cinnamon, and 🍂 nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined.
- Fold in 🥕 grated carrots, 🌰 pecans, and 🍇 raisins (if using).
- Divide batter evenly between pans, smoothing the tops. Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.
- For the frosting: beat 🥛 cream cheese and 🧈 butter together until smooth. Add 🍬 powdered sugar and 🥄 vanilla, mixing until creamy.
- Frost the cooled cakes, stacking them into layers with frosting in between. Spread the remaining frosting on top and sides.
- Garnish with 🌰 chopped pecans and serve chilled or at room temperature.
