Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
A classic and moist Carrot Cake with a rich and creamy homemade Cream Cheese Frosting, perfect for any occasion. This recipe features freshly grated carrots, warm cinnamon, and a tender crumb, layered and frosted for a delightful dessert everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 2 cups grated carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Prepare Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly, then mix in the vegetable oil and freshly grated carrots until evenly blended.
- Combine Batter: Gently combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, stirring just until the batter is mixed. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Bake the Cake: Pour and spread the batter evenly into the two prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they firm up for frosting.
- Make the Frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Cake: Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of frosting on top. Place the second layer on top and frost the top and sides of the entire cake evenly.
- Decorate: Optionally, decorate the cake with chopped walnuts or create swirls in the frosting for an elegant finish.
Notes
- For best results, use freshly grated carrots instead of pre-packaged shredded carrots.
- You can add chopped walnuts or raisins into the batter if desired.
- If you want a lighter frosting, reduce the powdered sugar slightly or add a splash of milk for consistency.
- This cake stores well covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Bring the cake to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Keywords: Carrot Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Moist Carrot Cake, Classic Cake, Homemade Cake, Dessert Recipe