Description
This Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is moist, spiced just right, and loaded with grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and crunchy walnuts. Topped with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s the ultimate dessert for holidays, birthdays, or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or one 9×13-inch pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
- In a large bowl, beat sugars, oil, and eggs until well combined.
- Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in carrots, pineapple, nuts, and vanilla extract.
- Pour batter into prepared pans and bake 30–35 minutes (round pans) or 40–45 minutes (9×13 pan), until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- To make frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually, then vanilla, and beat until fluffy.
- Frost cooled cake layers or sheet cake generously with cream cheese frosting.
Notes
- Chill the cake before slicing for cleaner cuts.
- Can be baked as cupcakes (20–22 minutes bake time).
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 65mg