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Carrot cake is moist, rich in flavor and melts in your mouth! This scrumptious dessert is what everyone will be raving about!
This truly is one of the best carrot cake recipes alone with whole wheat carrot cake bread, frosted carrot cake cookies or carrot cake cupcakes. All my carrot cake recipes are made with fresh carrots, the perfect blend of spices and a sweet, heavenly frosting!
The Best Carrot Cake Ever!
You can’t go wrong with this BEST EVER carrot cake! Full of fresh carrots, sweet and savory spices, crunchy pecans with the most creamiest, cream cheese frosting. This cake is going to become your favorite go-to cake for all things. Each part of this cake is made with true love and is SO delicious. It is decadent and savory while having that hint of sweetness. Have a little slice of heaven on your plate with this delicious carrot cake!
There are several ingredients that make this cake individual and stand out above the rest. Applesauce is one of my favorite cake ingredients. It helps keep the cake batter moist and flavorful at the same time. The classic spices are all added in together and adds that boost of flavor too. All in all this carrot cake recipe is one of the very BEST cakes you will EVER have. With the rich cream cheese frosting over top, it sets a tone for this cake. Enjoy this for special holidays, Easter or just a spring time dessert. It is a homemade favorite!
Carrot Cake Ingredients:
Individually each ingredient has a special task in making this cake the very best. Combined this carrot cake is so moist, fluffy with a sweet and savory taste to it. It is a tried and true favorite!
- Flour: Keep it simple with all purpose flour is perfect for this carrot cake recipe!
- Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg blended together add a savory and sweet spice.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder: A little different to add in both but this helps immensely when baking.
- Salt: Just a pinch will go a long way.
- Vegetable Oil: Helps bind the ingredients together keeping it moist.
- Sugars: White and brown sugar is added in for some extra sweetness.
- Eggs: The egg yolk is the most important when baking.
- Applesauce: Keeps the mixture moist and soft
- Vanilla: Adds that extra flavoring
- Carrots: Grate your carrots prior to adding them into the cake mixture
- Chopped Pecans: Adds a crunchy flavoring
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese: Block of cream cheese is best, not the spreadable kind. Soften your cream cheese at room temperature.
- Butter: Cream the butter
- Vanilla: For flavoring
- Powdered Sugar: Thickens the frosting and adds a sweet texture.
Lets Bake a Cake!
I am not much of a baker compared to most recipe bloggers but I do love to enjoy it! I have high expectations on my recipes and I want every piece of my cake to taste just as delicious as the other. When I bake a cake I know that it is going to be perfect!
- Prepare Cake Pans: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9×9 inch pans (or a 9×13 inch pan).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Cake Batter Mixture: In a medium sized bowl whisk together vegetable oil, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and combine.
- Add in and Bake: Fold in the carrots and chopped pecans. Divide the batter evenly into the baking dishes. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cakes cool.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth add vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until you get your desired consistency. Frost on cooled cakes.
The Recipe Critic Pro Tip:
It is best to frost a cake when it is slightly chilled. If you have time, place the cake in the refrigerator for about 20 to 30 minutes before frosting it for a clean frost.
Tried and True Tips:
This carrot cake cannot impress me enough! Every piece of this cake from the way it looks to the taste is AMAZING! It is mouthwatering and heavenly all in one bite!
- Preparing Cake Pans: For a clean release with your cake, place parchment paper on the greased pan. Also, grease the parchment paper as well. It is easiest to cut the parchment paper by tracing the paper under the cake pan. This will ensure that it fit snuggly as well not overlapping on the sides.
- Carrots: Grating fresh carrots can be done by using a grater, or food processor. Try not to use pre-shredded carrots, they tend to be hard and dry.
- Frosting: When ready to frost the carrot cake, I have found it best to have the cake cold or chilled before doing so. Place in the refrigerator for less than an hour or in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. This will help it from crumbling while trying to frost the cake.
- Topping: Make your cake look pretty with extra chopped pecans on the side or topping. Even sprinkling spices or making carrots out of frosting adds a sweet touch.
- Making Ahead: Carrot cake has a special trait about it. The ingredient flavoring continues to build on each other and becomes stronger the longer it stays together. Having the frosting and the cake completed, the frosting soaks into each indent and makes this cake even more heavenly. You can make this completed cake one day ahead of time. Cover it the best you can and keep it refrigerated. When ready to serve, enjoy it chilled or at room temperature.
Change it up with these Substitutions:
This homemade carrot cake already has the perfect touch to it! I recommend using the original recipe but with these substitutions you can make this cake your own.
- Nuts: Any type of nut is delicious in this homemade cake recipe. Substitute it, leave it out or add it along with the pecans.
- Raisins: Always a fun soft treat to taste when eating.
- Coconut: Shredded coconut is alway popular
- Applesauce: Try crushed pineapple for a more tart flavor. Drain the canned pineapple before adding into the batter. Mashed bananas, sour cream or yogurt will also work as a substitute.
- Frosting: Spice up your frosting with a pinch of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg blend. Mix it directly in the frosting or sprinkle on top.
More Favorite Cake Recipes:
- Homemade Strawberry Cake
- Awesome German Chocolate Cake
- Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Cake Recipe
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
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The BEST Carrot Cake Recipe EVER!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 cups carrots grated
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 2 8 ounces package cream cheese softened
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9x9 inch pans (or a 9x13 inch pan) In a large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Fold in the carrots and chopped pecans. Divide the batter evenly into the baking dishes. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cakes cool.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you get the pecans half way up the sides after frosting? It really looks nice that way.
Hi Lisa, thank you! You will take small handfuls of it and carefully cup the pecans against the frosting, some will fall so have a pan or parchment paper waiting under the cake to catch the nuts. Have patience and go slow. Let me know how it turns out!
This recipe IS the BEST Carrot Cake I have ever made. I received rave reviews from family and friends. I did use Dark Brown sugar instead of light and I added 3/4 cups of raisins. I also added extra pecans total 3/4 cup. I doubled the recipe to create a 3 layer cake and a small jelly roll pan of carrot cake bars.Make it today and you too will receive great reviews.
Wow Jennifer! Thank you so much for taking the time to give me a review and letting me know your awesome adjustments! I’m so glad you love it!
Dry & totally tasteless. Such a disappointment. Definitely not the “BEST CARROT CAKE EVER”.
I’m definitely going to make this but I’m wondering if crushed pineapple could be added.
I haven’t tried that before but it sounds delicious! Would you be using crushed pineapple instead of something else? Adding that in on its own as an extra ingredient may make the batter runny. Let me know what you are thinking, I love hearing creative substitutions!
Can you substitute the vegetable oil for anything else?
You can try using melted coconut oil instead.
What’s a suitable substitute for vegetable oil? Would coconut oil still give the same outcome?
You can use melted coconut oil!
I haven’t made it yet but I have a question. Why do I whisk instead of using a mixer?
You can use a mixer instead. Just do it on low and make sure not to overmix.
This sounds amazing! Is there any reason that this recipe wouldn’t work for cupcakes?
No, you can do that! Or you can try this recipe instead: Carrot Cake Cupcakes
I’m in the middle of eating a slice of this carrot cake and I had to tell you that this is absolutely amazing. I’ve never been a fan of carrot cake but only because the ones I’ve had have been store bought. My brother and boyfriend love carrot cake so I searched the internet for the best carrot cake recipe. So glad I chose this one to try. I’m completely sold on carrot cake now. Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant recipe.
This makes me so happy to hear! I’m a little biased but I really do think it’s the best carrot cake ever! 🙂 Let me know if you try any of my other recipes!
absolutely delicious! love the fragrance, love the taste. Thank u!!
This recipe is fantastic!!!! I love carrot cake and by far one of yhe best I’ve ever eaten. I made the peanut brittle recipe first which is also one of yhe best and per your description it was the most comprible to See’s which I love. So I thought if you could make that so remarkable then I needed to ty the carrot cake and it did not disappoint. I will continue with more. Thank you very much for sharing……
Truly the best carrot cake ever! Rich, moist and spicy cake topped with the best cream cheese frosting is to die for good. I used pecans in the cake but next time I’m also going to add shredded unsweetened coconut and golden raisins and make a 4 layer cake, the frosting recipe makes enough for 4 layers. After eating this my husband said we had to add this recipe to our list of favorites. Great recipe!
I tried your recipe and this is the best tasty carrot cake ever! The cake was very moist because of the applesauce and I also added raisins. This a winner and no more buying carrot cake at the bakery.
always love carrot cake, thank you and alway like to see new recipes, except raisins, sorry, but I’ll take the rest!