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A glass cake stand holds a round cake with creamy white frosting and sprinkled nuts, made from the best carrot cake recipe. A slice is being lifted with a cake server. Nearby are a piping bag, a plate, and a beige napkin.

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

This carrot cake recipe is soft, moist, and perfectly spiced with rich cream cheese frosting. An easy, family-favorite dessert for Easter or anytime.

Course desserts
Cuisine American, Cake
Keyword Best Carrot Cake Recipe, Carrot Cake Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 12
Author momma lew

Ingredients

Cake Recipe:

  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 cups shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1 ½ cups unsalted butter softened
  • 2 sticks 8 ounce cream cheese softened
  • 10 cups powdered sugar
  • Chopped pecans for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients of flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  2. Whisk together until combined.
  3. Shred carrots with a box grater or food processor.
  4. Then add in all the wet ingredients of vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk.
  5. Whisk into the flour mixture until the batter is smooth.
  6. Fold in the grated carrots until thoroughly combined.
  7. Spray the baking pans with baking spray and evenly split the batter between the two.
  8. Put in the oven for a baking time of 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  9. While the cake is baking, make the tangy cream cheese frosting.
  10. In a large mixing bowl add the softened butter and cream cheese.
  11. Use a hand mixer to blend together the two until smooth.
  12. Then add the powdered sugar about 3 cups at a time, blending in between each addition.
  13. Once the cake is done, let it cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
  14. Place the first layer of the cake down on a cake plate or serving platter and add frosting in the center.
  15. Spread evenly with an offset spatula.
  16. Then add the second layer of carrot cake and add more frosting. Spread evenly from the center of the cake and around the sides of the cake.
  17. Add the chopped pecans around the sides of the delicious carrot cake for garnish.
  18. Cut, serve and enjoy!

Recipe Video