Indulge in the ultimate homemade carrot cake. It’s moist and flavorful, topped with creamy cream cheese frosting. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser for any event. With nearly 600 5-star reviews, it’s the go-to for carrot cake cravings.
What Makes This the Best spiced carrot dessert Recipe
This carrot cake recipe is a sweet treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. It stands out because of its perfect mix of flavors, moist texture, and easy preparation. Let’s explore what makes this recipe special.
Easy to Make carrot cake recipe
This carrot cake recipe is simple to make, even for beginners. It requires common ingredients and easy steps. So, anyone can make a delicious cake with little effort.
Less Oil for Moist Texture
This recipe uses oil and melted butter, unlike traditional ones that only use oil. This mix makes the cake moist but not too oily or heavy. It lets the natural sweetness of the carrots shine.
Flavorful Spice Blend
The secret to this cake’s great taste is its spice blend. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice add a warm, aromatic flavor. These spices balance the sweetness and the cream cheese frosting, making each bite perfect.
This carrot cake recipe is the best because it’s easy, moist, and full of flavor. It’s great for both experienced and new bakers.
Ingredients
To make it tasty with cream cheese frosting, you’ll need some pantry staples and fresh items. Let’s explore the main ingredients:
Flour and Spices
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 and 1/2 cups packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup smooth unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrots
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
To finish the cake , you’ll need to make the creamy cream cheese frosting. Here are the ingredients for the frosting:
- 16 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
With these ingredients, you’re ready to make a delicious carrot cake. It will surely impress your family and friends.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Batter
To make this delightful carrot cake, start by mixing dry ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl, combine the oil, eggs, sugars, applesauce, and vanilla. Then, add the grated carrots to the wet ingredients and mix well.
Next, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Be careful not to overmix. This ensures the cake baking instructions result in a moist crumb. Divide the batter evenly between two cake pans, ready for baking.
Baking the Cake
Put the cake pans in a preheated oven. Bake until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. This usually takes about 40 minutes at 350°F.
After the cakes cool, frost them with cream cheese frosting. This makes a classic and irresistible carrot cake. It’s sure to impress your loved ones.
Cream Cheese Frosting
The creamy and fluffy cream cheese frosting is a great choice for carrot cake. To make it, cream cheese and butter are mixed until smooth. Then, add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until it’s light and airy. This frosting is soft and swoopy, making it a perfect match for the moist carrot cake.
This carrot cake with cream cheese frosting recipe has gotten nearly 600 5-star reviews in 6 years. It makes 10 slices and needs ingredients like 2 cups of flour, 1 ½ cups of brown sugar, and 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese.
To make the cream cheese frosting, combine 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese with ½ cup of unsalted butter. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This recipe makes 1 (9-inch) double layer cake or 22 to 24 cupcakes. You can freeze the cake and frosting for up to 3 months.
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Cream Cheese | 1 (8-ounce) package |
| Unsalted Butter | 1/2 cup |
| Powdered Sugar | 2 cups |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 teaspoon |
You can keep the cake in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. This keeps the cream cheese frosting fresh and tasty. The homemade cream cheese frosting adds a delicious touch to the moist carrot cake, making it irresistible.
Tips for Carrot Cake
To make the best carrot cake, focus on a few important steps. First, use the fine side of the box grater for grating carrots. This makes sure the carrots blend well into the cake, without leaving stringy bits.
Grating the Carrots
Grating carrots finely helps them mix well with the batter. This makes the cake moist and cohesive. Don’t use the big shredding side of the grater. It can make the cake bake unevenly and taste bad.
Mixing the Batter : Carrot Cake
For a perfect carrot cake, don’t overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients. Overmixing can make the cake tough and dense. Mix just until everything is combined, without over-developing the gluten. This keeps the cake light and tender.
FAQ
What makes this the best homemade carrot cake recipe?
This carrot cake recipe is moist and flavorful, topped with creamy cream cheese frosting. It’s simple to make and has warm spices for a great aroma and taste. It uses less oil, making the cake moist but not too heavy.
How do you make the carrot cake batter?
Begin by whisking dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another. Mix the wet ingredients like oil, eggs, sugars, applesauce, and vanilla. Then, add grated carrots. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients without overmixing the batter.
How do you make the cream cheese frosting?
For the cream cheese frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until light and fluffy.
What tips can help ensure the best texture for the carrot cake?
For the best texture, grate carrots finely. This ensures they blend into the cake’s crumb, not leaving stringy pieces. Don’t overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients to avoid a tough cake.