Description
A classic carrot cake recipe yielding a moist crumb, warm spice, and tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 300 g (1 1/2 cups) granulated sugar
- 100 g (1/2 cup packed) light brown sugar
- 2 tsp (8 g) baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp (6 g) baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp (3.5 g) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp (3 g) fine salt
- 4 large eggs (about 200 g without shells)
- 240 ml (1 cup) vegetable oil
- 80 ml (1/3 cup) plain yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
- 300 g (3 cups grated, packed) grated carrots
- 100 g (1 cup) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 100 g (1/2 cup) crushed pineapple, drained (optional)
- 60 g (1/3 cup) raisins (optional)
- 340 g (12 oz) cream cheese, softened (for frosting)
- 115 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 360 g (3 cups) confectioners’ sugar, sifted (for frosting)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract (for frosting)
- a pinch of fine salt (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and prepare cake pans.
- Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs, vegetable oil, yogurt, and vanilla until combined.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just until incorporated.
- Fold in grated carrots and optional ingredients until evenly mixed.
- Divide the batter between prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Level the cake layers if necessary, frost between layers, and around the sides and top of the cake.
Notes
Ensure to weigh the ingredients for accuracy and avoid over-grating carrots to prevent excess moisture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg