The BEST EVER Carrot Cake Recipe
Carrot cake is one of my absolute favorite cakes in the world! This two-layer carrot cake is layered and frosted with tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting resulting in a classic carrot cake. I love that the batter for this spiced carrot cake can be whisked together by hand, or use a mixer if you’d like. Since the cake uses melted butter rather than softened butter, I easily can whisk the batter together. I also incorporate crushed pineapple in the batter to add extra flavor, texture, and juiciness. There’s nothing worse than dry cake and this layered carrot cake is anything but. It’s definitely so moist without being heavy! Feel free to add nuts or raisins if you’d like, but they’re optional. It’s the perfect Easter, springtime, Mother’s Day, or anytime-you’re-craving-carrot-cake kind of cake!
Ingredients in Spiced Carrot Cake
For the easy, no-mixer carrot cake batter, you’ll need to use:
All-purpose flourBaking sodaSaltSpicesUnsalted butterLight brown sugarGranulated sugarEggsVanilla extractGrated carrotsCrushed pineapple, optional but highly recommendedWalnuts, optionalRaisins, optional
For the cream cheese frosting, you will need:
Cream cheeseButterConfectioners’ sugarVanilla extractGround cinnamon
What Spices Go in Carrot Cake?
Some carrot cake recipes call for store-bought spice blends, but I prefer to measure out each individual spice to ensure the cake tastes balanced. The carrot cake spices you’ll need for this recipe are:
Ground cinnamonGround allspiceGround nutmeg Ground cloves
How to Make Spiced Carrot Cake
This carrot cake is made 100% from scratch and so is the carrot cake frosting. The batter can be whisked together in a single bowl, so there’s minimal cleanup! Tip: Make sure to cool the cakes completely before frosting them so that the frosting doesn’t melt.
How to Make Carrot Cake Frosting
Making the cream cheese frosting for the carrot cake is even easier than the batter itself! Here’s how the carrot cake frosting comes together:
How to Frost a Carrot Cake
Frosting a two-layer cake is easier than you may think. Here’s a quick lesson on frosting your cake so it’s the best ever carrot cake!
Tips for the Best Spiced Carrot Cake
Make ahead option:
If desired, you can bake the cake layers the day before, then frost the cake the following day. The carrot cake frosting can also be made the day before, if desired. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to frost the cake.
Mix-ins:
This is a recipe where you can easily add and subtract ingredients such as the pineapple, walnuts, and raisins as discussed.
Spices:
You can mix and match the spices and their quantities. I actually use 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) of cinnamon rather than the 2 teaspoons as written because I love cinnamon and detest mild-flavored carrot cake, aka bland. However, not everyone loves it as much so add the cinnamon based on personal preference. Notable though, anything less than the 2 teaspoons, as the recipe is written, just isn’t enough to give a classic carrot cake flavor. The addition of the nutmeg and cloves, coupled with the ginger that’s found in most allspice blends, all serve to give a nice warmth to the cake. However, you can leave these out and/or add more cinnamon in its place. Or, if you love cloves like I do, you can add a bit more. Same goes for the nutmeg.
Cream cheese:
Make sure your cream cheese when making the cream cheese frosting is really well-softened to room temperature. If not, your frosting will have a tendency to be lumpy.
Confectioners sugar:
If you want to ensure less lumps, go ahead and sift the confectioners’ sugar as well before adding it. Although it’s not truly essential.
More Carrot Cake Desserts:
Salted Caramel Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, tender carrot cake infused with salted caramel sauce and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting is the ULTIMATE in decadence!! Calling all carrot cake fans, you will LOVE this version!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Cream Cheese Carrot Cake– If you like carrot cake, you’re going to LOVE this version that includes apples and a tunnel of cream cheese that runs through the center!! EASY, amazing, and a MUST-MAKE!! Carrot Apple Bread – Carrot cake with apples added and baked as a bread so it’s healthier! Super moist, packed with flavor, fast and easy! The Best Pumpkin Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – A marriage of pumpkin cake and carrot cake into one soft, moist, tender, and amazing cake! The tangy cream cheese frosting is truly the icing on this easy cake! Carrot Cake Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, moist carrot cake that’s baked as a loaf. So much faster & easier than baking a cake! Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting – My favorite foolproof recipe for soft, moist, flavorful carrot cake cupcakes! Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Bars — Dense, chewy, super moist bars that taste like carrot cake with a cream cheese topping that’s baked right in so you don’t need to worry about frosting them!! So much EASIER than making carrot cake but with similar flavors you will LOVE!! Soft and Chewy Spiced Carrot Cake Cookies – Tons of texture and so moist with zero cakiness. Eat your vegetables by way of healthy cookies!
