Description
A moist and easy classic carrot cake with warm spices and a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 8 g (2 tsp) baking powder
- 4 g (1 tsp) baking soda
- 5 g (1 tsp) Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 8 g (2 tsp) ground cinnamon
- 1 g (1/4 tsp) ground nutmeg
- 1 g (1/4 tsp) ground ginger
- 3 large eggs (about 150 g total)
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 110 g (1/2 cup packed) light brown sugar
- 180 ml (3/4 cup) vegetable oil
- 30 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
- 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla extract
- 360 g (3 cups packed) grated carrots
- 120 g (1/2 cup) crushed pineapple, drained (optional)
- 100 g (1 cup) toasted walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 340 g (12 oz) full-fat cream cheese
- 113 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 240 g (2 cups) powdered sugar
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease two 9-inch round pans and line the bottoms with parchment.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a bowl.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add dry mixture to wet in two additions, folding gently until just combined.
- Fold in grated carrots and nuts until evenly distributed.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25–30 minutes for rounds or 35–40 minutes for a 9×13-inch pan.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling racks to cool completely.
- Make frosting: beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar, lemon juice, and salt.
- Frost cooled cakes with cream cheese frosting.
Notes
For best texture, always weigh ingredients. Bake layers a day ahead and frost when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 95mg