This easy to make carrot cake recipe guarantees a sweet, delicious and moist dessert with a tangy smooth cream cheese frosting that all will enjoy.
Grandma’s Easy Carrot Cake Recipe
The classic combination of a sweet carrot cake with the tanginess of a cream cheese frosting is a tried and true recipe our family has been indulging in for years.
While the cream cheese frosting is delicious, our kids actually prefer it without. If we’re really feeling fancy, we simply sprinkle some icing sugar on top.
The kids love this baked (healthier) treat for an afternoon snack. And we love to indulge in a piece with a fresh cup of coffee or delicious afternoon tea.
Carrot Cake Recipe Variations
For additional flavor options, consider adding raisins, shredded coconut or chopped walnuts to the carrot cake batter before baking.
Frosting
When preparing the frosting, ensure that the cream cheese as well as the butter are soft. Remove from the fridge prior to preparing to allow the ingredients enough time to soften at room temperature.
Before adding the creamy frosting, be sure to wait until the carrot cake cools completely. Afterwards, place the frosted carrot cake in the fridge and store it there until you’re ready to serve.
Best Ever Carrot Cake Recipe
Equipment
- stand mixer or electric mixer
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 3/4 cups vegetable oil
- 4 cups shredded carrots
- 4 eggs at room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Grease a 9”x13” glass pan.
- Preheat the oven to 365F.
- Shred carrots.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat eggs for 2-3 minutes.
- Add brown sugar and mix until sugar is fully dissolved.
- Slowly pour oil into the egg and sugar mixture. Continue mixing for a few minutes until ingredients are well blended and a creamy texture forms.
- Add dry ingredients to the mixture and mix at a slow speed.
- Lastly, add shredded carrots (and any other optional ingredients such as raisins or chopped walnuts) to batter and stir with a wooden spoon just until blended.
- Bake at 365F for 30-40 minutes. Check that the cake is fully cooked by inserting a toothpick into the center, if the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
- Leave the cake to cool completely before adding the cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Combine cream cheese, butter and icicng sugar in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer on low to medium speed.
- Add the lemon juice and mix again until blended and icing appears smooth and creamy.
- Spread the frosting using a silicone spatula on to the cooled carrot cake and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
For more vegetable based dessert recipes, try this much loved easy zucchini cake recipe, pumpkin flan recipe , carrot cake cookies or this rhubarb strawberry crisp recipe.
Do you have a favourite carrot dessert recipe?
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Carol
Thursday 9th of March 2023
Have you ever added raisins?
Thia
Saturday 8th of October 2022
I would like to make this as cup cakes. How long and at what temp should I bake them
Jane and Sonja
Thursday 26th of January 2023
Hi Thia, I haven't tried to make cupcakes with this recipe, but I'd set the temperature to 360F and bake for mucch less time, checking the progress at about 15 minutes. If necessary insert a toothpick into the center to be sure the batter is cooked through. Be sure to grease the tray or use cupcake liners to prevent the batter from sticking. Enjoy!
Kara Endres
Thursday 14th of July 2022
Can I bake this in round pans and layer it? Thanks!
Jane and Sonja
Monday 26th of September 2022
Yes, that would be great! Put a layer of the cream cheese filling in between and that would be delicious!
Mikie
Saturday 16th of April 2022
Where is instructions and ingredients for cream cheese frosting . Did i somehow miss it?
Nyxx
Saturday 23rd of April 2022
OP responded to another comment that asked the same with these measurements. Hope this helps!
1 cup of cream cheese, 2 cups of icing sugar and a tsp of lemon juice (opitonal) for a little extra tanginess.
Sarah
Sunday 10th of April 2022
Had to come back and give a review because this cake was so delicious. quick and easy. I substituted GF flour and it turned out perfect. It has the perfect amount of sweetness. This will now be my go-to recipe.
Jane and Sonja
Wednesday 29th of June 2022
Thank you for your comment, I'm happy to hear it's on your go-to recipe list. We also make it very often as it is such a quick and easy recipe and we always seem to have carrots in the fridge!