Incredibly moist, perfectly-spiced carrot cake sandwiched around a rich layer of vanilla cheesecake and then frosted with a whipped cream cheese icing.
Carrot cake was my first introduction to cream cheese frosting.
Honestly, had my mom not smeared a thick layer of frosting around it, I probably never would have tried a cake made out of carrots as a child.
But unlike buttercream frosting, which was surprisingly too sweet for my tastes, cream cheese frosting achieves a delicate balance of sweetness with hints of a subtle, cream cheese-tang.
It’s not overly sweet, and I could (gladly) eat it with a spoon if given the chance. Cream cheese frosting reminds me of one of my favorite desserts — cheesecake.
Considering the lovely way in which cream cheese pairs with carrot cake and my running affinity for cheesecake stuffed cakes (exhibit A; exhibit B), a cheesecake stuffed carrot cake was the obvious next cake-challenge for the site (and it was a challenge, no recipes are quite as tricky for me to nail as cakes).
While it took a few tries to achieve a perfectly moist cake, a perfectly creamy cheesecake, and a suitable ratio of one to the other, I finally have a beautifully balanced cake to share with you.
Since the cheesecake is already plenty rich, I whipped the icing with a few tablespoons of heavy cream for a light and airy texture. The icing recipe makes enough to fully cover the entire cake, but I found that I preferred it with a semi-naked frosting around the sides, so as not to make this already-rich cake any richer.
This final, winning version was made without nuts (and without pineapple) at the request of my youngest sister, but earlier versions of this cake included a cup of chopped walnuts and I’ve listed them as an option in the recipe.
I suppose raisins are also a possible add-in, but why anyone would ruin a perfectly good cake with raisins is beyond me (errr… apologies if you actually like raisins).
This cake is the perfect springtime paradigm; moist and rich yet somehow simultaneously light and refreshing (I credit the carrots and the whipped frosting). It would make the perfect addition to your Easter dessert table.
Enjoy!
Cheesecake Layered Carrot Cake
Soft, moist carrot cake layered with a cheesecake center and covered in whipped cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Cheesecake *The cheesecake will need to cool for 4-6 hours before you can layer it with your carrot cake
- 24 oz packages cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 eggs
Carrot Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups canola oil
- 4 eggs room temperature
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
Frosting
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 8 Tbsp butter softened
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
Cheesecake
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Prepare cheesecake at least 4-6 hours before you wish to assemble the cake!
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Preheat oven to 350F
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Line 9" springform pan with parchment paper (remove the bottom, cover with a square of parchment paper and return rim (parchment paper will be sticking out the sides). This helps to make the cheesecake more easily transferable to the center of the other cake.
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In mixer, beat together softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, scraping down the sides with a spatula occasionally to ensure it is mixed well. (beat on medium-speed about 1-2 minutes, scraping down side occasionally, it should be creamy and well-mixed)
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Add sour cream, mix well, stopping once to scrape down the sides before mixing again.
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Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just mixed after each addition (and scraping down the sides after each addition)
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Pour cheesecake batter into prepared springform pan.
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Bake on 350F for 40 minutes.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature before transferring to fridge to cool for at least 4 hours.
Carrot Cake
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Preheat oven to 350F and lightly but thoroughly grease 2 9-inch round pans.
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In large bowl or KitchenAid mixer whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Stir in vegetable oil. Add eggs, one at a time, pausing to scrape down sides of the bowl after each addition.
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Stir in vanilla extract.
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Stir in carrots and nuts, if using.
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Evenly divide between prepared baking pans and bake on 350 for 30-35 minutes (toothpick inserted in center should come out mostly clean with only few crumbs).
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Allow to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto cooling rack to cool completely.
Frosting & Assembly
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In KitchenAid or with hand mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese. Stir in vanilla.
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Gradually, carefully, stir in powdered sugar until completely combined (be sure to scrape down sides of bowl to ensure ingredients are well-combined).
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Add heavy cream and beat on medium-high speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and then beat again for 15 more seconds.
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Once cake and cheesecake have both cooled completely, carefully transfer one 9" carrot cake layer to cake stand/serving platter and layer the top with the cream cheese frosting.
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Run a knife around the inside edge of the springform pan to loosen the cheesecake and remove the sides of the pan. Carefully place the cheesecake on the prepared carrot cake layer (you may need to trim the sides of the cheesecake with a sharp knife). Layer the top of the cheesecake with the frosting.
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Place second carrot cake layer on top of iced cheesecake layer.
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Apply icing to the top and around the sides of the cake. You may wholly cover the cake or run a straight edge spatula against the surface of the cake for a semi-naked look.
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Serve. Keep uneaten cake in the refrigerator.
You Might Also Like:
Strawberry Lemon Layered Angel Food Cake
Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
Cheesecake Stuffed Dark Chocolate Cake
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This cheesecake carrot cake looks so delicious! I love the creaminess of the cheesecake in between those layers of moist carrot cake- the cream cheese in the cake really complements the typical carrot cake/cream cheese frosting pairing 🙂
Cheesecake and carrot cake all-in-one? Yes please this looks so perfect!
This sounds very special and delicious, the addition of carrot looks outrageously tempting!
Thank you, Puja!
Oh my goodness! What’s better than one cake? Two cakes sandwiched together, of course! This looks so delicious!
Thank you Jess! I like how you think! 🙂
Yessss! That is the perfect combination. Now I really want a slice of this 🙂
Thank you, Allie! 🙂
Looking at this dessert makes me so happy! Cheesecake inside of a carrot cake? Someone pass me a fork. ? And cream cheese frosting is probably my favorite frosting ever.
You have excellent taste, Amanda! Thank you! 🙂
I made this yesterday, while it is time consuming, it was worth every single minute. The most delicious carrot cake I have ever had. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Grace! I love that you enjoyed it so much (a labor of love, isn’t it?) 🙂
Thanks for coming back and commenting!
So I’ve been eyeballing your recipe for about 2weeks and I didn’t want the cream cheese part only because I don’t have a cheesecake pan, I know I know it’s social suicide!! I just made the carrot cake part and of course the frosting. This is absolutely delicious! The cake is moist with perfect flavor. I’m taking this to a event later today but I’m afraid I won’t be able to because I keep cutting off thin slices!!! It’s so good!!! Thank you!!! I am a picky foodie! I’m going to bake your banana cake too right now!! Will let know on that post!
I am so glad that you loved it, April! It is addicting, isn’t it? I hope that you love the banana cake just as much!!! 🙂