You’ll love this wonderfully moist, perfectly spiced Carrot Cake Recipe. This cake is surprisingly simple to make and includes a step-by-step video for no-fail results every time. Top everything off with a simple cream cheese frosting for what truly might be the perfect cake.
If I had to choose a favorite cake recipe on my blog, I think this carrot cake recipe would be it. Maybe I’m biased, but even though I’m wildly in love with my white cake, vanilla cake (a reader favorite!) and chocolate cake, this carrot cake is hands-down the one I will reach for first every time.
There’s something about its deliriously moist crumb, the perfect amount of spices, and yes, that all-time favorite cream cheese frosting of mine. It’s sweet without being too sweet, carefully crafted with both butter and oil and just the right amount of carrots –the flavor is so good that even Zach reached for a second piece.
I know you are going to love this one just as much as we do, so let’s dig in!
What You Need
Here are a few of the key ingredients that make this carrot cake recipe the best:
- Flour. All-purpose flour works great here. I don’t recommend using cake flour for this recipe; it tends to yield a lighter crumb, and we want our carrot cake to be on the denser side.
- Sugar. A combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar (either light or dark) makes for a moist, flavorful cake.
- Spices. Both cinnamon and nutmeg create the perfect spice profile that pairs so well with the brown sugar, carrots, and nuts.
- Oil AND butter. This is the ultimate dynamic duo for cakes! Oil adds moisture (canola or vegetable oil will work) and unsalted butter adds a rich flavor. Don’t substitute one for the other–we really need both here!
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs work best, so set yours out ahead of time. If you forget, you can just place your eggs in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes before using.
- Vanilla. We’ll add a full tablespoon of vanilla for some extra flavor. If you’ve got some homemade vanilla laying around, definitely use it here!
- Carrots. Do not use pre-shredded or “matchstick” carrots! They are way too thick to use in this carrot cake recipe, unless you like biting into discernible chunks of carrot (I do not!). I usually need about 4 carrots for this cake, and I always peel my carrots before grating them. You could use a box grater, but I prefer to use my food processor.
- Nuts. You can use either chopped walnuts or pecans, or you can leave them out entirely.
This carrot cake recipe is made complete with my cream cheese frosting. It’s so simple and a big favorite on my site. Here’s what you need:
- Butter. Since we’re adding salt ourselves, stick with unsalted butter and make sure it’s softened.
- Cream cheese. Use the brick-style cream cheese–not the spreadable kind in a tub. Your cream cheese should also be softened so it can incorporate nicely.
- Vanilla. A teaspoon rounds out the flavor of this frosting.
- Powdered sugar. We’ll add this for structure and sweetness.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
SAM’S TIP: To grate your carrots in the food processor, first use the “shred” blade. Once your carrots are shredded, switch to the standard blade and briefly pulse until the carrots are fine pieces. Don’t overdo this step or you’ll end up with carrot puree (this is also why I start by using the shred blade on my processor; I’ve found that just tossing the carrots in with my standard blade quickly breaks down the carrots too much).
How to Make Carrot Cake
- Whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the oil and butter and mix well. Then, add the eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Finally, stir in your vanilla extract.
- Fold in your carrots and nuts.
- Evenly divide the batter between two 8″ baking pans that have been greased, floured, and lined with parchment circles. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the cakes sit in their pans for 10 minutes after baking, then invert them onto a cooling rack. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare your frosting, frost your cake, and serve!
SAM’S TIP: While a single batch of frosting will cover this cake, I typically increase the recipe by 50% (or even double it!) to allow for a thicker coating and decoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you could, I personally found this carrot cake recipe to be a bit too heavy for cupcakes. Because of this, I developed a carrot cake cupcake recipe that I would recommend using instead. It’s still flavorful and delicious, but not so moist that it requires a fork for eating.
If you’re interested in more carrot cake variations, I also have a carrot cake cookie recipe you can try out, too.
Yes, you can. I’d recommend stirring in a heaping cup when you add the carrots and (optional) nuts. The amount is up to you, about a cup should be a good amount.
The best way to prevent a green carrot cake is to peel your carrots before shredding. If this step is skipped, the peels sometimes take on a green color after baking. This is harmless and the cake can still be enjoyed, but it’s not quite as attractive.
Some sources also claim that your cake may turn green if you accidentally use too much baking soda or if you don’t mix your dry ingredients well enough (and the baking soda isn’t evenly distributed).
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook.
The Best Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (200 g) light or dark brown sugar¹ firmly packed
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (235 ml) cooking oil use canola, avocado, or vegetable oil
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter melted
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (340 g) grated carrots² peel before grating
- 1 cup (125 g) chopped walnuts or pecans optional
Cream Cheese Frosting³
- ½ cup (1 stick) (113 g) unsalted butter softened
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese softened (brick-style, not spreadable)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar
Recommended Equipment
- 2 8" round cake pans (see notes for using different sized pans)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare two 8-inch pans⁴ (see note for using different sized pans) by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing and flouring the sides.
- In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (200 g) light or dark brown sugar¹, 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Add your canola oil and melted butter and stir well (batter will be pretty stiff and thick at this point, I usually use an electric mixer or my stand mixer to combine everything nicely).1 cup (235 ml) cooking oil, ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.4 large eggs
- Stir in vanilla extract.1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- Stir in carrots and nuts (if using) until ingredients are well-combined.3 cups (340 g) grated carrots², 1 cup (125 g) chopped walnuts or pecans
- Evenly divide carrot cake batter into prepared baking pans and bake on 350F (175C) for 40 minutes (toothpick inserted in center should come out mostly clean with only few moist crumbs).
- Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto cooling rack to cool completely.
- Allow cake to cool completely before covering with cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy, well-combined, and lump-free.½ cup (1 stick) (113 g) unsalted butter, 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese
- Add vanilla extract and sprinkle salt into the bowl and stir well to combine.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
- With mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until ingredients are completely combined (be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula).4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar
- Once your cake has cooled completely, cover with frosting.
Notes
1Brown sugar
Either light or dark brown sugar will work fine, dark brown sugar will make your cake slightly more moist and rich, but light brown sugar works perfectly if you don’t have dark on hand.²Carrots (& how to grate them)
For me, this usually requires about 4 large carrots. I always peel my carrots before grating. Make sure to use the small shred of your box grater. Another way I like to prepare my carrots is to use the “shred” setting on my food processor and then switch to the blade and briefly pulse the carrots so that you have fine pieces of carrot (don’t over-do it though, or you’ll have carrot juice!). Whatever you do, don’t use store-bought “matchstick” carrots, they’re not nearly thin enough!³Frosting
A single batch of my cream cheese frosting recipe will cover this cake, but because I like a lot of frosting and will usually pipe decoration on the top of the cake, I sometimes increase the recipe by 50% or even double it.⁴Cake pans, different sizes
The following bake times have been reported by readers who have tried making this cake in different sized pans. Keep in mind bake time will generally be longer when using a glass pan, and very dark pans may require less time. The best way to test that your cake is finished baking is to use the toothpick test: a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake should come out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter) or clean.- Two 9″ pans: bake for approximately 30-33 minutes.
- 9×13″ pan: bake for approximately 45-50 minutes
- Bundt pan: bake for approximately 55 minutes.
- Four 6″ pans: bake for approximately 40 minutes
- Cupcakes: See my carrot cake cupcake recipe.
Storing
If you’re eating this cake the same day you make it or within 48 hours of making it, and you are able to store it somewhere cool and dry, you do not have to refrigerate it–though you do want to store it in an airtight container. Any longer than that I would recommend storing in an airtight container in the fridge where it will keep for about 5 days.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Related Recipes
This recipe was originally published August 22, 2018.
Kathleen
The perfect recipe and surprisingly easy. I used my mixer, but found I didn’t really need it. Mine also was done at 20-25 minutes, but I think that’s my tiny oven. The cake was substantial and just moist enough—and did not sink in the middle like my old recipe. Thanks!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Kathleen! 🙂
Aimee
Hi Sam!! I have to tell you my thoughts on this cake recipe….it is phenomenal!! I just took my two 8” cakes out of the oven. Perfect crumb, texture and wonderful mouthfeel and I haven’t even frosted it yet! Thank you for all the time and trouble you went to in giving us this recipe. It will be my go-to Carrot Cake recipe from now on!!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoy it, Aimee! I hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Jim
Hi,
Thanks for a great recipe! My Family enjoyed it so much I’m mAking one for our Super Bowl party. I’d like to modify the recipe to reduce the oil content. Can I substitute the vegetable oil with coconut oil. Also, if I use the coconut oil, can I use applesauce to reduce the oil content even further?
Thanks, again, for a great recipe!
Sam
Hi Jim! I think the coconut oil will be fine. I have not tried using applesauce here so I am not sure exactly how it would turn out. If you try it, let me know how it goes. 🙂
Rebecca
I researched A LOT of carrot cake recipes and this one seemed to be the easiest and most flavorful.
I made the cakes a couple of days ago, the only change I made to the recipe was adding more cinnamon because I’m not a fan of too much nutmeg and I could smell it was more than I would prefer. I added and extra 2 or 3 teaspoons, I can’t remember, I know that sounds like a lot but I really really don’t like a lot of nutmeg lol. I used 9 inch pans and it still took about 40 minutes to cook.
The cake is PERFECT. I made the cream cheese frosting and it is also excellent, I would add about half a cup less of the icing sugar next time but still the best I’ve ever had. I will archive this recipe it will be one I pass down to my children and grand children!! Thank you for all of the time and effort you invested into making this amazing cake!!!
Sam
Thank you so much, Rebecca! I am so glad you enjoyed the cake! My husband can’t stand nutmeg either, he can smell it from a mile away so I can empathize with you there. I hope all future generations love it just as much. 🙂
Karen Donaldson
Made this for my 9 year old grandson. Such a change from the typical “chocolate birthday cake”. I couldn’t recall what recipe I used in the past. Glad I happened upon this. Everyone raved about it. So moist and the icing was perfect. I went for the 9 inch which results in a flatter cake but I think the larger diameter looks better on the cake stand. Cooked in 30 minutes. Will definitely pin this to make again. Thanks for sharing.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it, Karen! I would love to have this cake as a birthday cake, great idea! 🙂
Vanessa
Loved loved loved this recipe!!!! It was so perfect and yummy <3
Sam
I am so happy to hear this, Vanessa!! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how you liked it, I appreciate it! 🙂
Summer Brown
I think there has to be some mistake with the frosting…4 cups confectioners sugar? I doubled the frosting ratio but started with 3 cups of powdered sugar after creaming the butter, cheese, and vanilla.
It was crazy sweet. I had to add more cream cheese and it still ended up too sweet on the cake. Light and fluffy, and the cake was great, but I’ll remember to adjust the ratio next time.
Sam
Hi Summer! Nope, that is correct. If it was too sweet for you I’m wondering if maybe the sugar could’ve been over-measured. If you’re not using a scale, make sure you lightly spoon the powdered sugar into the measuring cup and then level it off. If the sugar was scooped right into the measuring cup it was probably over-measured.
Farida
My brown sugar was one solid piece. I had to pour in some hot water to dissolve it. To compensate for the extra liquid, I added a 1/4 cup of additional carrots and 1/4 cup of shredded coconut. Turned out so yummy.
Thanks. This seems to be a fool proof recipe.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Lee
If one wanted to add raisins, how would that effect the bake of the cake? Cake is absolutely delicious as is, but I’m used to raisins and want to try and add them next time!
Sam
Hi, Lee. You can add raisins and it will have no effect on the baking of the cake. Add them in when you add your carrots. 🙂
Bonnie
Would I need to bake the ingredients longer in a 9 by 12 pan?
Sam
Yes, but I am not sure as to what the baking time would be.
Minnie
I made adjustments in recipe because I used aoaf pan. Recipe still worked out fine. Cake was flavorful and moist. Great recipe!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Minnie! 🙂
Nah Williams
I have to comment now while cake is baking. Easy to put together. All carrot cakes take time because. Of carrots. I rather use a grater. This way I ha e no hunks.Man Willia
Johnnie
TWO cups of sugar?! I don’t think I can do that. Would it work to use 1.5 cups?
Sam
Hi, Johnnie. You can certainly try it, the flavor will be compromised though. 🙂
Agneta
The recipe says 1 cup of sugar, seems Johnnie read it wrong.
Plan to try the cake tomorrow, looks delicious. Will try to make it with my granddaughter it will be fun.
Thank you,
Agneta
Sam
I hope you love it, Agneta!!
Ally Aabram
Honestly, fantastic! Moist and fluffy. I made a slight change and added rasins. Thank you!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Ally! 🙂
Sabrine saleh
I was looking for a cake or my grandma that was fast and easy for new years and found this recipe. my grandma loved how fluffy the cake was and how delicious i wanna say thank u :))
Sam
You’re welcome Sabrine! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it. 🙂