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.
Samantha
I was on the hunt for a moist carrot cake for Easter and stumbled across this one…..it was AMAZING! Definitely the official recipe every year now! Thank you!
From one Sam to another 🙂
And btw, i tried your pizza dough tonite… AMAZING!! Had the perfect crisp on bottom… the fam loved it!!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for trying my recipes, Samantha! I am so glad that they both were a hit and everyone enjoyed them. I appreciate your feedback, thanks for commenting. 🙂
Mary
The best carrot cake recipe ever I loved it!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that everyone enjoyed it, Mary! Thank you so much for commenting. 🙂
SidEmn
Is it important to use icing/confectioner’s sugar for the cream cheese frosting? Or plain castor sugar would work fine?
Sam
Unfortunately castor sugar would make the frosting too grainy and it won’t be thick enough. 🙁
Sunny
Hi thank you so much for this recipe. I made it for my husband for his birthday and he really liked it. So I have a question about your frosting. I followed your recipe to a “t” except for adding the 4 cups of powdered sugar to the frosting. To me that sounded like a lot, so I just kept an eye on how much sugar I added until I thought it was sweet enough. Turned out I only used 2 cups of powdered sugar. So my question to you is, if I had added the other 2 cups would it have made the frosting more like icing instead of a creamy texture?
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you both enjoyed the cake, Sunny! As for the frosting, the answer is yes. As you add the powdered sugar it becomes thicker, becoming more like frosting or thick icing. 🙂
Melissa E.
This carrot cake was deeeeeeelicious! My mom, who doesn’t care for carrot cake, loved it and said it was the best carrot cake she has ever had! Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you loved it, Melissa, and that your mom did too! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Evelyn
Hi, I would like to bake a smaller cake. Is it possible to halve the recipe with good results?
Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Evelyn! Yes, that will be fine to halve the recipe. 🙂
Nikki
Made this recipe yesterday and was a bit disappointed as to how overly sweet it turned out, I felt when making it that it called for a lot of sugar but stuck to the recipe, once the icing goes on it’s a bit much for a carrot cake that I prefer to be more spicy than sweet
Sugar Spun Run
I am sorry that you found the recipe too sweet for your liking, Nikki. I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
Nikki
Absolutely, in general 6 cups (including frosting) of sugar in one cake is A LOT, I ended up remaking this recipe today and ditched the white sugar in the cake itself, you should definitely try it this way and discover the complexity in flavour in a carrot cake, it’s so much more than sugar 🙌
Sugar Spun Run
I will have to try it, Nikki! Thanks for sharing. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Francis Almon
I Have Tried this Recipe came out fantastic. thank you very much.
I have trying other recipes of yours as well all came out good.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it turned out perfectly for you, Francis! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Angie Council
Sam i am now a fan. Made this Carrot cake today for Easter. Since we could not be with our family today it really made my day to make this. This is my sons favorite cake and since we are stuck at home i think i will have to take half this cake to my son and his wife and leave on their doorstep. Made me happy to bake when it came out so great. And your notes are really helpful!! Happy Easter
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and found the tips helpful, Angie! I am happy that baking could bring you some joy in the midst of the situation and that the cake also brought a smile to your son as well. Thank you for trying my recipe. I can’t wait to hear what recipe you try next!
Gina
my batter was thicker than yours, and came out a bit dry. do you know why that is? the cake was still amazing and my family loved it!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Gina! If the batter was thick and dryer this is usually a result of over measuring your flour. This is a common mistake on baking so I have created a guide that can be used as a reference for next time. Regardless, I hope that the cake still tasted delicious. 🙂
Daniela
Made it for easter, my family said it was the best carrot cake and cream cheese frosting they have ever had. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the carrot cake so much, Daniela! 🙂
Damaris
Thank you for sharing your recipe! I made the carrot cake this weekend and it was absolutely delicious!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Damaris! I am really happy that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Anjie
I can’t wait to try this recipe but I’m out of butter. Can i replace melted butter with more vegetable oil? Will it make the cake too oily?
Sam
Hi Anjie! You should be fine to substitute the butter with more oil. Enjoy!
Linda
Just made mine. I felt all went well other than the bake time. I did use convection and 325 so maybe that explains it a bit. I worried my pans would be too short but it all worked perfect. Mine took about 10 minutes longer but it is perfect and just got to the top of the pan. Looks SO good. I can’t wait to share it for Easter. Thanks!!!
Ty
You can tell Caitlin it took about 50-55 minutes at 350 in the bundt pan 😀
Tracy Lloyd
Can I use a 9×13 pan instead of 2 round pans?
Sam
Hi Tracy! That will work fine. It will need to bake for about 40 minutes. 🙂