Print

Moist Homemade Carrot Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting Easy and Perfect

moist homemade carrot cake recipe - featured image
Print Recipe

A moist and tender homemade carrot cake with a silky cream cheese frosting, perfect for any occasion and easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (180ml) vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (300g) finely grated carrots
  • ½ cup (50g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch (23cm) round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper circles.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk granulated sugar with vegetable oil until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Fold grated carrots into the wet mixture. If using nuts, fold them in now.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula until no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.
  6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth the tops.
  7. Bake for 35–40 minutes, checking at 35 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack and remove parchment paper. Cool completely before frosting.
  9. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt until spreadable but firm.
  10. Place one cake layer on a plate, spread frosting on top, then place second layer and frost top and sides evenly. Optionally sprinkle chopped nuts or cinnamon on top.
  11. Refrigerate cake for 15 minutes before slicing if kitchen is warm for cleaner cuts.

Notes

Use finely grated carrots for best texture. Keep cream cheese and butter at room temperature for smooth frosting. Do not frost cake while warm to avoid sliding frosting. Refrigerate before slicing for cleaner cuts. For gluten-free, use gluten-free baking blend. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and butter with vegan alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: carrot cake, homemade carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, easy carrot cake, moist carrot cake, baking, dessert, cake recipe

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/moist-homemade-carrot-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting-easy-and-perfect/