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A slice of carrot cake sliding out to serve
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4.61 from 291 votes

Carrot Cake Recipe

This Amazing Carrot Cake is perfect for Easter or year round!  Made incredibly delicious and moist with fresh carrots, pineapple, a blend of warm spices and a homemade brown butter cream cheese frosting, this Carrot Cake Recipe is truly the BEST dessert EVER!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 511kcal

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 2 1/2 cups self rising flour self rising flour usually has salt in it which is why it was omitted here but if you want a bit more you can add 1/4 tsp of salt as well
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 cups grated carrots
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple you can omit this if you want but I think it is essential/ I ONLY DRAIN PARTIALLY
  • 1 cup chopped roasted walnuts optional

For the Frosting

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 16 oz cream cheese somewhat softened but still a little stiff/ 16 oz is 2 (8 oz) packages
  • 3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar if you want the frosting more stiff, add another 1/2 cup going up to 4 cups total
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and baking soda and set aside.
  • Next line the bottoms of 3 9” inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly grease.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat sugar, oil and vanilla together at medium speed. Next add eggs, one at a time, blending after each incorporation.
  • Next slow down the mixer to lowest speed and add flour mixture in increments.
  • Fold in carrots, crushed pineapple if desired and walnuts if desired.
  • Evenly pour batter into cake pans.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool cake layers in pans for 10 minutes then flip cakes onto cooling racks to cool completely.

For the Frosting

  • In a small saucepan, add butter and melt over medium heat. Once the butter has fully melted, a white foam will begin to appear over the top of the butter.
  • Watch carefully as the butter’s color changes to brown and the smell of the butter becomes somewhat nutty.
  • As soon as the butter is an amber brown color, remove from heat and cool in the refrigerator until it the butter has become solid again (can take about an hour or so).
  • Add cooled brown butter and cream cheese to the bowl of your mixer and beat on high speed until it begins to thicken and fluff.
  • Next slow down mixer and carefully add in confectioner’s sugar. Once all sugar has incorporated, turn mixer back to high to continue whipping.
  • Add salt and vanilla extract and continue whipping until it is smooth.
  • Spread frosting between layers and around cake and serve.

Notes

Both the pineapple and nuts are optional in this recipe.  Due to nut allergies in my family, I usually just add the pineapple without the nuts.
If you are adding the nuts, you can also add nuts as a gorgeous garnish to the design of the frosting as well on the outside!
Keep your freshly baked Carrot Cake in a dry, cool area and cover with foil or plastic wrap to keep from drying out. At room temperature, the cake will last for 1-2 days.
If refrigerating, Carrot Cake will last for up to a week (properly stored of course). You can even freeze your cake; wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. The freezer will maintain the quality of the cake for 4-6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 4631IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg