Homemade Carrot Cake

This Carrot Cake recipe has homebaked goodness in every bite! Keep it simple with cream cheese frosting & pecans, or add toasted coconut too!

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Of all the cakes I’ve loved in my life, carrot cake is one of those weird ones for me. I like it and all, but it’s like deviled eggs. I get put off when there are things in the recipe that I don’t think below for flavor or texture reasons. So, while I love the idea and basic flavors or carrot cake, I’m not into the raisins or pineapple chunks. This recipe is my ode to carrot cake. The way I like. Simple and delicious…with lots of cream cheese frosting.

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I had been teasing my husband with the idea of this cake for months. I ran several ideas by him – carrot cake magic bars, carrot cake pound cake (which he now says I owe him), carrot cake poke cake. But he stood firm that I should make him a traditional carrot cake. So, I hooked it up, and then I took about a third the cake to the neighbors. Lord knows we don’t need a whole cake to eat in the fridge. Luckily my in-laws came over too and I sent some home with them as well. Everyone raved about this cake. But then again you can’t really go wrong with carrot cake, pecans, and cream cheese frosting. This recipe a classic and perfect for everything from weeknight dessert to holiday celebrations!

This month for feast & devour we’re cooking with carrots! From sweet to savory there are recipes for every-bunny. Ha! See what I did there. #nerd  So grab a big bunch of carrots and get your favorite recipes by clicking the links below!

• Homemade Carrot Cake from Bread Booze Bacon
• Blue Ribbon Carrot Sheet Cake from I Heart Eating
• Paleo Maple Carrot Cupcakes from Cooking with Curls
• Carrot Orzo from Home.Made.Interest.
• Carrot Orange Punch from Sugar & Soul
• Carrot Cake Pancakes from Bread Booze Bacon
• Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies from Celebrating Sweets
• Maple Butter Carrots from The Two Bite Club
• Mini Carrot Cake Loaves from It Bakes Me Happy

Hungry for More?

• Mom’s Best Ever Coconut Cake
• No Bake Carrot Cake Bites 
• Orange Vanilla Icebox Cake

Homemade Carrot Cake

Julie Kotzbach

This Carrot Cake recipe has homebaked goodness in every bite! Keep it simple with cream cheese frosting & pecans, or add toasted coconut too!

4.20 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 11 servings

Calories 620 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 ounces sour cream
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 3 cups grated carrots 5 medium-sized carrots or 10-ounce bag pre-shredded
• ¼ cup finely chopped pecans optional

Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk as needed

Topping:

• Pecan halves

Instructions

Cake:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until well combined. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the oil and sugar until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla; mix until completely incorporated. Add the sour cream and mix until smooth.
• Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the pineapple juice and mix. Add the rest of the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
• Stir in the carrots and chopped pecans with a wooden spoon until evenly incorporated into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, half in each pan. Smooth into an even layer and tap the pan on the counter to help remove any air pockets.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the edges pull away from the pan slightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Carefully remove the cakes from the oven. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (If you have trouble getting the cakes out, you can let them cool in the pans the whole time so they don't break.)

Frosting:

• In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until combined.
• Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. If the frosting it too thick, add 1 tablespoon milk and beat the frosting again. If it's still too thick add another 1 tablespoon of milk and beat until smooth.

Assembly:

• Level each of the cakes. Place one cake layer, cut side up, on a cake plate. over the top of the cake in a layer of frosting. (Don't be shy with the frosting.)
• Place the second cake layer on top of the first, cut side down, so that you have a flat top to the cake.
• Frost the tpo and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
• Place 12 pecan halves evenly around the outer edge ot the cake top.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

If you want to make your cake look a little fancier, you can coat the sides with chopped pecans as well.

If you're into raisins and/or pineapple in your carrot cake, you can add an 8-ounce can of crushed pineapple that has been drained, and 1/2 cup raisins to the batter when you add in the carrots & pecans.

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 6gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 323mgPotassium: 255mgFiber: 2gSugar: 61gVitamin A: 6300IUVitamin C: 2.7mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 1.9mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

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