Simple Carrot Cake Recipe

A slice of carrot cake being cut and lifted from a whole cake.

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This Simple Carrot Cake Recipe is super moist with warm spices, grated carrots, chopped nuts, and a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. It's the perfect dessert for Easter and springtime celebrations!

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: carrot cake, carrot cake recipe, Simple Carrot Cake Recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 663kcal

Author: Kasey Schwartz

Equipment

3 (9-inch) cake pans
Large mixing bowl
whisk
Rubber spatula
Parchment paper
Electric mixer
Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

Cake

1 ¼ cup vegetable oil
2 cups light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups grated carrots about 6 medium carrots
1 cup chopped pecans optional

Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
⅓ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray two 9” round cake pans with baking spray then place a parchment circle in the bottom of each pan. Set the pans aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs one at a time.
1 ¼ cup vegetable oil, 2 cups light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 4 eggs
Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the bowl and stir with a rubber spatula into smooth and thick.
2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon salt
Stir the carrots and pecans (if using) into the cake batter.
3 cups grated carrots, 1 cup chopped pecans
Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for about 40 minutes. The cakes should be pulled away from the edges of the pan, and the center should spring back to the touch.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes then flip them out onto a cooling rack to continue to cool.
Make the frosting while the cakes are cooling. Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth. Add the heavy cream and vanilla, then beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the cream cheese is incorporated evenly.
8 ounces cream cheese, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, ⅓ cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Place one cake layer on a plate and frost the top with about ⅔ cups of frosting. Place the second cake layer on top of the first, then use the remaining frosting to ice the cake. Decorate with extra toasted pecans, and enjoy!

Notes

Add ½ cup raisins to the batter when you add the carrots.
Add ½ cup drained pineapple and ½ cup unsweetened coconut to the batter to make a tropical carrot cake.
Bake the cake batter in one 9x13 baking pan. The cake will need to bake for about 45 minutes. Spread the frosting across the cake while it is still in the pan then cut into squares to serve. This is an even easier way to make delicious carrot cake!

Nutrition