Perfect Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
The Carrot Cake Recipe That Might Change Your Life (Or at Least Your Dessert Preferences)
For those of you searching for the perfect “Carrot Cake recipe,” “easy carrot cake,” or “how not to mess up cream cheese frosting,” congratulations! You’ve hit the jackpot. This recipe is so easy and delicious. It comes together quickly and only requires minimal cooking time.
This recipe is perfect if you want to make an easy carrot cake that everyone will love.
The Cake
At its core, this cake is moist, tender, and rich with flavors of cinnamon and, of course, carrots. The recipe is a breeze, requiring just one bowl for mixing, which means you can go from craving to baking to eating in no time. It's the perfect canvas for the creamy, tangy frosting that tops it — a match made in heaven for those who adore the classic combination of carrot and cream cheese.
This is the recipe that made me fall in love with carrot cake. I am not afraid to admit that I was a bit of a carrot cake hater before I started making it at home. It took a couple of tries to get the recipe just right; It always seemed like the other recipes had too much spice or not enough structure, which made it difficult to handle and decorate.
This recipe made some of my toughest critics (mainly my little sisters) say that they love this cake!
Making It Your Own
One of the joys of this recipe is its versatility. Feel free to stir in some walnuts or pecans for a crunchy contrast or add a handful of raisins for added sweetness. The beauty of this cake lies in making it your own, in finding flavors and textures that speak to you. I personally love adding walnuts inside the cake; the secret is to lightly toast the nuts in an oven set to 150°C. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes.
The Frosting
What truly sets this cake apart is its creamy, dreamy cream cheese frosting. Enhanced with a hint of vanilla and just the right amount of sweetness, it complements the cake beautifully. This frosting doesn't just add flavor; it transforms the cake into a decadent treat. And because the cake is a single layer, every bite is the perfect mix of cake and frosting, ensuring that each mouthful is as delightful as the last.
Now that you are ready to bake, feel free to take a look at the step-by-step video that you can find below the recipe card.
Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 240g Sunflower Oil
- 135g Granulated Sugar
- 120g Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 4 Eggs
- 270g Flour
- 2 tsp baking Powder
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
- 345 g Carrot, Grated (4 carrots)
- 50 g Walnuts (Optional)
- 150g Cream Cheese
- 240g Icing Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tbsp Heavy Cream
- Half a vanilla pod
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C and prepare the baking pan lining it with parchment paper
- Peel and grate the carrots, set them aside
- Mix the oil with the sugars and the salt
- Add the eggs one by one and mix until fully combined
- Whisk the dry ingredients together
- Sift the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, slowly folding them in, making sure not to overmix
- Finish by adding the grated carrots and the nuts if you choose to use them
- Bake for 30-35 mins
- Let cool fully, take out of the tin and trim off any excess from the top of the cake
- Place the cream cheese frosting on top of the cake and decorate it as you wish
- Mix the cream cheese with the icing sugar and the salt
- Add the heavy cream and the scraped vanilla pod
- Mix until smooth and well combined this can take up to 5 minutes
- Store in the fridge if not using straight away
Notes
If you want to decorate it as I have in the pictures, you must place enough cream cheese frosting to cover the top of the cake but not the sides.
You will need a spatula to spread the frosting on the cake. Using the spatula, go back and forth across the cake to create the pattern you can see in the pictures.
I decided to put some crushed-up walnuts on the sides of the cake, but you can do as you wish.
Conclusion: A Cake Worth Its Weight in Carrots
This carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is not just a dessert; it's a statement. It's perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a casual family dinner, a festive celebration, or a quiet afternoon with a cup of coffee. It reminds us that sometimes, the simplest things in life are the most satisfying. Step up your cake-decorating game to make this cake for an extra special occasion!
Due to the cream cheese frosting, the cake should be stored in the fridge and not kept for more than 2 days.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this recipe! Make it for someone who doesn’t like carrot cake and watch as their opinion changes.
Much Love,
Léna 🫶🏻