Classic Carrot Cake

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This carrot cake is moist, dense and flavorful! Topped with the most amazing cream cheese frosting.

This is my husbands most requested cake! Delicious spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, and with tons of cream cheese frosting in between each layer 

How to make carrot cake!

• In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients. In another bowl mix the wet ingredients. Gently add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined. Fold in shredded carrots and pecans.
  
• Generously butter and flour three 9-inch baking pans, divide the batter into the pans.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool.
• In a large bowl beat softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add in powdered sugar a little at a time and mix.
• Frost one cake layer then place another on top and repeat until the cake is frosted.
• Garnish with more chopped pecans if desired.

I love cream cheese frosting, not gonna lie I’m the only one that is allowed to lick the bowl…so good!

I usually make this cake ahead of time and wrap the layers in saran wrap and either freeze it or refrigerate it for a couple days. Something about putting it in the refrigerator makes it super moist and easy to frost.

This carrot cake has three delicious layers, it has the perfect ratio of frosting to cake. These are the pans I use, I love them!

If you love this carrot cake then I think you will also love these!

• Chocolate Bundt cake with Ganache Glaze
• Chocolate Wafer Icebox Cake
• Sour Cream Crumb Cake
• Double Chocolate Banana Cake
• Rich and Creamy New York Cheesecake

4.5 from 2 votes

Print

Classic Carrot Cake

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword carrot cake, dessert

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2-1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1.2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cups chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 (8 oz) cream cheese softened
• 1 stick butter softened to room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Generously butter and flour bottom and sides of all three baking pans.
   
3. In a large bowl mix sugars, and oil until combined. Add in eggs and mix just until combined.

4. In a medium bowl mix flour, baking soda baking and powder, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and nutmeg

5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in carrots and pecans
6. Divide cake mix into the three cake pans.
7. Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

8. In a large bowl add softened cream cheese and butter. Using an electric hand mixer, mix until light and fluffy. Add in sifted powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time and mix until incorporated. Add in vanilla and mix until combined.
   

9. Place one of the cake layers on a cake stand or platter and top with about 3/4 - 1 cup frosting. Smooth it out and place another cake layer on top and repeat.