Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake

Teresa Ambra

I love Carrot Cake! Even more, I love cream cheese frosting! Whether it’s on Red Velvet Cake, Italian Creme Cake,  or Pumpkin Spice Cake, cream cheese frosting makes these cakes taste awesome. This cake is an incredibly delicious comfort food and one of the few cakes my husband really likes. He doesn’t care for dry cakes and this one is really moist with a wonderful taste.

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This carrot cake recipe came from my husband’s grandmother. I received it shortly after we were married in the late 70s. This one isn’t filled with all the pineapple, coconut, raisins, and nuts in the batter like some carrot cakes are. (Those are really Hummingbird Cakes, not Carrot Cakes). Those recipes are all great, but this one is special for its simplicity.

Another difference in my recipe is that the pecans are folded into the icing rather than sprinkled or placed on top. However, if you prefer to place them on top of the cake rather than mix them into the frosting, so be it. I will tell you that most of the time I use 1 & a 1/2 batches of cream cheese frosting because I like a lot of frosting on the cake and this amount is really more for two-layer cakes than three-layer cakes.

I have thought about collecting some of the more updated versions of Carrot Cake over the years, but we really love this one so I have chosen not to. This one will keep in the refrigerator a week or longer and stay fresh. Special thanks to Hannah Noice, of Ovilla, Texas, who decorated the cake.

If you’re looking for a wonderfully tasting Carrot Cake recipe, this one is super moist and super delicious. I hope you give it a try.

When I initially posted this recipe in July 2012, it was just after starting my blog. While the cakes were beautiful, the pictures were taken with an iPhone so they weren’t very clear. I recently remade this cake (March 2017) along with my Red Velvet Cake and Italian Creme Cake for a bridal shower I hosted in my home. The cakes were all spectacular, but this Carrot Cake recipe is the richest. I guarantee you will be drooling and want three pieces of the cake in one sitting! 🙂

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake is one of our favorite cakes. Grandma’s recipe is so moist and decadent. 

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

I am so glad John’s Grandma gave me this Carrot Cake recipe when we were first married. It’s absolutely awesome. Everyone always loves it.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Here’s the top of the cake. While I decorated it because we were going to serve it for a bridal shower, you can leave off the extra icing and still enjoy this cake without sacrificing flavor!

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Every bite of this cake will have you drooling. No kidding. It’s so rich and decadent, you won’t want to put down your fork!

Here’s what I did.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

I used these ingredients for the cake.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Combine the sugar and oil together in a large mixing bowl.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Add cinnamon, baking soda and sea salt.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Beat ingredients with an electric mixer until well combined

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Add the shredded carrots and the flour and stir gently into the batter with a wooden spoon. (I was lazy and used matchsticks carrots, but normally I shred carrots in the food processor). 

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Stir just until moistened.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Grease cake pans very generously with Crisco shortening. Add a couple of tablespoonfuls of flour to each one and tilt and rotate the pan until the bottom and sides are completely covered. Add as much flour as you need to do the job well. Try to fill the pans as evenly as possible with cake batter.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Bake at 350 about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely before adding icing.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

I used these ingredients for the frosting. This recipe works best if you use at least one and a half batches of icing.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Soften the butter and cream cheese and place in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until all the lumps disappear.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Add finely diced pecans or walnuts.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

If your recipe calls for nuts to be added to the frosting, stir them in now. This is what the cream cheese frosting looks like after the nuts are stirred into the batter.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Trim edges of cake with a serrated knife to remove any tough parts. Spread icing on the bottom of the plate. Place cake layer over top of the icing. Then dollop the cream cheese frosting onto the 1st layer. Don’t be stingy with the icing. Put on a lot. Make a double batch or at least 1 1/2 batches for this cake if you want it to taste well. You can see that I put a good amount of icing on the cake.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Place the next cake layer over top the first one. 

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Dollop some more icing on top for this layer. 

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Place the third layer on top of the other layers. Add icing and frost the cake completely.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Spread icing on top of sides of cake.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Use a scraper to scrape off excess icing and make it smooth on top and sides. Pipe frosting in puffs around bottom and top of cake.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Add carrot decoration if desired.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Add some white edible beads to the cake if desired.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

This Carrot Cake is super moist and delicious.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Here’s the back of the cake after cutting so you can see what it looks like.

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake is a lovely cake to bake for Easter.

Here’s the recipe.

CARROT CAKE

(Recipe given to me by John’s grandmother, Anne Rubner, Largo, FL)

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake

Teresa Ambra
This excellent vintage Carrot Cake recipe will have you swooning from the first bite! It's moist, decadent and so outrageously good that it's become a family favorite. The cream cheese frosting is sensational. If you need a dessert to wow your family or friends, this is it!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 9-inch round cake pans
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 icing spreader or knife to frost cake

Ingredients
  

CAKE:

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 cups carrots grated, about 1 lb. shredded
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups canola oil or use avocado oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 2 tsp. baking soda

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 1 stick unsalted butter softened (1/2 cup)
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 lb. box powdered sugar
  • 1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (measure after chopping)

Instructions
 

CAKE:

  • Cream granulated sugar and oil with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix well.
  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
  • Add cinnamon, baking soda and salt and mix again.
  • Stir in flour and carrots with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  • Bake in 3 greased and floured 9” cake pans for about 30 minutes at 350°.
  • Check with toothpick to make sure cake is cooked completely.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • Cream cheese and butter together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.
  • Then stir in nuts.
  • Spread icing on top and sides of cake.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

NOTE: You will need 1 ½ batches of this icing for a 3-layer cake.
 
NOTE: Cake can be refrigerated a week or longer.
 
NOTE: Preparation time includes time required to frost the cake but not time required to add additional decorations.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 6gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 423mgPotassium: 184mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 4267IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cake, carrot cake, dessert
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Carrot Cake[/b]
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from John’s Grandmother, Anne Rubner, Largo, FL
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 16
This moist, decadent and fabulous Carrot Cake is a family favorite. The cream cheese frosting is sensational.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 cups carrots, grated (about 1 lb. shredded)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 ½ cups canola oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
  • 2 tsp. baking soda[br]
  • [b]CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:[/b][br]
  • 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 stick butter, softened,
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 lb. box powdered sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
  1. Cream sugar, oil, eggs, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
  2. Mix well.
  3. Stir in flour and carrots with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  4. Bake in 3 greased and floured 9” cake pans for about 30 minutes at 350°.
  5. Check with toothpick to make sure cake is cooked completely.[br]
[b]CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:[/b][br]
  1. Cream cheese and butter together; add sugar and vanilla and cream well.
  2. Then stir in nuts.
  3. Spread icing on top and sides of cake.
Notes
You will need 1 ½ batches of this icing for a 3-layer cake.[br][br]Cake can be refrigerated a week or longer.[br][br]Preparation time includes time required to frost the cake but not time required to add additional decorations.
Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.


Oh, so delicious!

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake is not only beautiful in appearance, it’s fabulous in taste!

Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

You will love this Carrot Cake. Once you make it your whole family will want this recipe for their birthdays and the holidays! 🙂

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | our favorite #RedVelvetCake recipe. This one has a luscious #creamcheese icing. Fabulous for anniversaries, #holidays or #Valentine'sDay. #cake #dessert #chocolate

Italian Creme Cake

Italian Creme Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this is the perfect #dessert for #Easter! 3 layers of decadence that you'll swoon over! #cake #Italian

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Pumpkin Spice Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this awesome #cake is filled with #pumpkin, spices & #pecans & topped with a heavenly #creamcheese frosting. #dessert
Carrot Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most awesome Carrot Cake ever! This #cake is so rich you will be drooling over each bite. #dessert #creamcheese frosting.

Carrot Cake

Teresa Ambra
This excellent vintage Carrot Cake recipe will have you swooning from the first bite! It's moist, decadent and so outrageously good that it's become a family favorite. The cream cheese frosting is sensational. If you need a dessert to wow your family or friends, this is it!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 9-inch round cake pans
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 icing spreader or knife to frost cake

Ingredients
  

CAKE:

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 cups carrots grated, about 1 lb. shredded
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups canola oil or use avocado oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 2 tsp. baking soda

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 1 stick unsalted butter softened (1/2 cup)
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 lb. box powdered sugar
  • 1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (measure after chopping)

Instructions
 

CAKE:

  • Cream granulated sugar and oil with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix well.
  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
  • Add cinnamon, baking soda and salt and mix again.
  • Stir in flour and carrots with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  • Bake in 3 greased and floured 9” cake pans for about 30 minutes at 350°.
  • Check with toothpick to make sure cake is cooked completely.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • Cream cheese and butter together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.
  • Then stir in nuts.
  • Spread icing on top and sides of cake.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

NOTE: You will need 1 ½ batches of this icing for a 3-layer cake.
 
NOTE: Cake can be refrigerated a week or longer.
 
NOTE: Preparation time includes time required to frost the cake but not time required to add additional decorations.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 6gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 423mgPotassium: 184mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 4267IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cake, carrot cake, dessert
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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