If you are looking for the BEST Carrot Cake Recipe, this is the one! Truly, this legendary carrot cake is my favorite dessert of all time, and it’s the only carrot cake recipe you will ever need.
Classic Cakes loaded with Goodness
Over the years, we’ve received a flood of rave reviews on this cake, making it one of the most popular on our site!
I love cakes with lots of “stuff”… cakes with a wonderful mix of textures and flavors, whether bits of fruit or coconut or pecans, etc.
For instance, good old fashioned Hummingbird Cake, Italian Cream Cake , German Chocolate Cake and Apple Spice Cake are close to the top of my list, but Carrot Cake is king! (I feel like I should put that on a t-shirt).
What makes THIS scratch Carrot Cake Recipe the BEST EVER?
Let’s talk about the parade of ingredients that make this scratch Carrot Cake recipe SO amazing. Of course, carrots and spices are a given, but this favorite carrot cake recipe of ours also includes crushed pineapple, pecans, and coconut.
Not all carrot cakes call for coconut and pineapple, or even nuts, but after trying this recipe, we could never go back! These ingredients make all the difference, and are the reason that everyone who tries a slice immediately falls in love (with the cake…and probably the baker too).
The added flavor and sweetness are the perfect complement to the carrots, spices, and pecans.
Just look at this slice- so much texture and lumpity bumpity goodness! Without question, this is the BEST Carrot Cake recipe on the planet (if we do say so ourselves). I know I’m gushing, but it’s just so darn delicious.
As a child I avoided carrot cake in favor of pretty much any other dessert option at family celebrations. I mean, carrots? In a cake? The name alone just sounded a bit too healthy for me.
Oh how wrong I was! It pains me to think of all of the amazing slices of carrot cake that I missed out on in my early years. So now, I must make up for lost time. ;0)
The history of carrot cakes
Though we don’t see carrots in many desserts, it actually makes perfect sense in terms of the sweetness factor. Here’s a little carrot cake history for you- Even in medieval times, carrot puddings were hugely popular due to their natural sweetness.
The carrot cakes that we know and love today are believed to have evolved from these flavorful carrot puddings.
That natural sweetness also explains the resurgence of carrot based desserts during World War II when sugar was rationed.
Fast forward to the 1960s and 1970s and carrot cakes began to enjoy widespread popularity in the US not only for their amazing flavor, but also (hee hee) because it’s healthy.
Okay, so carrot cake as a health food may be a bit of a stretch, but the idea really makes it easier for me to cut myself a giant slab of cake! Mmmmmm. Because, you never know.
Every Good Carrot Cake Needs Cream Cheese Frosting!
Finally, let’s get down to the business of cream cheese frosting. After all, carrot cake just wouldn’t be carrot cake without a luscious cream cheese frosting. The cream cheese frosting included in our recipe is our Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting recipe from our recipes section. We also love our heavenly Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting if you prefer a thicker consistency.
Sandwich the cream cheese frosting between your carrot cake layers, and then finish it off with a generous slathering.
I just cannot tell you how amazing this carrot cake is–you just have to try it for yourself. The carrots, pineapple, coconut, nuts, and spices all balance each other perfectly. This cake is ultra moist, and guaranteed to please any crowd!
We’ve made countless variations of carrot cake over the years, but THIS is our favorite! Nothing else compares!
*Although this scratch Carrot Cake recipe is our absolute favorite, we also have a fantastic doctored cake mix Carrot Cake recipe for those of you who prefer recipes based on cake mix. You can find it at the bottom of this post!
Enjoy!!
Carrot Cake from Scratch
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake
- 2 1/2 cups (325g.) all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups ( 400g ) sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil (218g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (180g) grated carrots
- 3/4 cup (92 g) chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup (50g) coconut (optional)
- 1 (8oz.) can crushed pineapple, put in a strainer and let the liquid drain off….I press with a fork to remove more liquid.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (this recipe can be easily doubled if you plan to do a lot of piping)
- 2 sticks ,1 cup, (226g) unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese (total weight 452g) I use full fat cream cheese. Using reduced fat or the spreadable cream cheese will cause the frosting to be too soft. Soften very slightly.
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (2g) optional - it will cut the sweetness, popcorn salt is best to use because it is fine and dissolves faster
- 6 to 6 1/2 cups (690g to 747g) powdered sugar
Instructions
For the Carrot Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line the bottoms of 3 (8 inch) or 2 (9 inch) round pans with wax or parchment paper, grease with shortening and flour the paper and pans for easy release when turning out……carrot cake has a tendency to stick so be sure to use the paper.
- Whisk together for 30 seconds the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set Aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer, add 2 cups sugar , 4 eggs, 1 cup oil and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed until well blended and light colored.
- With a spoon stir in the flour until moistened, then add the carrots, pecans crushed pineapple and coconut.
- Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Refrain from opening the oven door or touching the center of the cake to test for doneness until very near the end of baking time or it could cause the cake to sink slightly in the center.
- Makes 6 1/2 cups batter
- Cool cake layers in pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack then turn out. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cut the butter into slices and add to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is softened and smooth.
- Cut the cold cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until incorporated. If you are using a hand mixer you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.
- Add the vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low speed until blended. Cover the bowl with a towel to keep down the cloud of powdered sugar.
- Increase mixing speed and beat until fluffy. Don't over beat or it will become too soft. If it becomes too soft, just refrigerate a short while to firm it up a bit.
- This frosting will pipe best if used while still chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use let it soften slightly (do not microwave) and remix.
- Will frost a 3 layer 8 or 9 inch cake.
Prefer a Mix? Here’s Doctored Cake Mix Version for Carrot Cake
As I mentioned above, we have a great “almost homemade” doctored cake mix version of Carrot Cake that’s a keeper! Convenient, consistent, and with many of the same ingredients as our scratch version. You can find it here!: Carrot Cake: A Doctored Cake Mix Recipe.
Thanks for stopping by! I guarantee that if you try this carrot cake recipe, you’ll come back to it again and again. It’s just that good!
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Oh, I’m sorry about that.
Have you ever added raisins to this cake? I’m wondering if it would change the moisture level. I make it every year and always think afterwards to add raisins even tho it’s great the way it is. My whole family raves about it and usually the entire cake is gone.
Hi Danielle, It is just personal preference that I have never made the recipe using raisins, though I think it would be fine to add 1/2 cup raisins. I would use golden raisins.
I only have salted butter. Would I just not add any salt?
Hi Lilia, Yes, you are right, just leave out the 1/2 teaspoon salt
Would sweetened coconut work? The recipe doesn’t specify.
Hi Michele, Yes, sweetened coconut. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
I just made this today I haven’t tried it yet but the icing is really good lol I’ve never made a homemade carrot cake my grandmother used to make them years ago for me my favorite cake I sure would love to have her recipe but she never wrote anything down it was in her head a pink cheer a pink there a dash here
Hi Rebecca! I’m so glad that you made it! Hope that you enjoy it as much as we have over the years! xo
Turned out great! I substituted almonds for pecans(I am allergic to them and walnuts).
What would this cake be like if you excluded the pineapple?
No ginger or nutmeg? Sorry it’ll be my first carrot cake, I’m in a long research. Your cake looks yum. One of my favorite baking blogs
Oh and I only have fresh pineapple, how do I use it? Also vanilla extract around here
Hi E, I have always used pineapple in the recipe so I don’t have experience with leaving it out. However, we have had comments from some bakers who have left it out with no problem. Some have left out the pineapple and replaced it with apple that has been finely grated or added extra grated carrots. The pineapple does add moisture so I think the cake would be dryer if it was left out without a substitute ingredient.
Hi Telma, No, the recipe does not have nutmeg or ginger. We have not used fresh pineapple but members have with no problem. For best results, finely dice the pineapple. Were you saying that you do not have vanilla extract? Could you use what you usually use for vanilla? I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Hi! I’m wondering if I can make this in a cake sheet pan? I only have one circular cake pan. Thanks!
Hi Rachael, You can bake in a sheet cake pan. I like to use 7 cups of batter in a 9×13 pan , this recipe makes 6 1/2 cups batter so your cake will be a tiny bit shorter. Bake at 350 degrees check at 30 minutes, it is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
Hello, this is the best carrot cake recipe that I have made. I have tried a few different ones & this one is by far the best! I have made it a couple times & this last time was the best. I didnt have sweetened coconut, but I had a fresh coconut (that I grated) & used that instead and I also added 3/4 cups of raisins. Love this recipe! Thank you for sharing it! :)
Hi Rosa, I am so happy that you like the recipe and it is good to know that fresh coconut and raisins also work well when added. Thanks so much for posting your review.
Will this cake require refrigeration?
Hi Val, yes you should refrigerate because of the cream cheese frosting.