Ahhhhh, today I’m going to share with you a scratch Carrot Cake Recipe that is downright legendary! Truly, carrot cake is my favorite dessert of all time, and THIS carrot cake recipe is the only one that we make.
I love cakes with lots of “stuff”… cakes with a wonderful mix of texture and flavor combinations. For instance, good old fashioned Hummingbird Cake and Italian Cream 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).
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! 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 deliciousness! Without question, this is the BEST Carrot Cake recipe on the planet (if we do say so ourselves).
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 and vegetable-y 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. Ugh.
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.
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.
Our heavenly Pipeable Cream Cheese Frosting is just what this scratch Carrot Cake needs to take it to the next level. (We actually have two fabulous Cream Cheese Frosting recipes on our site. The second is a classic Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting that has a slightly softer consistency as it doesn’t call for quite as much cream cheese.)
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 disappeared in record time after we took our photos. We’ve made countless variations of carrot cake over the years, but THIS is our favorite!
*Although this scratch Carrot Cake recipe is our favorite, we also have a fantastic doctored cake mix Carrot Cake recipe if you prefer working with a mix. You can find it at the bottom of this post!
Enjoy the recipe!
Carrot Cake {Scratch Recipe}
Ingredients
- 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 (218 g) Vegetable Oil
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups (180 g) Grated Carrots
- 3/4 cup (92 g) Chopped Pecans
- 3/4 cup (50 g) Coconut (I used Bakers Angel Flake Sweetened coconut)
- 1 8oz can Crushed Pineapple (put in strainer and let juice drain. I used a fork to press out more liquid.)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line the bottoms of 3 (8inch) or 2 (9inch) 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 a mixing bowl, 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.
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!
Don’t miss our full collection of tried and true favorite cake and frosting recipes in our Recipes Section! We also have a section of Free Cake Tutorials which include step by step photo tutorials and free cake video tutorials! Enjoy!
Hello! I would like to know if I can leave out the coconut and pineapple. Will it affect anything besides flavor?
Hi Amy, I’m sorry but I think if you left out the coconut and pineapple you would lose too much moisture and flavor that the recipe needs.
How long should I bake this for cupcakes?
Hi Paige, Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes
Would it hurt to garnish the top with carrot shaving
Hi Beverly, My worry with shavings is that they might dry out. My first choice would be carrot curls. They can be made in advance and kept refrigerated. The carrot cake is refrigerated, so when you take if out to warm up an hour or so before serving you could add the carrot curls. Here is a link to making the curls that I think you will find helpful.
link to theyummylife.com
I made this cake, slightly altering it, for my SIL’s birthday this week! It was amazing!!! Everyone RAVED & the birthday girl loved it! She didn’t want pineapple, so I just used an extra cup of carrots in place of the pineapple, added an extra teaspoon of vanilla, I toasted my coconut as well as using unsweetened & added nutmeg & cloves. It was a beautiful, delicious & moist cake. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Great recipe, I made it and was just amazing…….thanks
Hi Sebastian, Wonderful!! I’m so happy you like the recipe, thank you for posting
I just made this recipe and it is very moist and flavorful. I will definitely make this again.
Thanks Cheri! Happy to hear it!
Have you ever baked this cake in an angel food cake pan?
Hi Cynthia, We have not tried baking the recipe in an angel food cake pan so I am not positive of the outcome. If you give it a try, lower your oven rack to the next to lowest position. Keep an eye on it because I’m not sure of the baking time. Test with a long wooden skewer to see if it is done. Let us know if you give it a try. If the top begins to get too dark, cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.
This is the best carrot cake recipe. Making it for husbands b-day. His very favorite. Thanks!!!
I’m so happy to hear it, Pat! Thanks for your feedback!
Delicious cake . A new favorite
I made this cake yesterday and I can honestly say it’s the best cake I’ve made! Thanks so much for posting it!
Do you still cook at 350 for 35 minutes if you are using (2) 9 inch pans?
Hi Carrie, I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for giving it a try and posting your review.
Hi Danielle, Yes, bake at the same temperature it may take a little longer in 9 inch pans, just keep an eye on it.
Good recipe. I used Orange zest, toasted walnuts and orange juice soaked raisins. Came out nicely! I glazed the cake with a sour cream glaze.
Hi Carmen, Thank you for posting additions to the recipe, it sounds delicious!
Hello Melissa I made the almond vanilla pound cake awesome my family got creasy tanks for share
Love your blog.
Maria