The Ultimate Carrot Cake
Indulge in the rich, perfectly spiced decadence of **The Ultimate Carrot Cake**, a moist and flavorful masterpiece that steals the spotlight at any gathering. This classic dessert combines freshly grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and crunchy walnuts or pecans to achieve impeccable texture and natural sweetness. The warm blend of cinnamon and nutmeg adds depth, while the luscious cream cheese frosting, whipped to perfection, provides the ultimate finishing touch. Designed to impress, this two-layer cake bakes up beautifully in just over 30 minutes, making it your go-to recipe for celebrations or a tempting treat any day of the week. Perfect for keyword searches like "best carrot cake recipe," "easy carrot cake with cream cheese frosting," or "homemade carrot cake," this dessert is proof that timeless flavors never go out of style!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups Granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoons Ground nutmeg
- 1 cup Vegetable oil
- 4 Large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 3 cups Freshly grated carrots
- 0.5 cups Crushed pineapple (drained)
- 1 cups Chopped walnuts or pecans
- 8 ounces Cream cheese (softened)
- 0.5 cups Unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoons Vanilla extract (for frosting)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined.
In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Gently fold in the grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and chopped walnuts or pecans until evenly distributed.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
In the meantime, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until fully incorporated. Mix in the vanilla extract and beat on high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread a layer of frosting on top of one cake layer, then place the second layer on top. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
Decorate the cake with additional chopped nuts or grated carrots if desired. Slice and serve!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
8642 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 488.5 g | 626% | |
| Saturated Fat | 152.8 g | 764% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 134.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1253 mg | 418% | |
| Sodium | 6102 mg | 265% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1044.5 g | 380% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 39.7 g | 142% | |
| Total Sugars | 786.0 g | ||
| Protein | 91.8 g | 184% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.5 mcg | 27% | |
| Calcium | 856 mg | 66% | |
| Iron | 23.7 mg | 132% | |
| Potassium | 3955 mg | 84% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
