Best 8 Cream Cheese Frosting For Carrot Cake Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Carrot cake is a classic dessert that is loved by people of all ages. It is often served at special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. The cake itself is simple to make, but the frosting is what really takes it to the next level. There are many different recipes for cream cheese frosting, but not all of them are created equal. In this article, we will share our favorite recipe for cream cheese frosting for carrot cake. This recipe is easy to make and produces a frosting that is smooth, creamy, and perfectly tangy. It is the perfect complement to the sweet and spicy flavors of carrot cake.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting image

This Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is from reader Julie Haifley of Washington, D.C. It's a classic combination that works for a number of occassions, like Easter.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more for baking dish
2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
3 large eggs
3 cups loosely packed finely grated carrots (3 to 4 medium)
Cream Cheese Frosting for Carrot Cake

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil; set aside. In a food processor, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg; process to combine. Add sugar and yogurt; process until combined.
  • With processor running, add oil and then eggs, one at a time, processing until combined. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in carrots.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pan.
  • Meanwhile, make frosting. With an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread frosting over top of cake. To serve, cut into squares.

OLD-FASHIONED CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting image

A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this homemade carrot cake is never enough-better than all the other carrot cakes recipes I've tried!-Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h5m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups grated carrots
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons 2% milk
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Orange and green food coloring, optional

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and oil. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; beat into egg mixture. Stir in carrots., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in another large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting for decorating if desired. If desired, stir walnuts into remaining frosting. , Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. If decorating the cake, tint 1/4 cup reserved frosting orange and 1/4 cup green. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert #7 round pastry tip. Fill the bag with orange frosting. Pipe twelve carrots on top of cake, so each slice will have a carrot. Using #67 leaf pastry tip and the green frosting, pipe a leaf at the top of each carrot. , Store cake in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 531 calories, Fat 28g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 67mg cholesterol, Sodium 203mg sodium, Carbohydrate 68g carbohydrate (54g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.

AWESOME CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Awesome Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting image

This straightforward recipe delivers moist, dense, and delicious carrot cake with pineapple under a cream cheese frosting.

Provided by Tracy Kirk

Categories     Desserts     Frostings and Icings     Cream Cheese

Time 1h40m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 17

3 cups grated carrots
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
¾ cup chopped pecans
3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine grated carrots, flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in eggs, oil, 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, pineapple and 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
  • To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until smooth, then stir in 1 cup chopped pecans. Spread on cooled cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 369.2 calories, Carbohydrate 46.5 g, Cholesterol 48.3 mg, Fat 19.6 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 259.8 mg, Sugar 36.3 g

EASY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING FOR CARROT CAKE



Easy Cream Cheese Frosting for Carrot Cake image

Use this simple cream-cheese frosting generously on our Carrot Cake.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes

Yield Makes enough for one 9-inch, three-layer cake

Number Of Ingredients 4

16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and brought to room temperature
2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

Steps:

  • Beat cream cheese and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add butter, beating until incorporated after each addition.
  • Reduce speed to low. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, and beat until fluffy and smooth.

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting image

This is a tall, moist carrot cake, light in texture and lightly spiced with cinnamon and touch of nutmeg. Heavy cream whipped into the cream cheese frosting makes it extra fluffy.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 3h

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

Cooking spray
2 cups pecan halves
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups finely grated carrots (about 1 pound carrots)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 pound cream cheese, cut into cubes, at room temperature
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Kosher salt
1/4 cup heavy cream, cold

Steps:

  • For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment and lightly coat with cooking spray.
  • Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until light brown and fragrant, 7 minutes. Set aside 12 pecan halves to decorate the finished cake; chop the remaining pecans. Set aside 1 cup of the chopped pecans to use in the batter; reserve the rest for decorating the finished cake.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
  • Whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Whisk in the oil until well combined. Add the grated carrots, vanilla and 1 cup chopped pecans, and mix well. Add the dry ingredients, and stir until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cakes are nicely browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the edges with a spatula, turn the cakes out and let cool completely, right-side up, on the cooling rack, about 2 hours. Remove the parchment before frosting.
  • For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, scraping down the side as necessary, until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt; gradually increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and beat until the sugar is incorporated and the frosting is fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. With the mixer on medium-high, add the cream a few drops at time until it's all incorporated. Continue beating for 1 more minute until the frosting is slightly lighter in color and creamy.
  • To assemble: Place one of the cake layers on a serving plate, and spread 1 cup of the frosting over the top. Top with the other layer, and use the remaining frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake. Arrange the 12 whole pecans on top of the cake like the numbers on a clock face, and sprinkle the remaining chopped pecans in between.

CARROT CAKE WITH PHILLY CREAM CHEESE ICING



Carrot Cake with PHILLY Cream Cheese Icing image

Enjoy! This moist cake is made with carrots and pineapple and frosted with a rich cream cheese icing.

Provided by Philadelphia

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Cooking with Philly Canada

Time 2h

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons MAGIC Baking Powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 dash Dash of ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs eggs
1 ¼ cups oil
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups grated carrots
1 (19 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 (250 g) package PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
¼ cup butter, melted
2 cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel

Steps:

  • Cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt in medium bowl; set aside. Beat eggs and oil in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Gradually add granulated sugar, mixing until blended. Add flour mixture, carrots, pineapple and walnuts; mix well. Pour into greased and floured 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch (3-L) tube pan.
  • Bake 50 min. to 1 hour or until wooden toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool 10 min.; loosen from sides of pan with spatula or knife and gently remove cake. Cool completely on wire rack.
  • Icing: Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add icing sugar, juice and peel, beating until well blended after each addition. Spread on top of cake. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 449.1 calories, Carbohydrate 54.4 g, Cholesterol 63.8 mg, Fat 25.2 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 4.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 287 mg, Sugar 36.7 g

BEST CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Best Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting image

This is by far the best carrot cake recipe I've ever had. You can substitute the pecans for walnuts if you prefer. Both are tasty. This recipe is also very easy because you don't have to worry too much about sifting the dry ingredients and making the batter perfectly smooth.

Provided by HocoRuco

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h5m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
8 ounces cream cheese
1 (16 ounce) box powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla

Steps:

  • First prepare the cake.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine all cake ingredients (brown sugar, oil, eggs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, carrots and pecans) in a large bowl.
  • Pour batter into a 13x9 inch cake pan or two 8 inch round cake pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (if using 13x9) or until toothpick comes out clean but cake is still moist.
  • Allow cake to cool and prepare cream cheese frosting.
  • In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla.
  • Cover cooled cake with frosting, slice and serve.
  • You may want to keep it in the fridge if you aren't going to be eating it right away because of the cream cheese in the frosting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 926.1, Fat 51.2, SaturatedFat 12.6, Cholesterol 111.6, Sodium 502.8, Carbohydrate 113.2, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 89.8, Protein 7.4

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING



Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting image

Everyone seems to have an opinion on carrot cake, especially in our test kitchen. In our (lengthy) discussions, we debated the merits of adding common ingredients like coconut, pineapple, and chopped nuts. We even discussed just how much carrot to add. In the end, we all agreed that the classic carrot should definitely be loaded with carrots, walnuts, and raisins. One thing the test kitchen could agree on was that carrot cake must be frosted with cream cheese frosting. That is NOT negotiable.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 2h30m

Yield 10 to 12 slices of carrot cake

Number Of Ingredients 21

Cooking spray
3 cups walnuts
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 pound carrots, shredded (about 4 cups)
2/3 cup raisins
4 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Coat three 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper; coat the parchment with more cooking spray. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop 1 1/2 cups walnuts and finely chop 1 1/2 cups. Set aside the finely chopped nuts for topping.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the vegetable oil, granulated sugar and brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just combined. With the mixer on medium-low speed, beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk, until combined. Stir in the vanilla. Gently fold in the carrots, raisins and roughly chopped walnuts with a rubber spatula.
  • Divide the batter among the cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 20 minutes in the pans. Remove the cakes from the pans, remove the parchment and let cool completely on the racks.
  • Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
  • Place one cake layer on a platter or cake stand and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Add another cake layer, spread with another 1 cup frosting and then add the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a very thin layer of frosting (this is the crumb coat). Refrigerate 1 hour.
  • Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting, then carefully press the finely chopped walnuts into the sides.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality cream cheese: The cream cheese is the main ingredient in this frosting, so it's important to use a good one. Look for a cream cheese that is smooth and spreadable, with no lumps or graininess.
  • Soften the cream cheese before using: Before you start making the frosting, let the cream cheese soften to room temperature. This will make it easier to mix and will help prevent lumps.
  • Use unsalted butter: Unsalted butter is best for this frosting because it allows you to control the amount of salt. If you use salted butter, be sure to taste the frosting before adding more salt.
  • Start with a small amount of milk: Don't add too much milk to the frosting all at once. Start with a small amount and then add more as needed until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Don't overbeat the frosting: Overbeating the frosting can cause it to become stiff and grainy. Beat it just until it is smooth and creamy.
  • Use fresh lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavor to the frosting. If you don't have fresh lemon juice, you can use bottled lemon juice, but be sure to use a good quality brand.
  • Add vanilla extract for a richer flavor: Vanilla extract is a classic flavoring for cream cheese frosting. It adds a rich, sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients.

Conclusion:

Cream cheese frosting is a delicious and versatile frosting that can be used on a variety of cakes and cupcakes. It's easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. Whether you like it sweet, tangy, or somewhere in between, there's a cream cheese frosting recipe out there for you.

Related Topics