Carrot cake is a delectable treat that combines the sweetness of carrots, the warmth of spices, and the richness of a cream cheese frosting. While many recipes exist for this classic dessert, some stand out with their unique flavors and textures. In this article, we will explore the culinary journey to find the ultimate carrot cake recipe, one that promises an unforgettable taste experience. From selecting the perfect carrots to mastering the art of balancing spices, we will unveil the secrets behind creating a moist, flavorful carrot cake that will leave you craving for more. Get ready to embark on a baking adventure as we uncover the best carrot cake recipe you'll ever eat.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
BEST CARROT CAKE EVER
A moist and flavorful recipe that makes a large quantity of cake. I have been hounded to make this cake time and time again.
Provided by Nan
Categories Desserts Cakes Spice Cake Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, combine grated carrots and brown sugar. Set aside for 60 minutes, then stir in raisins.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 10 inch cake pans.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Gradually beat in the white sugar, oil and vanilla. Stir in the pineapple. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, stir into the wet mixture until absorbed. Finally stir in the carrot mixture and the walnuts. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. When completely cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 457.4 calories, Carbohydrate 66.3 g, Cholesterol 46.5 mg, Fat 20.2 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 5.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 315.2 mg, Sugar 42.8 g
THE BEST CARROT CAKE YOU'LL EVER EAT RECIPE BY TASTY
Hand-grating carrots is a labor of love that gives this recipe the ultimate carrot flavor and delicate texture we love in our cake. Not to be outdone, the luscious cream cheese frosting has real vanilla bean to take this cake to the next level. This is the best carrot cake we have ever made.
Provided by Matt Ciampa
Categories Bakery Goods
Time 1h40m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and grease with nonstick spray.
- Make the cake: Grate the carrots on the large holes of a box grater. You should have about 6 cups.
- In a large bowl, combine the grated carrots and buttermilk and stir until the carrots are completely coated.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose and whole wheat flours, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, baking soda, cloves, allspice and nutmeg.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer), combine the brown and granulated sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until the mixture drips from the whisk in ribbons, about 3 minutes.
- With the mixer running on medium speed, slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through, if necessary. Continue mixing until the mixture is fully emulsified, about 2 minutes.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Add ½ of the carrot mixture and continue mixing on low speed until incorporated. Continue alternating adding the flour and carrot mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a flat rubber spatula to bring the batter together.
- Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let the cakes cool for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and let cool completely.
- Make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer), cream together the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, salt, and vanilla bean seeds until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar and continue mixing until silky and smooth, about 4 minutes.
- Assemble the cake: Dab a bit of frosting on a cake board and place a cake layer on top. Scoop 1 cup of frosting onto the cake. Repeat with the remaining 2 layers. Use the remaining frosting to coat the top of the cake completely, leaving the sides naked.
- Slice and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 755 calories, Carbohydrate 107 grams, Fat 33 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 10 grams, Sugar 74 grams
THE BEST CARROT CAKE
Our classic carrot cake is nicely spiced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and has toasted pecans both in the cake and on top. Plumped golden raisins and a full pound of carrots make it nice and moist while buttermilk lends tang and tenderness. Our homemade cream-cheese frosting has just the right amount of sweetness.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 4h
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- For the cake: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds and lightly coat the paper with spray.
- Cover the raisins with very hot water and let sit until plump, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
- Toast the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, and then chop 1 cup of the pecans; reserve for the cake batter. Pulse the remaining 1/2 cup pecans in a food processor until very finely ground; reserve for garnish.
- Combine the carrots and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Beat the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and thick, about 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually stream in the oil. Add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the carrot mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. Fold in the raisins and chopped pecans with a rubber spatula. Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
- Bake the cakes, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cakes cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto the rack. Remove the parchment and let the cakes cool completely.
- For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and gradually mix in the confectioner' sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until the frosting until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- To assemble the cake: When the cakes are completely cool, trim the domes of each cake round with a large serrated knife so the tops are flat. Place one cake, cut-side down, on a platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the frosting evenly over top. Place the remaining cake, cut-side down, on top. Spread the top with another 1 1/2 cups of the frosting. Frost the sides of the cake with another 1 1/2 cups frosting and smooth out completely to make an even crumb coat (It's ok if some of the cake shows through. This is just a base layer.) Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
- Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake, swirling decoratively if desired. Sprinkle with the finely ground pecans.
BEST EVER CARROT CAKE RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by msippigrl
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- CAKE: Chop pecans and grate carrots before starting the cake batter. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray 3 (9") round cake pans with cooking spray; line bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and sugar. Add eggs and vegetable oil and beat with a hand mixer until well combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the carrots and pecans. Pour into cake pans. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Remove cakes from pans; gently peel off the paper then place cakes on waxed paper to cool completely on a rack before frosting. FROSTING: In a mixing bowl and using a mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Gradually, beat in the confectioners sugar (you may need to do this in 3-4 additions) until smooth and fluffy. As far as the pecans, you can stir them into the frosting or reserve them to decorate the top of cake (which I did). Frost between cake layers, on the sides, and on top of cake. Garnish top as desired with the pecans. Store in the refrigerator.
THE BEST CARROT CAKE YOU'LL EVER HAVE
Very moist and delicious. Every time I bring this to a gathering, people always ask for the recipe.
Provided by YungB
Categories Dessert
Time 1h5m
Yield 1 cake, 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, combine grated carrots and brown sugar. Set aside for 60 minutes, then stir in raisins.
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease and flour two 10 inch cake pans.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Gradually beat in the white sugar, oil and vanilla. Stir in the pineapple.
- Stir the flour combination above into the wet mixture only until absorbed.
- Finally stir in the carrot mixture and the walnuts. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
- Bake 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. When completely cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting.
- Cream Cheese Frosting:.
- In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioner's sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1229.6, Fat 61.4, SaturatedFat 22.7, Cholesterol 186, Sodium 924.2, Carbohydrate 162.4, Fiber 5.6, Sugar 115.5, Protein 13.1
BEST EVER CARROT CAKE
My family, friends and co-workers have all said the same thing - this is the best carrot cake they have ever tasted. I'm very glad to share it with all of the carrot cake lovers out there. Enjoy! : )
Provided by Sara in FL
Categories Dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Beat together corn oil, sugar and eggs until well combined.
- In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
- Add to egg-sugar mixture, mixing well.
- Drain the pineapple well.
- Add the carrots, walnuts, raisins and pineapple to mixture.
- Blend to mix well.
- Pour batter into a 9-10 inch greased and floured cake pan. *I use a springform pan and then split the cake into two layers.
- Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Let cake cool on rack.
- Prepare frosting.
- Cream Cheese Icing:.
- In a medium mixer bowl, cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add confectioner's sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat on high until smooth. This recipe yields approximately 5 1/2 cups. You'll have plenty extra which I think is better than having too little! : ).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1635.1, Fat 90.4, SaturatedFat 36.8, Cholesterol 203.2, Sodium 872.8, Carbohydrate 203.1, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 170.9, Protein 11.3
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you start baking, make sure you have all your ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and avoid any mishaps.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the taste of your carrot cake. Use fresh carrots, nuts, and spices, and make sure your cream cheese is fresh and at room temperature.
- Grate your carrots finely: This will help them distribute evenly throughout the cake batter and prevent them from becoming too chunky.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can make the cake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean: This usually takes about 30-35 minutes, but it can vary depending on your oven.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it: This will help the frosting set properly and prevent it from becoming runny.
- Use a cream cheese frosting that is not too sweet: You want the frosting to complement the sweetness of the cake, not overpower it.
- Decorate the cake with your favorite toppings: Chopped nuts, grated carrots, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce are all great options.
Conclusion:
This carrot cake recipe is a classic for a reason. It's moist, flavorful, and has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. With a few simple tips, you can make this cake at home that will impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a delicious and easy-to-make dessert, give this carrot cake recipe a try.
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