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Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

Carrot Cake Recipe

Published: Aug 18, 2021 · Modified: Mar 31, 2025 by Chef Dennis Littley

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For years, I stayed away from carrot cake, thinking there was no way a cake made with a vegetable would be something I’d enjoy eating. I certainly didn’t think I’d ever be writing about (or singing the praises of) anything like this carrot-infused sweet treat, which is hands-down the best carrot cake recipe.

Boy, was I wrong!

A slice of the finished carrot cake recipe on a white plate with a fork.


 
Table of Contents:
  • Audio Player
  • Ingredients
  • Chef Dennis Tip
  • Do I have to use pecans in the carrot cake?
  • How to Make Carrot Cake
  • How to Make Classic Cream Cheese Frosting
  • How to Assemble the Carrot Cake
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Cake Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Carrot Cake Recipe

Audio Player

It was on a bus ride home from high school one afternoon when a classmate got me to try a piece of a cake she had made in her home ec class. I really didn’t want to try it, but I also didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

After one bite, I was in love…sigh. Not with the cute girl on the bus ride home, but with the Carrot Cake she had gotten me to try.

Side view of whole cake sliced.

It was love at first bite.

Later in life one of the desserts, I learned to make during my time with Mama Jeanette was this amazingly delicious carrot cake.

With its delicious, moist texture and rich cream cheese frosting, it was even better than I remembered and has become my go-to recipe for this delicious dessert.

Ingredients

Ingredients required to make recipe.

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make the best carrot cake recipe. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Chef Dennis Tip

Grate your own fresh carrots at home. Don’t buy pre-shredded carrots; they’re dry and disgusting.

Do I have to use pecans in the carrot cake?

No, you don’t. You can use walnuts or leave the nuts out altogether if you have nut allergies.

How to Make Carrot Cake

Follow along with my easy instructions below to see how to make carrot cake in your own kitchen.

Start by getting the cake pans ready and preheating the oven. Once those two steps have been completed, you can start making the carrot cake.

Collage showing first steps in make cake.
  • Add the applesauce, white sugar, and eggs to a mixing bowl.
  • Mix well with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon and set the applesauce mixture aside until needed.
  • Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to a large bowl.
  • Combine all the dry ingredients thoroughly.
Collage showing the next steps in make batter.
  • Add the grated carrots, coconut, pecans, pineapple (with juice), and vanilla extract to a large bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients together until well blended.
  • Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
  • Using a spoon or a hand mixer (or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment), mix the flour in just enough to combine the ingredients
Collage showing the final steps in making batter and baking.
  • Add the carrot mixture to the mixing bowl
  • Combine the carrot mixture just enough to blend into the flour mixture, , scraping down the sides of the bowl with a large rubber spatula.
  • Get the prepared pan (greased, floured with a greased parchment circle )
  • Divide the cake batter into the three prepared round cake pans.

*Make sure to use parchment paper in the bottom of the cake pans!

Overhead view of carrot cake layers cooling on wire rack.

Bake the cakes for 25-30 minutes on the center rack of the preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

*Let cake cool for 10 minutes in the pan before transferring each to a cooling rack and allowing them to cool completely to room temperature.

How to Make Classic Cream Cheese Frosting

Collage of steps to make cream cheese frosting.
  • Add the butter and cream cheese to a large mixing bowl.
  • Beat until creamy and light.
  • Add the vanilla extract and confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese mixture.
  • Whip until well blended and creamy.

How to Assemble the Carrot Cake

Collage showing how to frost the carrot cake.
  • If necessary trim the top of each layer, so they are flat
  • Using an offset spatula, add frosting to the first layer, spreading it evenly.
  • Repeat this process with the remaining layers.
  • Frost the outside of the cake with an icing spatula, doing your best to keep it even. Some cake can show through.
  • Frost the top of the cake
Finished carrot cake on pedestal.

If you want to take the carrot cake to the next level add a ring of frosting along the outside edge of cake. Then garnish the top with pecans and coconut.

This is entirely optional.

Overhead partial view of whole cake.

If you’d rather not add more frosting to the top, you can simply add a ring of pecan halves on the outside of the cake. I added toasted coconut and pecans to the top of this cake.

Recipe FAQs

Are carrot cakes healthier?

While cake, in general, is not really considered a healthy food, all things in moderation, right? Carrot cakes do incorporate carrots, so they can have more nutrients than standard cake recipes.

Does carrot cake usually have raisins?

Carrot cake can have all sorts of add-ins. Sweet, plump raisins are definitely a good option, though they’re not necessarily a standard addition.

Can carrot cake be a wedding cake?

Carrot cake can most certainly be an option for a wedding cake. While it’s delicious for any gathering, it does work well for special occasions.

More Cake Recipes You’ll Love!

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    Hummingbird Cake Recipe
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    Ultimate Pomegranate Mousse Cake Recipe
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    Jewish Apple Cake
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slice of carrot cake on a plate with a fork with an other slice and the remainder of the whole cake on a pedestal in the background

Carrot Cake Recipe

Chef Dennis Littley
Once you try this incredible layer carrot cake full of healthy carrots and aromatic spices, I'm certain that you will find that this is theperfect carrot cake. Bonus: you can modify this recipe and use muffin tins tomake carrot cake cupcakes or a large pan to make a sheet cake.
4.99 from 88 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Listen to the Post
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
refrigerate 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 774 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Carrot Cake

  • 1 ¼ cups applesauce unsweetened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 cups grated carrots
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice in juice not syrup

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 16 oz cream cheese softened blocks -Don't use whipped cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 lb powdered sugar

Assembly

  • toasted pecans and coconut for topping

Instructions
 

Carrot Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Butter and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
    *Make sure to use parchement in the bottom of your cake pans. This is a very moist cake and it will make it easier to remove from the pans.
  • Add the applesauce, sugar and eggs to a mixing bowl. Mix well and set aside until needed.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl, making sure to combine all the ingredients.
  • Add the carrots, coconut, pecans, pineapple (with juice) and vanilla to a bowl and mix well.
  • Add the flour mixture to the applesauce mixture. Mix just enough to combine.
  • Add the carrot mixture to the mixing bowl with the other combined ingredients and mix just enough to combine.
  • Divide the batter into the three prepared pans.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes on the center rack of the preheated oven.
    *a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean.
  • Let cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Beat the butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
  • Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, mix until well blended and creamy.
    *Don't overmix the frosting

Assembly

  • If necessary trim the top of each layer so they are flat.
  • Invert one layer of the carrot cake onto a cake plate or stand and begin frosting the top of the cake. Spead the layer of frosting evenly using a spatula.
  • Gently place the second cake on top and continue frosting. Repeat the process with the third layer.
  • Finish frosting the sides of the cake with the remaining frosting, keeping it as even as possible.
    *it's okay for a little of the cake to show through.
  • Refrigerate for an hour before serving to allow the cake to firm up.
    *You can refrigerate the cake overnight, just remove it about an hour before serving to allow the carrot cake to come back to room temperature. The cake will actually taste better the next day.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 774kcalCarbohydrates: 99gProtein: 8gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 332mgFiber: 4gSugar: 78gVitamin A: 4632IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.99 from 88 votes (66 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jenny says

    August 19, 2021 at 11:36 pm

    5 stars
    It was delicious and gorgeous!!

    Reply
  2. Lara says

    August 19, 2021 at 11:23 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great combination of ingredients for a really moist cake.
    It was a bit of work but worth it!

    Reply
  3. Amanda Scarlati says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    5 stars
    We loved this carrot cake. It’s so moist and I especially love the coconut addition.

    Reply
  4. Priya says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:35 pm

    5 stars
    I love carrot cake and your recipe was perfecct!

    Reply
  5. Rosey says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:09 pm

    I’ve never made carrot cake at home. That being said, I am certainly not adverse to doing so.

    Reply
  6. Sol says

    August 19, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    I seldom ate a great carrot cake but this one looks sooo yummy! I hope I could successfully try this on my own too!

    Reply
  7. Beth says

    August 19, 2021 at 5:11 pm

    5 stars
    Carrot cake is my favorite and I bake it once or twice a year. My husband and kids will love the addition of coconut to a family favorite.

    Reply
  8. Terri Steffes says

    August 19, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    What a lovely cake. I like the pecans in yours. I find walnuts overpowering and most people use too many. I also live near the “Pecan Capital of the USA” so maybe I am biased.

    Reply
  9. Marysa says

    August 19, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    Such a good point about using fresh carrots and not pre-shredded. Sounds delicious!

    Reply
  10. Louisa says

    August 19, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    I am not a big fan. Just maybe because the first time I had it , it wasn’t moist. Seemed too dry

    Reply
  11. Gervin Khan says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    One of my favorite cakes in the world is carrot cake. Your’s was really delicious. I love the way you are sharing the step-by-step procedure of how to make it, it came out perfectly!

    Reply
  12. Scarlett Brooklyn says

    August 19, 2021 at 1:18 am

    5 stars
    At the very moment I saw your carrot cake. I decided to bake one. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
  13. Richelle Escat says

    August 18, 2021 at 10:41 pm

    5 stars
    I was also thinking the same before I get to a carrot cake. Didn’t know that the texture is so great.

    Reply
  14. Amber Myers says

    August 18, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    My family loved your carrot cake. It was the perfect dessert!

    Reply
  15. Monica Simpson says

    August 18, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    I love that this recipe uses applesauce and pineapples/juice. I haven’t used those before in carrot cake. I definitely need to try this!

    Reply
Newer Comments »


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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