Carrot Cake is one of the most well known bakes and it's no wonder why. It's packed fully of tasty flavours and different textures, and wrapped up in what has to be one of my favourite frostings ever - cream cheese frosting. I could eat the stuff straight from the bowl! Carrot cake is also a delicious way to use up leftover carrots, especially after a roast dinner or around Christmas and Thanksgiving.
I thought it was about time I shared my best ever carrot cake recipe. And while I think it's the best, carrot cake can be dividing depending on how you like it so it's a very adaptable recipe too. Some people love nuts and raisins in their carrot cake, whether others don't. So you can include them or exclude them and this recipe will be delicious either way! One thing you won't want to change is the super thick and pipeable cream cheese frosting. It is hard to get thick cream cheese frosting in the UK, but this recipe is perfectly thick and pipes like a dream!
The photos and frosting recipe for this post were updated in December 2020.
How to make Carrot Cake
To make the cake, stir self raising flour, wholemeal flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice, cinnamon and light brown sugar together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, eggs, orange zest and orange juice. Combine the mixtures and whisk them together.
Mix in the carrot, pecans and sultanas, and divide the mixture evenly between two cake tins. Bake for 40 minutes.
Once the cakes are cool, make the cream cheese frosting. Start by using an electric mixer to whip up the softened butter.
Then add icing sugar and mix it in. Then add cream cheese and vanilla, and mix until just combined and smooth.
What is the best way to prepare the carrots?
If you have a food processor with a grater attachment then that’s the quickest and most effortless way to prepare them. A manual grater works really well too, and it only takes a few minutes.
Can you use plain/all purpose flour instead?
Yes! If you want to use plain flour (instead of self raising flour) then you will need to add 2 additional teaspoons of baking powder to the recipe. Make sure they are level teaspoons (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with).
Tips for making Carrot Cake:
- You can swap the pecans out for the same amount of walnuts, or you can leave them out altogether if you want the cake nut free.
- I like to use sultanas as they are more juicy, but you can swap them out for raisins, or again leave them out if you prefer.
- I really like a hint of orange in a carrot cake, it compliments the cake so well. If you don't want to use the orange, replace the orange juice with the same amount of milk.
- To pipe the cream cheese frosting on, I used a Ateco 849 nozzle.
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
- 8" cake tins
- Mixing bowls
- Cooling rack
- Kitchen scales
- Electric hand mixer
- Round cake tin liners
- Piping bags
- Citrus juicer
- Zester
*I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!
More Carrot Cake recipes...
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 200 g Self raising flour
- 115 g Wholemeal plain flour
- 265 g Light brown sugar
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 3 tsp Mixed spice
- 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon
- 265 g Vegetable oil
- 4 Eggs large
- 1 Orange zested and juiced
- 325 g Carrots grated
- 95 g Pecans chopped
- 95 g Sultanas
For the frosting
- 200 g Butter softened
- 200 g Icing
- 400 g Full fat cream cheese I use Philadelphia
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
For decoration
- Fondant carrot decorations
- 4 Pecans chopped
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark, and grease and line two 8 inch sandwich tins
- In a large bowl, stir together the self raising flour, wholemeal flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice, cinnamon and light brown sugar
- In another bowl or large jug, whisk together the vegetable oil, eggs, orange zest and orange juice. Then add it to the flour mixture and whisk everything together
- Mix in the grated carrot, chopped pecans and sultanas
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cake tins, use scales for accuracy
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and a thin skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove them from the tin and leave them to cool on wire racks
- If the cakes have domed on top, level them off with a cake leveller or a knife
- To make the frosting, use an electric mixer to beat the butter on it's own until soft and creamy
- Add the icing sugar, and mix in until well combined
- Add the cream cheese and the vanilla extract, mix until just combined and smooth
- Place one of the sponges onto a plate or cake stand and spread or pipe some of the frosting over it
- Top with the second sponge, then pipe or spread the remaining frosting on top
- Decorate with fondant carrots and chopped pecans
- Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days
Monika Dabrowski
What is there to say other than - absolutely gorgeous! I also like the fact that it has a healthy twist in the form of wholemeal flour and it's made with oil, which I love in baking. Thank you for bringing your lovely creation to #CookBlogShare:)
thebakingexplorer
Thank you so much Monika! I always like to add wholemeal flour to vegetable cake recipes, I feel like it belongs 🙂
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery
This looks absolutely delicious! I love carrot cake!
thebakingexplorer
Thank you!!
frugal hausfrau
That has to be the loveliest carrot cake I've ever seen! And a bit healthier, too! Wow! Thanks for sharing this at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
thebakingexplorer
Wow thank you, that's such a lovely compliment!
Alicia
Wow your cake looks delicious! My daughter will eat them all at once! Why shouldn't I try this carrot cake for her!! I have one question and that is what is the alternative to vegetable oil? Can I use Soybean oil instead of it?
thebakingexplorer
Thank you! Yes I'm sure soybean oil will be a suitable replacement, but I've never heard of that kind of oil myself.
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
Wow Kat! What a stunning cake! I recall the first time I tried a slice of carrot cake many many years ago - I was in raptures about the cream cheese frosting! Delicious! Thankyou so much for sharing it with #BakingCrumbs (though how I wish it was in reality rather than virtually 😉 )
Angela x
thebakingexplorer
I'm right there with you on cream cheese frosting, I adore it!!
Kris
Do you have a cupcake version of this carrot cake? For just 12 cupcakes?
thebakingexplorer
Hi Kris, I don't yet but I will add it to my list!
Petra
What a pretty cake! I would love a slice right now 🙂 Happy Fiesta Friday!
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Petra! I wish I could send you a slice!
jenny paulin
your cakes always look so beautiful and make me feel hungry. My boys love Carrot cake so this would make them happy too. I love a cream cheese frosting myself, but my children do prefer icing! I blame school for this , because this is what the cook there uses plus added sprinkles! x
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Jenny! I'm glad you have a house of carrot cake lovers!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Ahhh! This carrot cake looks so gorgeous!! Thanks a lot for sharing, Kat!
thebakingexplorer
Thank you!
Kate - gluten free alchemist
I need some carrot cake in my life! Yum x
Neelam
Can we make self rasing flour at home?
thebakingexplorer
Just use plain flour and add 2 more tsp of baking powder 🙂
Rose Martine
Looks beautiful and delicious! I do some prep ahead meals but not that many. I think this is very worthwhile and nice to know you always have a meal on hand!
Scott
Fantastic recipe, Kat hasn’t let me down yet. Oil instead of butter seemed to add a lot kore moisture icing is fantastic. Had a bit left over to make cupcakes for the neighbours
Thank you as always x
thebakingexplorer
Thanks so much Scott, I'm so pleased you enjoyed this recipe!
Jacks
Made this cake a couple of times now and it's absolutely delicious.
Just wondered if it can be frozen.
thebakingexplorer
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback Jacks! Yes you can freeze the cake sponge without the frosting 🙂
Brioney
Hi, I’m just wondering if we have to use the wholemeal flour? What difference does it bring and. Wha can I substitute with if possible?
thebakingexplorer
You can substitute it with regular white plain flour 🙂
Simran Chhina
Hey! Instead of whole meal flour, can I use gluten free plain flour?
thebakingexplorer
Hi Simran, I've never made these using gluten free flour but I am sure it would be ok to do so. Check the packet of the flour you use as some GF blends suggest adding extra liquid. Let me know how it goes!
Sarah
This is my 3rd recipe from the baking explorer.. I’m your number 1 fan now 🥰 . All I have to do now is construct this.. if there is any left! My son is picking at the cake and the icing I can’t leave alone.. oh my 🥰 thank you for sharing such fab recipes x
thebakingexplorer
Aww thank you so much Sarah, I'm so happy to hear this!
Katy
Absolutely delicious - moist, not too sweet, just the right amount of spice, absolutely wonderful! My friends and family now seem to think I am some kind of expert baker and it is all thanks to you!
thebakingexplorer
Aw thank you Katy, this is such lovely feedback!