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    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Desserts

    Best Ever Carrot Cake with Easy Cream Cheese Icing

    April 5, 2020 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated December 14, 2020 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin for carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

    There aren’t too many desserts in this world more delicious than a carrot cake, full of carrots, pineapple, raisins, and because I’m a Southern girl, pecans. If that isn’t enough deliciousness, this Carrot Cake is then topped with a quick and easy but decadent, luscious, and velvety smooth cream cheese icing.

    Carrot cake on a cake platter with a slice cut.

    There are probably as many carrot cake recipes as there are cookbooks, and that’s a lot. Most cooks have a favorite recipe, and there is also much discussion about which carrot cake recipe is the best. You have to have a lot of confidence in a recipe to proclaim it the best, and this recipe has earned it!

    Let’s talk carrot cakes:

    All carrot cakes have a few things in common: they are made with oil instead of butter, you don’t have to beat the batter as much as some other batters, and they all include grated carrots. Some recipes also include pineapple and raisins, and some include nuts. Pecans for sure if you are in the South, and sometimes walnuts or other nuts.

    Cream cheese icing is the classic icing on carrot cake, and all recipes include, you guessed it, cream cheese plus powdered sugar. The amounts and measurements may vary, and some may include other ingredients.

    Here’s why you will love this recipe:

    1. With a full pound of carrots, it’s healthier than most other cake recipes. One slice also provides over half of your daily Vitamin A requirement.
    2. This recipe is foolproof. Usually, cakes require that you measure precisely and follow the directions carefully. An ingredient left out, not measured correctly, or at the wrong temperature can make the difference between a beautiful, moist, and tender cake and one that, well, doesn’t turn out how you hoped it would. Fortunately, this recipe isn’t like that.
    3. It is ultra moist! The carrots and pineapple not only make this one of the most flavorful cakes, but they are also the reason it is so moist.
    4. Most cakes start drying out after the first day; carrot cake is even better the second day!

    Here’s what’s in the cake:

    Shredded carrots, flour, cinnamon, sugar, eggs, pineapple, raisins, and pecans.

    You will also need two 9-inch cake pans.

    Here’s how to make the cake:

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and then sprinkle with flour. Tap the pans to distribute the flour and swirl them around to spread it out to cover the surface of the pan. Pour out any excess flour. Set aside.

    Add the sugar, oil, and eggs to a large bowl and beat using an electric mixer until the mixture is light yellow. Add vanilla and mix well.

    Mixing sugar, oil and eggs in a clear glass bowl.

    In a medium-size bowl, add two and one-half cups of flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk or fork and mix well.

    Mixing flour, baking soda and cinnamon in a bowl with a whisk.

    Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. 

    Adding flour to sugar, eggs and oil in a clear glass bowl.

    Use an electric mixer to mix everything. The batter will be thick. Set aside.

    Carrot cake batter in a clear glass bowl.

    In a small bowl, add the raisins and nuts and sprinkle with one tablespoon of flour. Toss to coat everything.

    Adding raisins and pecans to cake batter.

    Add the raisin mixture, shredded carrots, and pineapple to the batter and mix again to combine.

    Adding shredded carrots to cake batter.

    Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans and lightly tap the pans on the counter to remove any air bubbles. 

    Two cake pans with carrot cake batter ready for the oven.

    Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack.

    How to make the icing:

    Add the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl and mix using an electric mixer until everything is smooth and creamy with no lumps.  Add the confectioners’ sugar and keep mixing until the icing is soft and fluffy – this will take about four minutes.

    Cream cheese icing in a clear glass bowl next to an electric mixer.

    How to assemble:

    Place a dollop of icing in the center of a large plate to keep the cake from sliding around. Top that with the first layer, flat side up. Use a knife or offset spatula to spread about one-third of the icing over the top.

    Icing the first layer of a cake on a white cake platter.
    Place the second layer round side up on top of the first layer. Spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

    Icing a cake with cream cheese frosting.

    Slice and serve.

    A slice of carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

    Sharon’s tips:

    • You can use either a box-type grater or your food processor to grate the carrots. I usually use a food processor, which takes seconds to complete this task.
    • Do not use pre-packaged shredded carrots. This recipe works best with freshly grated carrots, and they are one of the reasons it’s so moist. I wash my carrots thoroughly before grating, but I don’t peel them. However, feel free to peel yours if you like.
    • When greasing your pans, you can substitute sugar for the flour if you prefer. You can also use a non-stick baking spray that contains flour.
    • This recipe is enough to make two nine-inch cake layers, or you can use a 9×13 inch baking pan and make a sheet cake. The cooking time will be about the same. If you make a sheet cake, you will probably have some icing leftover.
    • You can also make cupcakes with this recipe, but reduce the cooking time to about 20 minutes. You also won’t need as much icing.
    • To make this cake ahead, make the cake and allow it to cool completely. Wrap the layers securely and freeze for up to two months. The day you want to serve it, let the layers thaw, make the icing, and ice the cake.
    • This cake is best if kept covered and refrigerated. It is also easier to slice if it is cold.
    • Be sure to allow the cake layers to cool completely before frosting. If the cake is warm, your icing will melt and slide off.
    • Believe it or not, there are folks in this world that dislike raisins. If any of these folks happen to live in your house, feel free to leave them out.
    • If you don’t have pecans, you can leave them out or substitute walnuts.

    Related Recipes:

    If you love easy old-fashioned desserts like this one, you might also want to check out these popular recipes:

    • Southern Pecan Praline Cake 
    • Blueberry Delight 
    • Apple Dapple Cake with Caramel Icing
    • Southern Peach Cobbler
    • Minnie Lee Croley’s Sour Cream Pound Cake
    • Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie
    • Georgia Cornbread Cake aka Pecan Cake

    Need more recipes or ideas, check out all of my dessert recipes here.

    ★ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    Carrot cake on a white cake platter with pecans on the counter.

    Best Ever Carrot Cake and Easy Cream Cheese Icing

    Sharon Rigsby
    Easy homemade moist carrot cake with pineapple is chock full of healthy carrots, raisins, and pecans. The recipe also includes a simple, decadent, luscious, and velvety smooth cream cheese frosting.
    4.50 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    cooling time 1 hr
    Total Time 2 hrs 10 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 501 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Carrot Cake Ingredients

    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1⅓ cups vegetable oil
    • 3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2½ cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour divided
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 cup raisins
    • 1 cup chopped pecans
    • 1 pound carrots grated
    • ½ cup canned crushed pineapple drained

    Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients

    • 12 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
    • 8 ounces unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 16 ounces confectioners sugar sifted

    Instructions
     

    Carrot Cake Directions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and then sprinkle with flour. Tap the pans to distribute the flour and swirl them around to spread it out so that it covers the surface of the pan. Pour out any excess flour. Set aside.
    • Add the sugar, oil, and eggs to a large bowl and beat using an electric mixer until the mixture is light yellow. Add vanilla and mix well.
    • In a medium-size bowl, add two and one-half cups of flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk or fork and mix well. 
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and use an electric mixer to mix everything. The batter will be thick. Set aside. 
    • In a small bowl, add the raisins and nuts and sprinkle with one tablespoon of flour. Toss to coat everything.
    • Add the raisin mixture, shredded carrots, and pineapple to the batter and mix again to combine. 
    • Divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans and lightly tap the pans on the counter to remove any air bubbles. 
    • Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack.

    Cream Cheese Icing Directions

    • Add the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla to a large bowl and mix using an electric mixer until everything is smooth and creamy with no lumps.  Add the confectioners' sugar and keep mixing until the icing is soft and fluffy - this will take about four minutes. 

    Assembly

    • Place a dollop of icing in the center of a large plate to keep the cake from sliding around. Top that with the first layer, flat side up. Use a knife or offset spatula to spread about one-third of the icing over the top. 
    • Place the second layer round side up on top of the first layer. Spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.
    • Serve immediately and enjoy.

    Notes

    • You can use either a box-type grater or your food processor to grate the carrots. I usually use a food processor, which takes seconds to complete this task.
    • Do not use pre-packaged shredded carrots. This recipe works best with freshly grated carrots, and they are one of the reasons it's so moist. I wash my carrots thoroughly before grating, but I don't peel them. However, feel free to peel yours if you like.
    • When greasing your pans, you can substitute sugar for the flour if you prefer. You can also use a non-stick baking spray that contains flour.
    • This recipe is enough to make two nine-inch cake layers, or you can use a 9x13 inch baking pan and make a sheet cake. The cooking time will be about the same. If you make a sheet cake, you will probably have some icing leftover.
    • You can also make cupcakes with this recipe, but reduce the cooking time to about 20 minutes. You also won't need as much icing.
    • To make this cake ahead, make the cake and allow it to cool completely. Wrap the layers securely and freeze for up to two months. The day you want to serve it, let the layers thaw, make the icing and ice the cake.
    • This cake is best if kept covered and refrigerated. It is also easier to slice if it is cold.
    • Be sure to allow the cake layers to cool completely before frosting. If the cake is warm, your icing will melt and slide off.
    • Believe it or not, there are folks in this world that dislike raisins. If any of these folks happen to live in your house, feel free to leave them out.
    • If you don't have pecans, you can leave them out or substitute walnuts.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 501kcalCarbohydrates: 88gProtein: 8gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 130mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 2gSugar: 66gVitamin A: 2600IUVitamin C: 2.5mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2.2mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    *This recipe was originally posted on October 26, 2016. Republished today, April 5, 2020, with new photos, a “how-to” video, expanded directions, and tips. The only substantial change to the recipe directions is to reduce the amount of baking time.  

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Jim Uren

      February 02, 2022 at 6:52 am

      4 stars
      Sharon, you had me until you mentioned that it would be acceptable to leave out the raisins….’THOSE’ people don’t need carrot cake!
      All humor aside, the recipe was every bit as good as my old standby and they ate every bite!

      Reply
    2. Jamie S

      April 09, 2020 at 9:24 pm

      Hi Sharon,
      I was thinking of making this for Easter, but using some carrots From our garden that we chopped up and froze last Fall. Since the are in slices and not shredded can I still do that? Or should I blend them or do you suggest buying fresh carrots? I’d like to use the ones we have if possible so they don’t go to waste, thanks.

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        April 10, 2020 at 2:49 pm

        Hi Jamie, do you have a food processor? Maybe you could put the slices in there and pulse them until they are in small pieces. Or, possibly you could just chop them up with a knife. I think either should work. I hope you enjoy it!
        All the best,
        Sharon

        Reply

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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