This four layer homemade carrot cake is the best carrot cake you will ever try. Full of shredded carrots, walnuts and spices! This carrot cake is made without pineapple. It always receives rave reviews for how moist the cake is and the perfect ratio of carrot cake to cream cheese frosting.
Looking for more dessert recipes? Try my orange sweet rolls, lemon loaf, easter m&m cookies or bunny butt cookies.
This recipe was originally published on 04/01/2019.
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is my favorite cake, ever. And it's not just for Easter or to eat during the spring months, I request it for my birthday every year!
This particular recipe is beyond perfect because of just how soft and flavorful the cake is. This is definitely not a dry cake and it keeps beautifully in the fridge, so you can keep enjoying it all week long.
Carrot cake is a spice cake, with the addition of shredded carrots to it. Spice cakes are full of delicious spices.
There are so many ingredients going in that you have to make sure each ingredient compliments the next. The cinnamon to nutmeg to ginger ratio needs to be just right.
This carrot cake recipe is made without pineapple. Instead we'll be using vegetable oil and buttermilk to make sure it's tender and not dry.
The perfect spring time dessert to make and if you love this recipe then you'll also love this carrot cake roll.
Jump to:
Ingredients For Carrot Cake
The ingredients you'll need for carrot are fairly similar to the ingredients for any other cake. You won't find any pineapple in this carrot cake, that's right, no pineapple. As always, for the full of ingredients and amounts, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- sugar - sugar is needed to sweeten the cake, since the bulk of the cake is shredded carrots, I like to use cane sugar since it's just a bit healthier than refined white sugar
- vegetable oil - vegetable oil is what makes the carrot cake so moist, vegetable oil is flavorless so be careful if you try subbing it out for another oil
- buttermilk - another liquid needed in making the cake extra moist
- eggs - a total of 3 large eggs, eggs act as a binder in cake recipes to hold the cake together
- vanilla extract - if you can use pure vanilla extra, not the imitation extract
- all purpose flour - this recipe calls for all purpose flower which doesn't have any leavening agents in it, just plain flour
- salt - used to enhance the flavors of the cake
- baking powder - for lifting
- baking soda - also for lifting
- cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg - each of these spices gives the cake it's signature flavor
- walnuts - these can always be left out if you don't like walnuts
- carrots - fresh shredded carrots, shred your carrots using the smaller grate on your grater
Carrot Cake Questions
Carrot cake seems to have a lot of questions about baking it though. I know when I first started making it I had way too many questions.
Let's talk about a few carrot cake questions. And hopefully make your carrot cake making less stressful and ultimately figure out if this carrot cake recipe is even the right fit for you.
Why was it dry? Not enough moisture in the cake. Fixing this common issue by using vegetable oil and buttermilk.
Do I add pineapples and walnuts? This is preference but this cake is written for people who do not care for pineapple in their carrot cake. Walnuts add a nice earthy spice cake flavor and offer a bit of texture to the cake. They can be omitted.
How much spice should go in? Getting the spices right is so imporant! Too much spice can be overpowering. You want just the right amount so you can still taste carrots. I've found that 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon each of ginger and nutmeg is the perfect combination.
Should I use butter in my batter? Butter is not great for a moist carrot cake, in my experience using butter makes the cake dense.
Oil? Milk? Why one over the other? Through many years of trial and error, oil is the clear winner. Vegetable oil is the best one to use because it doesn't have a flavor to it, like olive oil or avocado oil do. You can definitely use another oil (I haven't test with anything but vegetable oil) but know that the flavor of the cake may change.
How do you get all that moisture without pineapple?
Oil and buttermilk.
This recipe has no butter in it, solely oil and buttermilk.
Because it's a spice cake you can't taste the oil and it gives you a super moist cake. Just regular vegetable oil.
Also the carrots hold moisture in them. Make sure not to squeeze the liquid out of the carrots.
What temperature should you bake carrot cake at?
I find that carrot cake bakes best at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. This also gives the cake a relatively flat top, instead of a big domed one. This flat top makes it easier to stack the cake layers.
It takes 30-35 minutes and since every oven is a little different you definitely want to use the toothpick method to check for doneness, starting at 30 minutes.
If the toothpick comes out clean (when inserted in the middle), the cake is done baking.
Adding cold ingredients brings down the temperature of your batter. Try using room temperature ingredients to keep it your cake baking evenly.
How do you get a flat cake without the rounded top?
Baking the cake at 325 degrees will help you get flat cake tops. This lower temperature allows the cake to rise slowly.
If you really want them to be super flat on top you can buy cake pan strips that go around the pans.
If it's a little rounded on top you could cut a little off or just leave it and even it out when you frost the carrot cake.
Secrets to amazing cream cheese frosting
This is by far the best cream cheese frosting. You can taste all that cream cheese (vs the powdered sugar).
- Room temperature butter and cream cheese.
- Vanilla, salt, heavy cream - you need these, don't leave them out, they add extra flavor to the cream cheese frosting.
- Whip the butter on high speed (scraping the sides every minute) for 5 minutes to get it light and fluffy. It should be a pale color. This is a super important step, if it's not pale and fluffy looking, keep going.
- Sift the powdered sugar! No lumps.
- Only frost a cool cake, if it's too warm it will melt.
FAQ
Standard 9 inch cake pans. Alternatively you can use 6 inch cake pans for a very, very tall cake. But if you use a 6 inch pan you will have to adjust the baking time.
If you follow the recipe this cake should not turn out dry. By subbing out the oil you risk the chance of a dry cake.
It hasn't been tested with gluten free flour so I would not be able to advise whether or not that substitution would yield a positive result.
Yes! Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
Carrot cake doesn't rise the way other cakes do. It's a dense cake and doesn't rise very much.
Best Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting (No Pineapple)
This homemade carrot cake is the best carrot cake you will ever try. Full of shredded carrots, walnuts and spices! This carrot cake is made without pineapple. It always receives rave reviews for how moist the cake is and the perfect ratio of carrot cake to cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c cane sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 c buttermilk
- 1 c vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ c all purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ c walnuts, chopped
- 3 c finely grated carrots (this is about 5 medium sized carrots and about 9-10 oz total)
cream cheese frosting
- 1 c butter
- 2 sticks of cream cheese, (16 ounces total)
- 4 c powdered sugar, sifted
- pinch of kosher salt
- ½ tsp vanilla
- splash of heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- In a stand mixer beat the sugar and eggs on medium speed for 1 minute, until thickened. Mix in the buttermilk and vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, drizzle in the oil.
- In a separate bowl sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and baking powder then add in the walnuts. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, all at once and mix on low speed until almost combined. Mix in the carrots.
- Prepare two 8" cake pans, lightly spray with cooking spray and place a round parchment paper in the bottom.
- Fill each pan with an even amount of batter.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool, when the pan is no longer hot remove the cake and continue cooling on the wire rack for 2 hours (or until the cake is completely cooled*).
- In a bowl beat the butter for 5 minutes until light and fluffy, stir in the cream cheese and vanilla extract. Sift in the powdered sugar and splash of heavy cream (about 1 tbsp), stir until combined
- At this point you have to decide if you'd like just a normal two layer cake or if you'd like extra layers. It's imperative for the cake to be cool (refrigerating helps) before cutting it. Use a sharp knife to cut each cake in half leaving you with 4 layers.
- Place your first cake layer on a cake plate, frost the top of it, stack another layer on and repeat until all four layers are stacked (or two if you opted for only two layers). Frost the rest of the cake.
- Optionally, decorate the outside of the cake with chopped walnuts.
Notes
- To make a round piece of parchment paper, set the cake pan on a piece of parchment paper, trace around it and cut it out.
- It's important to wait for the carrot cake to be totally cool (not warm at all) before cutting your layers, assembling and adding the cream cheese frosting.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 623Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 407mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 2gSugar: 57gProtein: 5g
This information comes from online calculators. Although moderncrumb.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Lorraine
I know the eggs should be room temperature, does the buttermilk need to be too?
Tara Moore
I never do and haven't had a problem.
Shazza
Best carrot cake ever! The cake bakes moist and the frosting is so creamy! Follow the directions to a T, and you will not be in Heaven. Carrot cake lovers run don’t walk to make this recipe!
Tara Moore
Thank you Shazza! So glad you loved it!
Sammy
would I have to make any adjustment besides time if I want to make. 6”, 3 layer cake? I bought the pans and really want to use them. Looks delicious.
Tara Moore
Hi Sammy, sorry for the late reply - hopefully you were able to get it all figured out. But yes, you would adjust the bake time, just check with a toothpick for doneness.
P. Pease
I wish to bake my carrot cake in an 11X9 cake pan. Time and temp please.
Tara Moore
Hi, I wouldn't be able to advise on this size of cake pan as the recipe is written for two 9" cake pans. The temperature will remain the same though.
Jan
did you make it in a flat pan? I'm being lazy and want to just make it in a flat pan.
Kelly S.
This has got to be the best Carrot Cake recipe I've found without Pineapple. I can't get over how moist the cake is! It doesn't even need frosting, but it was for my husband, so I had to put the frosting on, which we also thought was awesome!
Tara Moore
Thank you Kelly!
Leah
Lookiing at the ingredients, I don't see the amount of oil or buttermulilk. I do not see those in in the list. How much of each do we use? Thanks
Tara Moore
Hi Leah, the ingredients and amounts are listed in the 'recipe card', as well as the instructions.
Barbara Jane
This is the most delicious moist carrot cake I have ever eaten. You won't be disappointed making this one!