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Best Ever Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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This moist and flavorful carrot cake, topped with a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting, is perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Mix-Ins
  • 3 carrots – grated
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup crushed pecans
For the Frosting
  • 4 oz cream cheese – softened
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (4 tbsp softened)
  • 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp heavy cream or milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×5 loaf pan: spray it with non-stick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper for easy release.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
  3. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and granulated sugar until blended. Stir in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract, mixing until the oil is fully integrated.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
  5. Using a spatula, gently fold in the grated carrots, raisins, and crushed pecans until evenly distributed.
Baking
  1. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  2. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Frosting
  1. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream (or milk), and vanilla extract in a mixer until smooth. If you prefer a thinner icing, add a bit more cream or milk.
  2. Frost the cooled carrot cake, and if you like, sprinkle some extra pecans on top. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 250mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30g

Notes

Use freshly grated carrots for better moisture and flavor. Mixing the ingredients separately helps to avoid overmixing. For creative twists, consider experimenting with add-ins such as coconut flakes, crushed pineapple, or a splash of orange juice.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!