This cake recipe is the best Carrot Cake I have made. It is a moist cake full of shredded carrots, raisins, and walnuts and the cream cheese frosting smothers the layers of cake with its sweet creamy goodness.
This classic carrot cake is the best carrot cake to make for birthdays, potlucks, baby showers, and special occasions. It serves a large family with extras for leftovers.
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❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
✔️ It makes the best carrot cake for special occasions with 16 generous servings!
✔️ This moist carrot cake is chock full of raisins and walnuts.
✔️ This cake is not as spicy as the original recipe and is spiced with just a hint of cinnamon.
🥘 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare (3) 9 inch round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Using an electric hand mixer at medium-high speed, or KitchenAid with a paddle attachment, mix together the canola oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Stir in the carrots, walnuts, and raisins.
- Distribute the cake batter evenly between the 3 baking pans.
- Bake for 40 minutes, or until cake bounces back when lightly touched on the top or a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Turn the cake out of the cake pans and return the cake to the wire rack, allowing it to cool completely.
For the frosting
- Mix cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl using a hand mixer at medium speed until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until creamy and completely combined.
- Frost the cake layers, then frost the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with chopped walnuts (if using).
🙋 Recipe FAQ's
While you can do this, you will not get the same results. The texture and moisture of the cake will change (it will be more dry and dense). Oil give a produces a moister cake with a lighter texture.
It is likely the cake was underbaked.
The age old toothpick test. Stick a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it is done. If it comes out with crumb, it needs to bake longer.
💭 Tips
- Shred the carrots with the smallest holes of a box cheese grater or in a food processor with the shredding blade.
- Bake the carrot cake in a 9x13 cake pan and extend the baking time to 45 minutes, or until it passes the bake test.
- To reduce the amount of oil, replace ¾ cup of the oil with ¾ cup of unsweetened applesauce.
📖 Variations
- Swap the dark raisins for golden raisins or dried cranberries.
- Leave out the raisins and stir in 1 cup of well drained crushed pineapple
- Replace 1 cup of the granulated sugar with 1 cup of light or dark brown sugar.
🍽 Equipment
Serving Suggestions
This this easy carrot cake recipe can be served with a scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream or a cup of hot coffee.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Related Recipes
Diabetic Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe
Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Asian Carrot Salad - Virtual Supper Club
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Best Carrot Cake
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Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 cups flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ cups olive oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup raisins
For the frosting
- 16 ounces ⅓ less fat cream cheese , softened
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 16 ounces confectioners' sugar
- 1½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare (3) 9 inch round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Using an electric hand mixer at medium-high speed, or KitchenAid with a paddle attachment, mix together the canola oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Stir in the carrots, walnuts, and raisins. Distribute the cake batter evenly between the 3 baking pans. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake out of the cake pans and return the cake to the wire rack, allowing it to cool completely.
For the frosting
- Mix cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl using a hand mixer at medium speed until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until creamy and completely combined.
- Frost the cake layers, then frost the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with chopped walnuts (if using).
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads
This looks like a perfect carrot cake!! Just delicious!!
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty]
Wow, that looks so moist & delicious!
Sara Glover
Oh this sounds so good! Thanks for sharing!
Christie Daruwalla
Oh no! What a shame. So glad it all worked out in the end. I am sure this cake was a great way to end the night.
Stephanie Daigneault
Thank you SO much for posting this! My dad made the best carrot cake and when he passed 10 years ago we could not find it written anywhere. This looks very, very similar. It was really THE BEST!
anyonita green
This carrot cake looks downright GORGEOUS! Carrot cake is my absolute favorite but I've never tried making one myself, but there's no way I can resist this one! 🙂 Beautiful!
Mary Ellen
Hi Shelby, I would of done the same thing I think. I can only imagine the panic you felt when that dish broke! The carrot cake looks fantastic!
Jenne
I love carrot cake! I need to really try this one at home.
Mama.Mommy.Mom.
My daughter (who is 7) will pass up any other dessert for a slice of carrot cake! She would be SO happy if I made this for her.
Nicky Omohundro
Carrot Cake is one of my favorite cakes. Slightly healthier than other cakes, it's moist and delicious. This recipe looks quite tasty. I hope Grumpy enjoyed his birthday.
~~louise~~
I really don't know why I haven't commented before Shelby. You have such an inviting blog. I guess I should tell you that I just checked to see if I had the ingredients to bake up a Carrot Cake today too, lol...It happens to be snowing again and Carrot Cake is sounding mighty good after reading your post! Thank you!
~~louise~~
Hi Shelby,
I have been a lurker on your blog for quite a while now but today I feel compelled to comment after reading your lasagna story. It sounds like you just picked up the pieces and started again, Kudos to you! I'm not sure I would have had the patience. "Grumpy" was so sweet to encourage you not to worry about it too:) Lasagna is no easy meal to prepare especially twice!
The carrot cake looks awesome! I'm sure it was heavenly and enjoyed by all. Thank you so much for sharing your mishap with us and the final delicious looking meal. Louise
P.s. I just happen have a Carrot Cake Pinterest board so, I will be pinning your yummy looking cake:)
honeyb
Hi Louise, thank you so much for leaving a comment to let me know you had read my post. It means a lot when someone does that - especially when they have been a "lurker" as you state. I'm happy to have compelled you to let me know you were here! Thank you for pinning!