This really is the best Carrot Cake Recipe.
This extra moist carrot cake has a tender moist crumb and is jam-packed with add-ins including pineapple, nuts, and raisins if you’d like! It’s all topped off with our favorite cream cheese frosting.
Incredibly moist, this homemade cake is the dessert I am known for and one of my most requested. There is so much to love about this easy, from-scratch recipe!
A Classic Cake Recipe
This is a cake I’ve been making for about 25 years now and it’s one I’m known for. I’ve made it literally a hundred times (and I think most of the times are for my friend Billy who loves this cake more than anyone else)! I love that it’s made in a single pan, fiddling with cake layers.
- This carrot cake recipe is extra moist and incredibly flavorful.
- It is fully loaded with add ins from nuts and pineapple and is perfect every time.
- Rather than making layers, we love that this easy carrot cake recipe is baked 9×13 inch pan. No layering required.
- This cake is so good and so moist, that frosting isn’t needed and it can be sprinkled with powdered sugar. That being said, we all know that carrot cake deserves a good homemade Cream Cheese Frosting.
- Once baked, this cake freezes well (even with the frosting).
Ingredients & Variations
DRY INGREDIENTS All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and some warm spices like cinnamon and ginger are the base. Add a tiny pinch of nutmeg if you’d like.
WET INGREDIENTS Eggs, applesauce, oil, buttermilk, and sugar are combined and make this extra moist and decadent. Use a light flavored oil like vegetable or canola oil.
Use unsweetened applesauce for this recipe. No buttermilk? No problem, simply add 1 tbsp of vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let sit for a few minutes. The remaining 1/4 cup will keep for another recipe.
ADD-INS Crushed walnuts (or pecans), coconut, raisins, and a can of pineapple are what set it apart from other carrot cake recipes in both flavor and texture.
Making a cake with crushed pineapple makes it incredibly moist, just like this Hummingbird Cake which calls for pineapple and banana.
VARIATIONS Don’t feel like making a cream cheese frosting? This cake is also amazing when it is topped with whipped cream. This cake would also work well as cupcakes, like these Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
How to Make Carrot Cake
Have a dessert ready that they will all love.
- In separate bowls, combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- Stir dry into wet ingredients in a large bowl just until combined. Fold in the add-ins.
- Pour the prepared batter into the prepared pan and bake (per the recipe below).
Let the cake fully cool then top with cream cheese frosting, or your favorite frosting recipe!
Easy Decorating Tip
Remove a few tablespoons of the cream cheese frosting and color a little bit of it orange and a little bit of it green. Place in sandwich bag and snip off the corner to pipe little carrots on the cake.
Tips for Moist Easy Cake
- Grate carrots using the larger holes on a cheese grater, or with the shredding option of a food processor.
- Ensure ingredients are at room temperature.
- While a lot of carrot cakes are made in layers, this cake is easier because it is baked in just one layer. Line your pan with parchment paper if you’d like to lift the cake out to slice.
- No need to pull out the stand mixer, this cake is so simple that I use a spoon or rubber spatula and a bowl.
- This cake is deliciously rich cake and very moist, so store it, covered in plastic wrap or in an air tight container, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It tastes best if you bring it to room temperature before serving.
- Keep in mind that this freezes well, in case you want to bake it now and enjoy it later!
More Great Cake Recipes
- Tres Leches Cake – Easy and delicious!
- Easy Apple Cake Recipe – with a cream cheese filling
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – So moist!
- Zucchini Cake – Family favorite!
- Simple Chocolate Cake – Simple & decadent
Did you enjoy this Carrot Cake? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
The Best Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup soured milk* or buttermilk
- ½ cup apple sauce
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups grated carrots
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup flaked coconut optional
- 8 oz canned crushed pineapple well drained
- Cream Cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9×13 pan or glass baking dish, set aside.
- Combine flour, baking soda, powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt with a whisk. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, buttermilk, applesauce, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture just until mixed. Add carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins and mix until combined.
- Pour into the prepared pan for 50-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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I’m making this cake today, but family doesn’t like raisins and walnuts in it, will it work without? Thank you!
You can leave the raisins and nuts out, or add extra coconut if you prefer. Enjoy Tammy
best carrot cake ever!!! Thanks for sharing. I put them in cupcake tins and baked for 30 min. amazing!!!
I’m so excited to use this recipe! quick question, can I make it into cupcakes and if so will that change the temp or time to bake them? thank you so much
This cake should work as cupcakes. The cooking time will need to be reduced, I would check them at about 18-20 minutes and ensure a toothpick comes out clean.
Do you have a recipe for the cream cheese frosting?
I use this cream cheese frosting recipe.
Could I substitute the applesauce for more crushed pineapple? My family loves pineapple in carrot cake. Thanks!
I have only made this recipe as written Sarah so I can’t say for sure. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
your recipe looks amazing. but 8oz drained pineapple, is that 1 cup of drained pineapple?
Hi Donna, this recipe calls for an 8 oz can of crushed pineapple before it’s drained. Once drained it is approximately 2/3 cup. I hope this helps!
I made this cake for my neighbors birthday. OMG the cake was moist and tasted so good.
Great cake we love it.
I went at 335 temp the cake was more moist.
Thank you
I’m planning to make this, and I’m wondering if I can swap out the raisins for dried apricots?
That would work just fine!
Can these be made into cupcakes?
Sure it can!
Made this a couple days ago & it was perfect!
I made some substitutions tho:
Used macadamia nuts instead of walnuts
Used cinnamon apple sauce and cut back on the dry cinnamon
Used a can of mandarin oranges drained and crushed up instead of pineapple.
It was a hit!
Which cooking oil is optimal in this recipe? Sunflower would be my first thought but any other suggestions? Thanks!
I use a vegetable oil. Sunflower oil should work although it does have a slightly different flavor.
The best cake I’ve ever made. Didn’t use the coconut and used lemon juice and zest in frosting.
Truly is the best carrot cake! I made as written but didn’t include the coconut. I froze half the cake so am anxious to see how that works. I will have this recipe ready for the next special occasion. I’m sure my guests will think it’s from a bakery! Thanks!
Amazing!
This is the best! Made it for Easter. Exactly the way I think carrot cake should taste – packed full of nuts, raisins, coconut, pineapple, etc. outstanding!
I was wondering if you ever post recipes using almond flour? Also any other low carb recipes?
Hi Elaine, we do post recipes with almond flour on occasion, you can search low carb on our site for some examples. We do love these low-carb recipes from easylowcarb.com as well! You might enjoy checking those out.
I made your carrot cake the other day and it was awesome! I’m just wondering if I drained the can of pineapple correctly. What is the best way to do this? Thank you!
So glad you loved it! I usually open the can and lightly hold the lid over to drain most of the liquid and then I gently squeeze or press the pineapple to remove a little bit more in a small mesh strainer.