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The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

This carrot cake recipe is moist, flavorful, and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1.5 cups butter room temperature
  • 1.75 cups brown sugar light or dark
  • 5 eggs whisked
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 orange zest from 1 medium orange
  • 3.33 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1.25 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1.5 cups milk room temperature
  • 6 oz grated carrots about 3 large
Frosting
  • 12 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 6 oz butter room temperature
  • 6.25 cups confectioner's sugar
Optional
  • Caramel Sauce optional
  • chopped walnuts optional

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare pans.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients.
  3. Lightly beat eggs and vanilla.
  4. Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
  5. Add eggs and orange zest to butter mixture.
  6. Alternate dry ingredients and milk.
  7. Add carrots to batter.
  8. Divide batter into pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.
  9. Cool cake layers completely.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use dark brown sugar.