Always a favorite, carrot cake is surprisingly easy to make. Use fresh ingredients to help keep your cake moist. The cream cheese frosting is a family favorite!
Best Carrot Cake
Ingredients
for 10 servings
-
3 cups carrots, hand-grated -
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon, divided -
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon -
¼ teaspoon allspice -
1 teaspoon kosher salt -
1 teaspoon baking powder -
½ teaspoon baking soda -
1 cup light brown sugar, packed -
½ cup granulated sugar - 3 large eggs, room temperature
-
1 cup vegetable oil -
1 cup raisins -
1 cup crushed pineapple. Canned is fine
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Grease 3 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
- Grate the carrots on the small holes of a box grater. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift together 2½ cups (310 G) of flour, the cinnamon, allspice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and eggs together with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until just combined.
- With the mixer running, gradually pour in the vegetable oil.
- With the mixer on medium-low speed, add ⅓ of the flour mixture at a time to the wet ingredients. Beat just to incorporate. Stop mixing when there is just a small amount of flour visible.
- In a small bowl, toss the raisins with the remaining tablespoon of flour.
- Add the raisin, grated carrots, and pineapple to the batter and fold to incorporate with a rubber spatula.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a fork inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes on a wire rack until the pans are cool to the touch. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely on the rack.
- Make the icing: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer on medium-low speed. Once combined, mix on medium-high speed for 30 seconds, until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, ½ cup (60 G) at a time, beating on medium-low speed to incorporate each addition.
- Assemble the cake: Check to see if the top of each cake is flat. If not, use a serrated knife level off the cakes.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter or cake stand. Spoon ¼ of the icing on top and spread in an even layer. Add another layer of cake and spread with another ¼ of the icing. Set the last cake layer on top with the bottom up to ensure a very flat surface. Spread the rest of the icing over the top and sides.
- Gently press the walnuts into the icing around the sides of the cake.
- Chill for 30-60 minutes to let the icing set, then slice and serve.
