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Perfect Carrot Cake

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This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you'll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make!

This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you'll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make! | EverydayMadeFresh.com

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Last month my sister-n-law and I decided that it would be great if our family spent more time together. We live within 20 minutes of each other, and only see each other on holidays.

We are too close in proximity to be seeing each other only a few times a year. So we talked about getting together once a month and doing dinner.

Our first get-to-together just so happened to be to celebrate my mother-n-law's birthday. 

I found out that her favorite cake was carrot cake, so I set out a search online for carrot cake.

Y'all know, because I've mentioned it before, I'm not a baker. I love to bake, but most things don't turn out to perfection. And with my OCD, I really strive for perfection.  Anyways.  

I'm just a home cook who turned a passion into a full-time career. I hope that over time my baking skills end up being above average.  

This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you'll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make! | EverydayMadeFresh.com

After searching high and low all over for a carrot cake recipe that I felt like would be perfection.

There are no less than a hundred or so recipes. Just type in carrot cake on Pinterest and see what comes back.

No, really, head over and type it in. I'll wait..........

See my job wasn't easy, and that was just Pinterest alone. I also did a Google search, just because.

How did I choose the one I did? The answer is easy really, I didn't choose just one. I chose a few and mixed them together. Thankfully it turned out. A lot of times mixing together several recipes doesn't yield great results.

This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you'll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make! | EverydayMadeFresh.com

I am so glad that I did this because the family raved about it. There was only one slice left! And it may have been mentioned, from a lover of carrot cake, that this was the best that she had ever eaten! I will agree. 🙂

Although, to be honest, I have never even had carrot cake before. I know, shocker.  

This carrot cake was pretty dang awesome though.

There are so many variations on carrot cake. If you love a carrot cake that is fully loaded with ALL the stuff, here are some popular add in ideas....

pineapple - nuts - coconut - raisins

Are your cakes sticking to the pans, even after you've greased or floured? Try my favorite tips for cake baking!

Always use your cake pans as a template, and trace on to parchment paper. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then spray with non stick cooking spray, followed by flouring. OR you can line the bottom with parchment paper and spray with a non stick baking spray. This spray includes flour in it.

Tips for the perfect cake every time, no matter the recipe:

Use room temperature ingredients. Always spoon and level the flour, never place your scoop into the flour bag. Always set the timer 5 minutes earlier than the baking time states in a recipe, you never know how hot your oven actually runs, UNLESS you have an oven thermometer. Perhaps this may be the reason for over dry cakes and baked goodies.

Love carrot cake? Here are a few other recipes that I want to share with you:

Yield: 16 slices

Perfect Carrot Cake

Perfect Carrot Cake

This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 lb . carrots grated
  • 1 ½ cups plus 2 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon . vanilla
  • 3 ¼ cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon . cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon . baking soda
  • 2 teaspoon . salt
  • 1 teaspoon . baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon . ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon . ground cloves

Frosting

  • 3 cream cheese 8 oz., room temperature
  • 2 sticks butter room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon . vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon . salt
  • 6 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease and flour 3 8 inch cake pans. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugars until smooth.
  4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. Beat until smooth.
  5. In a separate bowl mix flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, slowly making sure it's fully incorporated before adding more.
  7. Once all the dry ingredients are added and fully incorporated, fold in your carrots carefully.
  8. Divide the batter among the three 8 inch cake pans, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. When the cake is done, remove the pans from the oven and place on a cooling rack until completely cooled.
  10. Remove the cake from the pans and get ready to make the frosting!

Frosting

  1. In a large bowl beat together the cream cheese and the butter until incorporated.
  2. Beat in the vanilla and salt.
  3. Slowly add the powdered sugar until you've added it all. Beat until fluffy.
  4. Frost the cakes - and enjoy your yummy creation!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 653Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 824mgCarbohydrates: 90gFiber: 2gSugar: 67gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

Share your creation and tag us @joanna_everydaymadefresh on Instagram

© Joanna
Cuisine: American / Category: All Dessert

What kitchen essentials did I use to make this dish possible?

This is the most Perfect Carrot Cake you'll ever sink your teeth into. Moist, decadent, and simple to make! | EverydayMadeFresh.com

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judi Graber

    What do you know but I posted a carrot cake recipe as well. I just love this dessert and have two recipes on my blog now. One using sourdough and this new one is just "made for two. As you mentioned there are lots of recipes to choose from and I can see why your family enjoyed your version. Thanks for coming to Fiesta Friday.

    • Joanna

      I love the idea of carrot cake for two!! That way I can't feel guilty. 😉

  2. Jess

    I love how moist your cake looks. Also, all those lovely layers. Well done and Happy Fiesta Friday!

    • Joanna

      Thanks Jess! 🙂

  3. Joy @ Joy Love Food

    Carrot cake is a favorite at my house, this version sounds wonderful, I love all the spices in it!

    • Joanna

      Thank you Joy, the spices are what totally makes this cake so yummy!

  4. The Better Baker

    I'm wild about carrot cake..this looks fantastic. Thanks much for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck
    . Pinned!!

    • Joanna

      Thanks so much!!

  5. Nicky

    This is a perfect carrot cake. I prefer a slice of this over chocolate cake any day.

    • Joanna

      Thanks Nicky! I'm a chocolate gal myself, however this was amazing, and I wouldn't be upset if a party had this instead of chocolate. 🙂

  6. Alecia @ CSNY

    I love eating a giant piece of moist & sweet carrot cake and then pretending I had vegetables. I also know what you mean about trying to find a recipe that doesn't require a doctorate in physics, biology and chemistry!

    • Joanna

      Yes, me too Alecia!!

  7. Julie at Hostess At Heart

    What a beautiful cake. I'd say you are a great baker! I live close to my sister in law too, and we don't see each other much either. I need to try harder!

    • Joanna

      Awe, thank you Julie! 🙂 I hope that you and your sister-n-law get to see each other more!

  8. Katerina

    I am a total sucker for carrot cakes! This one looks absolutely indulging!

    • Joanna

      Thanks Katerina!

  9. Danielle

    We love carrot cake! I have yet to find a recipe that suits our tastebuds just right. This looks perfect, I'll have to give it a try!!

    • Joanna

      Danille, I hope this is the one! 🙂 If you try it out, let me know what you and your family think!

  10. KC Kahn

    You've outdone yourself for baking this the first time. Were you astonished at the wonderful flavor and luscious flavor of carrot cake. Hard to believe you've not tried it before. As for me I take a little cake with my cream cheese frosting. It's addicting!

    • Joanna

      Thank you. 🙂 I have always been a chocolate girl, and as I've said here before, I was a super picky kid/teenager/young adult; I figured that carrots in cake wouldn't be tasty. Boy was I wrong! 🙂 That frosting, as you said, is very addicting!

  11. Julie S

    yea that looks amazing. Pinning this.

    • Joanna

      Thanks Julie!

  12. Michelle Marine

    Your carrot cake looks delicious! I'm not much of a baker myself, my daughter loves to bake! 🙂

    • Joanna

      Thank you Michelle!

  13. Debbie

    You have my mouth watering! Thanks for the recipe.

    • Joanna

      Thanks so much Debbie!

  14. Sarah

    Oh dear. I need this in my life NOW. Carrot cake is a fav here...YUM!! Thanks for sharing!! 😀

    • Joanna

      You gotta make this one Sarah! It will make you SO happy! 🙂

  15. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    Yum! It's been years since I had carrot cake. This looks so moist and delicious. Your pictures are beautiful, they make my mouth water.

    • Joanna

      Linda, you gotta make this! 😉

    • Joanna

      Thank you!! 🙂

  17. Angela / Only Crumbs Remain

    Yum, this looks delicious! I love carrot cake bu so many include walnuts, this, for me, is perfect.
    Angela x

    • Joanna

      Thanks Angela! That is one of the best parts - nut free - since my daughter is allergic to tree nuts, she gets to enjoy this one! 🙂

  18. Maria

    Ok I'm with you on this one. I like recipes that require no fuss as well, and this one is no exception. My mom loves carrot cake, so I'll definitely giving this a try for mother's day. Thanks for sharing this with us on #shinebloghop! Always such a pleasure having you join us, Joanna!

    • Joanna

      Maria, I hope she loves it as much as my family does! 🙂

  19. Audrey

    My Kryptonite! I adore carrot cake and will have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays. I hope you will join us again.

    • Joanna

      Please let us know what you think! 🙂

  20. Anita

    This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing at Freedom Fridays.

    • Joanna

      Thanks Anita!

  21. Ashleigh

    I feel like I'm making a huge mistake by looking at this right now, so I'm going to pin it for later. I just want to eat it through the computer screen! 🙂

    • Joanna

      🙂 I will take that as a compliment! Thanks Ashleigh. 🙂 Tastovision would be awesome!

  22. Quinn Caudill

    Awesome looking carrot for two. Pinned and shared. Happy FF!

  23. nadia@maisontravers

    I am a huge carrot cake fan and try every recipe I come across, Hopefully, this will be the perfect one. Looks like it might be.

    • Joanna

      That's awesome Nadia! Please come back and let us know what you think!

  24. Mandy

    Can't believe you'd never eaten carrot cake! This looks great. #CookBlogShare

    • Joanna

      I know, but I was a super picky child/teen/and young adult. 😉

  25. Christine at Must Love Home

    Your carrot cake really looks delicious! And cream cheese frosting...YUM! I pinned this recipe to my board!! I would love for you to share this with us at Friday Favorites at mustlovehome.com. Have a super weekend! Christine at Must Love Home.

    • Joanna

      Thank you so much Christine! 🙂

  26. Julianna

    Yum, there is nothing better than a perfect piece of carrot cake! Gorgeous!

    • Joanna

      Thank you! 🙂

  27. Frugal Hausfrau

    Carrot cake has always been one of my faves and this is incredible! I'd say this is a classic recipe for sure. I think you are now, officially, a baker, lol!

    Thanks for bringing this to Fiesta Friday!

    Mollie

    • Joanna

      Thank you for the kind words Mollie. 🙂

  28. Karly

    This cake looks fantastic! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!

    • Joanna

      Thanks Karly!

  29. Dee

    I've been looking for a better carrot cake recipe, so this is exactly what I need. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!

    • Joanna

      Thanks Dee! Enjoy this one!

  30. Scarlett

    I seriously worry that if I made this I would the ENTIRE cake by myself. I am crazy about carrot cake. The next time I make it, I'm definitely going to try out your recipe. Thanks again for sharing at FF #117!

    • Joanna

      Luckily, I took this cake to a birthday party! 😉 If it had been in my house, I won't lie, I would have eaten it all!

  31. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

    This looks great! I think anything with cream cheese is good. Thanks for linking up with Funtastic Friday.

    • Joanna

      Thanks Victoria! And I completely agree about the cream cheese. 🙂

  32. Jeanne Grunert

    A good carrot cake recipe is a treasure. We love carrot cake here. Thanks for sharing it! #HomeMattersParty

    • Joanna

      I hope you get to try ours out Jeanne! Enjoy!

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