Name: Spiced Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups all purpose flour*; 1⅔ cups granulated sugar; 2½ teaspoons baking powder; 2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg; 1 teaspoon ground cloves; ⅔ teaspoon ground ginger; ⅞ teaspoon salt; 1⅞ cups vegetable oil; 5 large eggs (room temperature); 3¾ cups grated carrots; 1 cup heavy cream (cold); 1 cup cream cheese (cubed); ⅛ teaspoon salt; 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Embracing springtime with this delicious Spiced Carrot Cake! This moist, tender cake features cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, and plenty of shredded carrots. Finish with a rich cream cheese frosting to balance the spices perfectly. It’s easy to make and always delicious!

cut carrot cake on marble cake stand with yellow flowers and eucalyptus stems on top, with glasses behind, white flower around, a white cheese cloth beside, and a plate with yellow flowers in front.

My mom’s classic carrot cake is perfect for Easter! This crowd-pleasing recipe was her most popular order when she owned her catering business. It’s incredibly moist with a delicious blend of spices. The oil-based recipe makes it super easy, and the no-fail cream cheese frosting adds the perfect creamy tang.

While we have shared other carrot cake treats on the blog, like our Carrot Cake Cupcakes and Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies, nothing compares to this classic! You definitely need to try it for any and every occasion!

angled shot of frosted cake with flowers on top on marble cake stand with glasses around and more flowers on marble surface.

cropped close up of cut carrot cake on marble cake plate with yellow roses and eucalyptus stems on top.

What is Carrot Cake?

If you’ve never had carrot cake, you’re in for a treat! It’s a favorite and a classic for so many reasons. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Think of carrot cake like a super moist spice cake with a fun twist! The shredded carrots add a delightful sweetness and a slightly chewy texture. Those classic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are in full force, but the carrot flavor is subtle. And of course, you can’t forget the luscious cream cheese frosting – that tangy sweetness is the perfect finishing touch! If you’re worried about a strong veggie taste, don’t be – the carrot blends seamlessly with the other flavors.

See What One of Our Readers Had To Say:

Hi. I made this cake for Easter. I liked it. The frosting was good but I prefer double the amount of frosting with cream cheese frosting so I would probably double the recipe next time. Thank you for the cake recipe. I was glad I got to try a recipe off your website!

Shannan

close up of carrot cake with slice missing on marble cake stand with yellow flowers and eucalyptus in stems, with two more yellow flowers in front on white plate.

Here’s How To Make This Carrot Cake

Overall, this is actually a really simple cake to make but let’s walk through it together to ensure you have the perfect carrot cake! First, let’s gather the ingredients for the cake. This is what you will need:

All-Purpose Flour – The base of the cake, providing structure and a neutral backdrop for the other flavors.
Granulated Sugar – Adds essential sweetness and contributes to the cake’s tender texture.
Baking Powder – This leavening agent produces carbon dioxide bubbles, which helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
Ground Spices – The classic “warm” spice blend that gives carrot cake its distinctive flavor profile. Cinnamon is the star, while the others add depth and complexity.
Salt – Enhances and balances out all the flavors.
Vegetable oil – Keeps the cake moist and adds richness.
Eggs – Provide structure, contribute to the rise, and add richness and tenderness to the cake.
Grated Carrots– The star ingredient! They provide sweetness, moisture, and a unique texture.

ingredients for carrot cake with text overlay.

First, we are going to make the cake batter. So, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt. Set aside. Now, in a separate bowl, whisk the oil and eggs together.

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients. Mix until well combined. Fold in carrots.

carrots mixed into cake batter in glass bowl.

See how easy that was? Now all we need to do is bake! Divide the batter evenly among 3 eight inch pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until done. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto cooling rack to finish cooling.

baked carrot cake in three round cake pans.

three baked carrot cake layers on wire cooling rack.

Our Best Cream Cheese Frosting (It Never Fails!)

Whether you’re a new baker or someone who’s been in the kitchen for years, I feel like we ALL have had issues with cream cheese frosting in one way or another. For us, whenever we build a cake when it’s even remotely warm, the cream cheese frosting decides…”hey, imma just melt off this cake. Cool? Cool.” Which, let’s be real, is not ideal. So, my mom developed this amazing no-fail cream cheese frosting! It’s got a secret ingredient that ensures the perfect cream cheese frosting every time.

So, what is it? Well, it’s actually just heavy whipping cream! It helps stabilize the frosting without a whole lot of effort. Let’s get into the other ingredients you need to make this frosting.

Cream Cheese – The star ingredient that provides the base flavor and creamy texture. The tanginess of cream cheese cuts through the sweetness and adds an irresistible complexity to the frosting.
Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the frosting and helps it thicken. Because powdered sugar is so fine, it dissolves easily into the cream cheese mixture, preventing a gritty texture.
Vanilla Extract – Adds depth of flavor and complements the richness of the cream cheese. It rounds out the sweetness and elevates the overall flavor profile of the frosting.
Salt – Enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients, making the sweetness taste more balanced and the cream cheese tanginess even more delicious. It adds a subtle complexity that elevates the frosting from good to great.

ingredients for cream cheese frosting with text overlay.

With everything together, we can make the frosting. Beat the heavy cream to stiff peaks (more info about peaks in our Chantilly Cream post!). With the mixer running, add cream cheese one cube at a time. It should look very thick and yellow.

Now, mix in powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.

Building & Frosting Your Cake

Building a cake can be one of the most intimidating parts when it comes to baking a layer cake. Thankfully, we have simplified the process as much as possible and provided step-by-step photos to help you achieve the perfect cake!

Place one cake layer on a cake plate and spread with a layer of frosting. Repeat with second layer. Add third layer.

cream cheese frosting spread across top of cake layer.

three layers of cake with cream cheese frosting between on marble cake stand.

Place the remaining frosting in a piping bag and pipe vertical lines all along the sides cake. Pipe some on top. Then, with an offset spatula, smooth the sides first and then the top. Boom! Your cake is ready to decorate.

Let’s Talk Decorating Ideas

This cake is the perfect treat for Spring/Easter or really any occasion! Here are a few of our favorite ways to decorate this oh-so delicious cake.

Candy Melt Drips – Once the cake is assembled, you can use any color of melted candy melts (I would recommend using white, orange, or even green candy melts!) to create drips from the top of the cake. To do this, all you need to do is place the melted candy in a piping bag or spoon some onto the top edges of cake. If using a spoon, gently push the melted candy to the edge of the cake to allow it to drip. If using a piping bag, hold the piping bag to the edge of the cake and apply light pressure.
Edible Flowers – Edible flowers add a perfect pop of Spring/Summer color. Though, if you decide to use roses, be sure to wrap the stems in plastic wrap and wash any petals that may touch the cake. Remember to discard the flowers before serving.
Gold Leaf and/or Gold Dust – Adds a touch of elegance!
Fondant – You can make your own fondant or use store-bought fondant to create decorative elements for this cake! Making your own flowers/roses is always one of my favorite things to do.
Sprinkles – Seasonal sprinkles could add a cute seasonal element to this cake!
Extra Frosting – If you have any leftovers or want to make extra frosting, you can color it orange and green to to pipe cute little carrots on the exterior of the cake.

cake on marble surface with yellow roses, chrysanthemums, and eucalyptus stems on top with more flowers around, empty glasses behind, and a glass of milk.

✳ Carrot Cake FAQ’s

Yes, you can definitely omit a spice from the recipe if you don’t like it. Feel free to adjust the spice blend to suit your personal taste preferences.

Absolutely! You can add nuts or raisins to the recipe to add extra texture and flavor if you like. It’s a great way to customize the cake to your preferences.

Making the cake ahead of time not only allows for convenience in meal planning for an event, but it also enhances the flavor. The spices in the cake intensify as it sits, resulting in a richer and more developed flavor profile the following day. This makes it a fantastic choice for preparing in advance and enjoying the improved taste when serving.

You can use store-bought shredded carrots.
To make this recipe dairy-free, use your favorite dairy free cream cheese and plant-based heavy whipping cream.
You can use a pre-mixed spice blend, if you do not have the individual spices.

If there’s any leftover cake, you can store it in a covered cake plate for 1-2 days at room temperature. However, the best way to store this cake is in a covered cake plate and in the fridge for 5-6 days, as it’s very moist!

If needed, you can also freeze this cake. You can either freeze the individual layers before assembly or you can freeze individual slices of this cake for up to 2 months.

More Cake Recipes You May Like:

Chocolate Malt Robins Egg Cake with Malted Vanilla Buttercream

Coconut Cake with Coconut Pastry Cream Filling and Vanilla Buttercream

The Best Banana Cake Recipe with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Strawberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Frosting

Pistachio Sheet Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

front shot of cut carrot cake on marble cake stand with yellow roses, yellow chrysanthemum, and eucalyptus on top with more flowers around, a white plate in front, a cheesecloth beside, a glass of milk behind, with empty glasses.

Let’s Be Friends ♡

When you make this Spiced Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

Happy baking!
x, Caylie

– Still Hungry? –

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cropped overhead image of carrot sheet cake with square slice cut away.

Did you try this recipe?

Let us know in the comments!

4 Comments

Carrie says:

September 22, 2023 at 11:19 pm

Can you just use a one regular cake pan, like a 9 by 10 or 8.

1. Traci says:
  
  September 24, 2023 at 4:36 pm
  
  Hi Carrie! You can try it in a 9″x13″ pan. You will have to adjust the baking times. Let me know if you have any other questions.
  
Nowelle says:

April 15, 2023 at 11:58 pm

Hi. I made this cake for Easter. I liked it. I added raisins and walnuts which I am glad I listened to myself because I was in the mood for some substance in the cake with raisins and walnuts and that went well with the recipe that you provided. I did a square cake. I have one piece of cake left for tonight and then I will be done with it. The frosting was good but I prefer double the amount of frosting with cream cheese frosting so I would probably double the recipe next time. I overall gave it a 4/5 starts. I think your presentation picture is so very good and I bet this particular cake makes a good triple layer presentation like you presented, but I made it as a flat cake which was ok.

Happy Cooking. Thank you for the cake recipe. I was glad I got to try a recipe off your website!

Nowelle