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by Cheryl Najafi on Mar 27, 2016 24 comments »
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Practically everyone has a carrot cake recipe that they think is the best, but after just one bite of our extra moist carrot cake recipe we think you’ll reconsider!
Fresh baby carrots already peeled make preparation so much easier and faster, but if you already have a bag of carrots in the fridge that need to be trimmed and peeled, go for it! Just make sure to throw in a few extra to bring the weight back up to one pound—after all it is called carrot cake for a reason.
If you feel you need to make the layers more level, trim them but don’t let the scraps go to waste! Dry them in a warm oven, turn them into crumbs and press them into the sides of the frosted cake for a decorative touch.
Since we mentioned frosting, ours really ‘takes the cake.’ Rich and plentiful, it presents an extra smooth finish because the powdered sugar has been sifted into the mixture. It’s just another reason why our recipe makes an exceptional moist carrot cake that’s bound to become your favorite.
Carrot Cake Recipe Tips:
- How do we get our cake so moist?Once out of the oven, cool the layers on a rack for 10 minutes. Then invert them, remove the pans that have been lined with parchment paper, peel off the paper and place the pans back on each layer for about two hours. This seals in the moisture so you can enjoy this cake’s density without it being dry.
- Can’t get enough Carrot Cake? Give our Inside-Out Carrot Cake Muffins a try!
Moist Carrot Cake Recipe
Prep Time: 25 minutes mins
Cook Time: 55 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Our moist carrot cake recipe melts in your mouth. The secret is all about what happens when it’s out of the oven—plus that extra creamy frosting.
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Ingredients
Yield: 12 servings
4.25 from 277 ratings
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carrot cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 lb packge baby carrots, finely grated
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
frosting
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature, 1½ sticks
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees then line the bottom of two 9" cake pans with parchment paper. Spray the pans and paper with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sugar, oil and eggs together until completely blended then set aside.
Add the carrots to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the carrots are very finely chopped and resemble the texture of wet sand. Then, add them to the sugar, oil and egg mixture, stirring to combine.
Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon on top of the wet ingredients and carefully fold the wet and dry ingredients until completely blended. If you’d like to add nuts or raisins, now is the time to fold them into the batter (our office voted a unanimous ‘no’).
Divide the batter evenly into the two prepared cake pans and bake 45−50 minutes—the cakes will be firm in the center and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove the cakes from the oven and cool them on a rack for about 10 minutes.
When the cakes have rested but are still quite warm, invert the layers onto a sheet of waxed paper. Remove the pan, peel the parchment paper from the bottom of the cake then replace the pan back over the cake to cover it and seal in the moisture. Leave the cakes covered until they are completely cooled (at least 2 hours).
While the cakes are cooling, get started on the cream cheese frosting. Add the softened butter and cream cheese to a medium-sized mixing bowl and cream together until completely combined and no lumps remain. Then, sift in the powdered sugar, stirring until perfectly smooth.
Add the vanilla and stir once more to combine. If the frosting’s too thick, add a few drops of milk until the consistency’s correct. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature until you are ready to frost the cake.
When the cakes are cool and the frosting has been made, remove the pans to uncover the cakes. Place the first layer on a serving plate and evenly coat the top of the cake with frosting. Place the next layer upside down on top of first layer and press gently but firmly into place. Coat the top and all sides of the cake evenly with the remainder of the frosting.
Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve then slice into big wedges and enjoy!
Author: Cheryl Najafi
Course: Dessert
Calories: 961kcal, Carbohydrates: 126g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 666mg, Potassium: 188mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 108g
Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayDishes or tag #everydaydishes!
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originally published on Mar 27, 2016 (last updated Jan 1, 2024)
24 comments Leave a comment »
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24 comments on “Moist Carrot Cake”
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Carol Parks —
Where is the raisens, pineapple & walnuts in this recipe? Also, always use avocado oil for a light, clear taste. I tried this, but it lacked the necessary ingredients for a true carrot cake, & was just bland.
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Sam —
I made cupcakes out of this recipe. I didn’t change anything to the mixing or the recipe, just the amount of time in the oven. It made 24 cupcakes and left them in the oven for 20 minutes at the temp stated in the recipe
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Kayla —
This THEE best carrot cake! Found this recipe in 2020 and I’ve made it more than 20 times. It’s always a hit and I get so many compliments on it (although I can’t take credit)! Highly recommend.
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Ellen —
This recipe is delish!Have made several times
This time I made cake late at night and was wondering if I can put cake in fridge overnight to cool and frost in the morning? -
Rebecca H. —
I made this for a friend’s birthday. It was an absolute hit! It was so moist, can’t wait to make it again. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
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Elizabeth —
Update: It was a HUGE hit. My entire family loved the cake. The consistency was great, very moist. Also the 4cups of sugar turned out to be the perfect amount. Already commissioned to make it again for an upcoming birthday!
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Jennifer —
Mine turned out great! I used 2 8in pans and divided equally with a measuring cup, however I feel the frosting recipe might be off . I used 4c of sugar and it was plenty and tasted like cream cheese frosting .
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Elizabeth —
Made this for easter tomorrow and the scraps from cutting of the top were delicious. My family gobbled every bite off the counter.
I did half the confectioners sugar for the frosting, but I prefer cream cheese frosting to still be a little tangy. Overall great recipe!! I can’t wait to serve it.
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Jamie —
I’m so confused! I went to make this for Easter tomorrow and it’s been over an hour at this point and my cake is still loose inside when the toothpick comes out. I’ve covered it and have it cooking still so that the center hopefully gets to the same place the outside of the cake is. I reread every ingredient and instructions and I did every step the way it says to so I’m disappointed. Hopefully it turns out ok..!
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Barbara —
Going to make this for Easter. Looks great!
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Karen Anderson —
Can I make a sheet cake or cupcakes with this recipe? Do I need to make any changes?
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Ginger —
Where is the answer to the questions?
Also can brown sugar be substituted for some of the regular sugar? -
Kari —
I have to make this for all the birthdays in my sister’s family
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Debbie —
This was by far the best carrot cake recipe ever. My cake was moist and delicious my husband really enjoyed it.
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Kerry —
It was very greasy and not cooked although the toothpick came out clean not sure what I done wrong but absolute disaster and went in the bin
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Carol —
Delicious recipe. This is my go to! Question- if I make cupcakes do I need to change anything?
Thank you
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Anne —
Looks amazing!
Quick question, on the video when adding eggs and oil in the bowl… What is the white creamy ingredient added before mixing?
Thanks! -
Heather —
Can this be made into a 9×13 sheet cake? If so how tall does it get. Or if stacking a 9×13 sheet cake do you recommend doubling it?
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Jennica —
Great recipe I make often! But now I want to make cupcakes out of it should I have to change anything?
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Lori —
Very good recipe! We added chopped pecans and golden raisins – delicious!
We made a double batch of frosting and had so much left over (even with completely frosting a two-layer cake) that we were *forced* 😉 to make a batch of carrot cake cupcakes.
Now my family of 10 has had this delicious recipe twice in one week! Thank you again!
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Jane Banner —
Is there any chance these amounts can be added in the british measurements please ? I have no idea what size cup you use etc . I would be very grateful
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Kathleen Scully —
What kind of oil is best,can you use olive oil.
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Carol christie —
The cake was delicious and Moist. I made mine in a 9 by 13 pan. So I only did half the frosting recipe.
