Is there really anything better than Layered Carrot Cake slathered with Cream Cheese Frosting? I don't think so! And if there is, I have yet to discover it 🙂
With Easter right around the corner, and all sorts of other Spring celebrations (baby showers, birthdays, outdoor picnics etc) I thought it was high time to share my moms tried and true recipe for Carrot Cake!
Because I like to live by the "more is more" motto, I doubled to the recipe to make a TRIPLE Layered Carrot Cake and then topped it off with a healthy dose of Cream Cheese Frosting. It's a little/big slice of perfection and it's a show stopper with all the flowers on the sides! You can decorate this with any number of toppings - or just keep it simple and frosted. I looooooove to add a flower moment on the cake - it makes it more of a centerpiece AND a dessert basically killing 2 birds with one stone. ON BRAND! I know you guys are going to love this one.
Layered Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil or coconut oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 cups finely grated peeled carrots about 1 pound
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 8- ounce packages cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 ½-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Lightly grease waxed paper. Using a large mixer, beat sugar and vegetable oil in bowl until combined. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into sugar and oil mixture. Stir in carrots.
- Pour batter into prepared pans, dividing equally. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and cakes begin to pull away from sides of pans, about 45 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely.
- Using a mixer, beat all frosting ingredients in medium bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 1 cup frosting on top. Top with another cake layer. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. And more swirls of icing on top.
- Top with flowers and decorations as desired
Notes
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
Where to find the decorations? Made this last Easter and improvised ...
these were edible flowers from my farmers market
This is the best carrot cake I've ever made/had! It's an Easter (and spring) must!
I really want to try to make this cake but I only have to pans, should I only do half recipe then?
you could do a full recipe, they;ll just be thicker
hi gabby!
Do you bake each cake (pan) one at the time or bake all 3 pans at one time?
thank you!
depends on the size of your oven. In my old house I did all 3 at once, and rotated them a few times so they baked evenly. My new oven sucks so I do one at a time
Hi, I love this cake design, so elegant and so much finesse in executing this! What leaves did you use to decorate?
Would you know how to substitute einkorn wheat for the white flour?
No idea!! Not familiar with that variety!
Mmm! Made this recipe into cupcakes since I’m a novice baker and that whole layer thing looked scary! Absolutely delish...half gone by noon! Thank you!
How many cupcakes did this make?
So gorgeous looking carrot cake!
Hi Gaby!
This looks fabulous!! I just finished baking the three layers for Easter tomorrow. Should I frost it today? Or should I wrap the layers in plastic wrap, refrigerate then frost tomorrow at room temperature? Cannot wait to eat it- smells divine!
you could do either!!
If i just wanted to make one layer, how should I cut the recipe? In 3rds?
yes!
Making this for Easter! Wax paper for the bottoms of the pans? Or Parchment paper? Do you cut out a circle or should the paper go up the sides? Thank you!
parchment is my go to!!
Would using the coconut oil suggestion change the texture of this cake? I followed the directions exactly and checking in them
While baking...they look “spongy”. Thanks!
nope! wouldn't change the texture!
My husband is requesting raisins in the carrot cake. Do you think I add 1/3c or so without it affecting the recipe?
that wouldn't affect any of the baking times 🙂 enjoy!
Could these be make into cupcakes?
absolutely - same baking temp. Keep your eyes on the bake time... probably 20ish minutes
I don't have three 9" cake pans - only two 8" and one pie plate.
Think I can use those and it will come out correctly? I tasted this cake at a shower last year - it is divine - and in the absence of family this Easter, it would be nice to make it. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
you could do the 8 inch pans and cook 3 batches. they'll need a few extra minutes in the oven