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
Hi. How do I make this with just one layer?
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST RECIPE I HAVE FOUND FOR CARROT CAKE! I made it and took it to a potluck and EVERYBODY loved it! Thank you so much for sharing! Love love love it!!!
I cut this recipe in half and made a small sheet cake. Best cake I’ve ever had. So fluffy, and I enjoyed not having huge carrot pieces. Fine grate is key!
Can I eat this every day?
Carrot tops or “leaves from a flower in your garden”? I saw 2 different responses to what the leaves were so wanted to confirm. Would any leaves that were washed work if they were not eaten or are carrot tops better?
the answer is both - just make sure what you're using is edible!!
CARROT TOPS more festive IMO
I have made this a few times now, and everyone who has it is obsessed (even those who "don't like carrot cake"). Unlike typical dense and nutty carrot cake, this cake is so moist and fluffy. At first the batter seems thick, but once you add the shredded carrot the consistency immediately loosens up. Still trying to figure out how to not get lumps in my icing though!! Thanks Gaby!!
My friend, Hilary, just made this for Easter yesterday. It was DELICIOUS!! She was competing against my Mother's famous recipe ...... well, I think we have a new recipe in town :)) Thanks to you and your Mom for sharing!
Made this for Easter and it was DIVINE!! Now I just need to figure out how to make mine as beautiful as yours!
This cake doesn’t need to be refrigerated, even though it has cream cheese frosting?
Can u do thia with a 13x9? What would be tje cooking time? Thanks!!
How long will the cake stay good in the fridge? Thinking of making on Friday for a Sunday brunch,
cake can be stored on the counter in an airtight container! (fridge dries cakes out!) and will last on the counter for a few days
What type of flower pedals and Fernando yiu use that are editable
So I’ve made this before and loved it. But I have a question- I want to make these as cupcakes, but I’m wondering if filling the cupcakes with frosting would be a good idea or make it too sweet. Thoughts?
would be delish!
I made this for Easter and it was a huge hit. The best Carrot Cake I've ever had. Even better then our local bakery and there's is fantastic. Thanks Gaby!!
Would you modify anything for high altitude? Thank you! 🙂
Do you think your edible flowers were dandelions? Trying to research all the edible flowers that I could find at a local New Orleans farmer's market. LOVE your beautiful cake!!!!
Marigolds!