Perfect Carrot Cake Recipe

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This really is the BEST recipe for carrot cake EVER. The cake is very moist, the spices are just right, and cream cheese filling covers it all. You'll never need another carrot cake recipe again!  

Carrot Cake – 2 1/2 cups (245g) finely grated organic carrot – 2 cups (255g) all-purpose flour, spooned into the cups then leveled – 2 tsp baking soda – 1/2 tsp salt – 2 tsp cinnamon – 1/4 tsp nutmeg – 1/8 tsp clove – 1 cup (220ml) vegetable or canola oil – 3/4 cup (170g) light brown sugar, packed – 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar – 3 large egg – 2 tsp vanilla extract – 3/4 cup (190g) Greek yogurt or sour cream Cream Cheese FrostingFrosting Carrot – Orange gel food coloring – Green gel food coloring – Brown gel food coloring – 1/4 cup finely chopped walnut

Ingredient

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To make carrot cake, wash and peel the carrots. Grate them with a box grater's medium holes. It should look like finely crushed cheese. Set aside 2 1/2 cups in a bowl. 

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Step 1

Instructions

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Preheat oven to 350F and grease 3 round 6" or 2 or 3 round 8" cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with circular parchment paper and wrap with wet cake sleeves if available. 

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Step 2

Mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Set aside. Mix oil and sugar in a big bowl. Once mixed, add eggs, vanilla, and Greek yogurt. 

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Step 3

Fold in the dry ingredients and carrots just before it comes together. Divide batter evenly between cake pans. Bake for 35–40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. 

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Step 4

After 20 minutes in the pan, transfer the cakes to a cooling rack for 20 more minutes. Wrap each layer in plastic and refrigerate for an hour. Frosting is easier when layers are chilled. 

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Step 5

You can refrigerate cakes overnight and frost the next day. Frosting: cream cheese While the cake chills, create cream cheese frosting. If frosting is too thin, refrigerate it for an hour to thicken. 

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Step 6

Level each cake's top to assemble. Apply a thin, equal coating of frosting between cakes. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting to the cake's outside and chill for 30 minutes. 

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Step 7

Apply thick frosting to the cold cake and spread evenly. See my layer cake frosting post for details. Use any leftover frosting to pipe swirls on the cake and carrot decorations around the outside. 

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Step 8

Divide a few spoonfuls of frosting into two dishes. Use one to two drops of green gel food coloring and a little toothpick swatch of brown. Add one to two drops of orange gel food coloring and a little brown toothpick swatch to the other.   

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Step 9

Fill two small-tip piping bags with colorful icing. Pipe small carrots around the cake, then green carrot stalks. Sprinkle finely chopped walnuts on the cake and chill for an hour. Now slice and enjoy!  

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Step 10

Floral Separator

Also see

Funfetti Cake Recipe