Embark on a baking adventure with this recipe for the Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing, a dessert that marries the hearty textures of carrot, pineapple, and nuts with the smooth sweetness of cream cheese icing. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just treating yourself, this carrot cake delivers a moist, flavorful experience that is sure to captivate any dessert enthusiast. Get ready to impress with a cake that’s as pleasing to the palate as it is to the eye.
Prepare to create a cake that’s a feast of flavors and textures, perfectly paired with a lusciously creamy topping.
Luxuriously Moist: Ultimate Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
This Best Carrot Cake recipe is not just about creating a treat; it’s about crafting an experience that delights all senses. Here’s how to ensure your carrot cake is moist, rich, and perfectly spiced, topped with a silky cream cheese icing.
Tips for Crafting the Perfect Carrot Cake:
- Dry Ingredients Mixture: Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to ensure your cake has a light, uniform texture without any clumps.
- Wet Ingredients: Beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy before gradually incorporating the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla to maintain a rich, moist batter.
- Gentle Folding: Fold in the grated carrot, pineapple, pecans, and coconut gently to distribute them evenly without deflating the batter.
- Even Baking: Divide the batter equally between the two pans to ensure that both layers bake uniformly and finish at the same time.
- Cooling: Allow the cakes to cool completely before applying the icing to prevent it from melting, ensuring a smooth, professional finish.

Recipe for the Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing:
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Cooking time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Equipment: Two 9-inch round cake pans
Dive into this decadently moist dessert that’s rich in flavor and texture.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrot
- 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 lb (about 4 cups) powdered sugar
- Additional chopped pecans for garnish
Directions:
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and light in color. Mix in the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating until well combined. Stir in the carrot, pineapple, pecans, and coconut.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare the Icing: In a bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
- Assemble and Frost: Once cooled, frost the cakes with cream cheese icing and stack them. Garnish with additional pecans.
- Serve and Enjoy: Present your beautifully layered carrot cake as a centerpiece dessert sure to draw admiration and applause.
Ready to Relish!
This Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing offers a symphony of flavors and textures that make it an unforgettable dessert. From the moist, spice-infused crumb to the rich, creamy topping, every slice is a celebration of perfect baking. Enjoy sharing this cake with loved ones or as a special treat to yourself!
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Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Dive into this decadently moist dessert that’s rich in flavor and texture.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrot
- 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 lb (about 4 cups) powdered sugar
- Additional chopped pecans for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and light in color. Mix in the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating until well combined. Stir in the carrot, pineapple, pecans, and coconut.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare the Icing: In a bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
- Assemble and Frost: Once cooled, frost the cakes with cream cheese icing and stack them. Garnish with additional pecans.
- Serve and Enjoy: Present your beautifully layered carrot cake as a centerpiece dessert sure to draw admiration and applause.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
