Description
Moist, warmly spiced carrot cake packed with grated carrots, toasted walnuts, coconut, and pineapple, layered with rich brown butter cream cheese frosting for a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
290 g (2¼ cups) all-purpose flour
250 g (1¼ cups) granulated sugar
133 g (⅔ cup) light brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cardamom
300 g (1⅓ cups) vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
360 g (4 cups) freshly grated carrots
80 g (⅔ cup) chopped walnuts, toasted
40 g (⅔ cup) unsweetened shredded coconut
180 g (⅔ cup) crushed pineapple with juices
Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:
226 g (1 cup) unsalted butter
453 g (16 oz) cream cheese, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
360 g (3 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment and grease.
- Toast walnuts in oven for 7 minutes. Grate carrots.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
- In a separate bowl, whisk oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures, mixing gently until just combined.
- Fold in carrots, walnuts, coconut, and pineapple.
- Divide into pans and bake 25–27 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool 15 minutes, then wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- For frosting: Brown the butter over medium-low heat until nutty, then cool to semi-firm. Beat with cream cheese, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar until fluffy.
- Trim cake domes. Layer with frosting between each, apply crumb coat, chill 15 minutes, then frost fully and decorate.
Notes
- Freshly grated carrots provide the best texture and moisture.
- Do not overmix batter to keep cake light.
- Browning the butter for frosting adds deep flavour but can be skipped.
- Chill layers before frosting for easier assembly.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/14 cake)
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
