Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Topped with a rich cream cheese frosting, this lovely cake is the perfect way to end a special meal. It's beautifully simple with no extra add-ins: just carrots and nuts and a hint of cinnamon throughout moist, tender cake. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a classic for any time of year, but is especially good for a special holiday dessert.

Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting  Print Recipe

For cake:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups grated carrots (I use a larger grate)
1 cup chopped pecans

For frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (16 oz.) box confectioner's (powdered) sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. Set aside.  
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and oil until smooth. Add the eggs and beat until completely combined. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla.
4. On low, slowly add flour mixture to egg mixture. Stir in carrots and nuts. Divide evenly between prepared cake pans. Bake for about 38 to 39 minutes, or until a tester comes out with a few small moist crumbs attached. I usually rotate cake pans once about half way through baking.
5. Let cakes cool on wire rack for about 15 minutes. Carefully turn cakes out of pans onto wire racks to finish cooling completely.
6. When cakes are cool, prepare frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Sprinkle with vanilla and salt and mix well. 
7. Sift powdered sugar into cream cheese mixture. On low, mix until well-combined. Beat on medium until frosting is desired consistency. If too thick, add a little milk or cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency. Frost cake. Keep covered, and refrigerate leftovers.

Classic Carrot Cake may have been taken to some of these fun parties!

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