Grandma Catherine's Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
🎯 Yields: 9x13 cake or 2 9-inch round cakes (about 12–16 servings)
⏱️ Time: ~1.5 hours (including baking and cooling)
(Prep: 20 min | Bake: 35–40 min | Cool & Frost: 20–30 min)
📝 Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
4 large eggs, room temp
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrots (about 4–5 medium carrots)
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 cup shredded coconut (optional)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
3–4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp heavy cream (or milk, if needed for consistency)
🔧 Instructions
1. Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish or two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Make the Carrot Cake Batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, then add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Mix until well combined.
Stir in the vanilla extract, followed by the grated carrots, crushed pineapple (with juice pressed out), and chopped nuts and shredded coconut (if using).
Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated. Be careful not to overmix!
3. Bake
Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan(s) and smooth the top.
Bake for 35–40 minutes for a 9x13 pan or 30–35 minutes for round cake pans. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until you reach your desired frosting consistency.
Add vanilla extract and heavy cream (or milk), and continue beating until smooth and fluffy.
5. Frost the Cake
Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting generously over the top. If you're using a two-layer cake, frost between the layers and on top.
Optionally, garnish the frosting with extra chopped walnuts or shredded coconut for extra texture and flavor.