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Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Inactive Time: 3 hours
Servings: 12

Ingredients
 

FOR THE CAKE:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups shredded carrots, lightly packed
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • 3 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, or extract
  • 2 ½ cups confectioners sugar

Instructions
 

  • MAKE THE CAKE. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees and grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda and baking powder until well combined.
  • Meanwhile, in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, oil, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla on medium-high until creamy, for 5 minutes.
  • Add the carrots and coconut and mix to combine.
  • Add the dry ingredients and mix on medium, just until the batter comes together.
  • Divide the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, for 30-40 minutes.
  • Cool the cakes for 15 minutes before flip them onto a cooling rack; cool completely.
  • MAKE THE FROSTING. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter over medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula often.
  • Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar; mix on the lowest speed until the sugar is fully incorporated.
  • Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • TO ASSEMBLE, cut each cake in half to create four layers.
  • Place one layer, flat-side-down onto a large serving plate or cake stand.
  • Add 1 cup of frosting and, using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the layer, going all the way to the edge of the cake.
  • Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set. If not serving on the day it was made, loosely wrap the cake with plastic wrap; bring to room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
Course: Dessert
Author: Anthony Michael Contrino