# Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Your Mesmerizing Dessert 🥕🍰
## Introduction
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is a classic desert that will never go out of style. It becomes wonderfully moist as it absorbs the aromas of the spices while baking. A generous layer of tangy cream cheese frosting adds an irresistible finishing touch. This cake is very versatile and is perfect for any celebration or just as a pick-me-up to brighten your day!
## Why Make This Recipe
This carrot cake is a hit for everyone—it’s absolutely moist, has an inviting texture and it’s not overwhelmingly sweet. Classic flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg are brought to life with the sweetness of the carrots and the tang from cream cheese frosting. It’s a recipe that needs to be at the top of your baking bucket list!
## How to Make Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Making this scrumptious carrot cake is a straightforward process which only requires simple ingredients and a bit of time. Here’s the breakdown:
## Ingredients
### For the Carrot Cake:
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
– 1 tsp baking soda
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
– 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
– 1/4 tsp ground ginger
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 3/4 cup vegetable oil
– 4 large eggs
– 2 cups grated carrots
– 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
– 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
### For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
## Directions
### Preheat Oven and Mix the Dry Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), butter a 9×13 inch baking pan, and then whisk together your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
### Combine Wet Ingredients
Beat sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth in a separate bowl. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
### Add the Extras
Add the grated carrots and optional walnuts and raisins.
### Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into your pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes.
### Prepare Your Frosting
While the cake is cooling, it’s time to prepare our cream cheese frosting.
### Frost and Serve
Once the cake has cooled, spread your cream cheese frosting, and voila! You’re ready to serve.
## How to Serve Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake is perfect for any occasion, whether for morning tea, a birthday celebration, or just an after-dinner treat. The secret is to slice into reasonably small portions as it’s quite indulgent. Serve with a cup of English breakfast tea or freshly brewed coffee.
## How to Store Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Keep leftover pieces of this cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
## Tips to make Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Always preheat your oven, and have your ingredients at room temperature to achieve a perfect bake. Use fresh spices for better flavor. Lastly, don’t overmix your batter to ensure a tender crumb.
## Variation
For a tropical twist, add some shredded coconut to your batter. To add more texture, chopped great-quality white chocolate works perfectly.
## FAQs
### Can I use gluten-free flour for this recipe?
Yes, you can replace all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend.
### Can I freeze this carrot cake?
Yes, the carrot cake itself can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and frost before serving.
### Can I use butter instead of oil?
For this recipe, oil is preferred as it keeps the cake moist compared to butter.
There you have it! Your go-to recipe for Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Happy baking!