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THE WORLD'S BEST CARROT CAKE 
Made with all the special things you like in such a cake, this moist treat is one divine way to eat carrots.

Our luscious carrot cake has the long-lasting moistness of a buttermilk cake and the fiber-rich texture of whole wheat. Its rich combination of spices, fruit and nuts is perfectly complimented by the buttery cream cheese frosting. We think you'll definitely agree that it's The World's Best Carrot Cake.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole-wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (1 lb.) bag carrots, peeled and grated
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup raisins
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside. Combine sugars, buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract in a large bowl; stir until all ingredients are well blended. Add flour mixture, carrots, pineapple, walnuts, coconut and raisins, stirring just until well blended.

Grease 3 (8 inch) round cake pans. Line bottoms with circles of parchment or waxed paper; grease and flour paper. Pour batter into cake pans.

Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; loosen cake layers from edges of pans with a sharp knife and invert onto wire racks. Peel off waxed paper and cool completely.

Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight before cutting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (1 lb.) box powdered sugar
2 tsp. grated orange rind
1 tsp. vanilla extract
chopped nuts (for sprinkling - optional)

Combine butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add sugar, orange rind and vanilla, mixing well.

Makes enough frosting for 1 (3 layer) cake.

After the cake has been frosted, the top can be decorated with chopped nuts.

Submitted by: CM

recipe reviews
The World's Best Carrot Cake
 #15016
 Karen says:
I made this this weekend and the words "best carrot cake I've ever had" were bandied around the table!!! Seriously good!!!
 #178984
 Corey Pollock (Oregon) replies:
Karen, the next time you make it let it sit in a cake box in your refrigerator for 5 days or so before frosting it! The Cake breaks down and becomes seriously moist! It brings it to another level!
 #18442
 Flemy says:
I made the cake this Thursday, the cake was yummmm! Delicious cake.
 #29587
 Pam (Alaska) says:
I made this cake for a friend's birthday, and it was awesome! Moist, rich, flavorful, and the cream cheese frosting was the perfect topper. I made a double recipe of the icing and really piled it on, plus made decorative carrots with leaves, and there was a little frosting left over, but I think the cake needed more than the single batch of icing would have provided. Absolutely yummy, this is now my lifelong carrot cake recipe.
 #36073
 Perrylin Austill (Tennessee) says:
My grandmother (who is a retired bakery manager) requested a carrot cake for her 86th birthday. I made this one for her and she and everyone else LOVED it! This is DEFINITELY the best carrot cake I've ever tasted! If you are going to take the time to chop walnuts/pecans and grate carrots, you may as well add the extra ingredients in this recipe and have a cake that will be the rave of your occassion. I'll never use another carrot cake recipe, this is THE ONE!

NOTES: I used 3 cups of flour, but I didn't pack it in one cup, I scooped it into a 1/3 light and fluffy, not packed, kind of the way you would measure for bread. If you are a "packer" I would only use 2 cups. You may want to double the frosting if you are baking this in round pans.
 #40747
 Heather (Florida) says:
Has anyone made this without the coconut? Is it very important?
 #45481
 D (Missouri) replies:
Very good, I made it without coconut and walnuts, I don't like either... best carrot cake I've made!! I blended the carrots and pineapple so there were no pieces in it, everyone loved it!
 #44828
 Pam (Wisconsin) says:
My first attempt at carrot cake and it was a huge success. Yes, three cups of flour, plus I doubled the frosting and divided the batter for three layers. I never skimp on frosting - then crushed extra walnuts to cover the top and sides. Rave reviews from everyone, especially all those who are carrot cake afficianados.
 #47076
 Barbara (Indiana) says:
It's true this really is "The world's Best Carrot Cake". I make it for my family and friends and they just rave for it espeacially my brother in law. It's very easy and moist. I use 2 1/2 cups of flour. I have to make 3-4 cakes at a time because of the request.
   #74269
 Elise (California) says:
This carrot cake is absolute perfection! Instructions are easy to follow and the cake is nearly fool-proof. I used 3 cups of flour. I also used 2 - 9 inch pans because that is what I had on hand. I filled them a bit more than I normally would, but they still baked beautifully in 30 minutes. Love this recipe! Will definitely use it again and again!
   #85292
 Camille G (Washington) says:
I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it!
   #94381
 Gayle (Idaho) says:
I made this cake for a friends birthday. Everybody raved how delicious and moist it was. I changed the recipe just a little. I eliminated the coconut and used craisins instead of raisins.I did not drain the pineapple either. Also, I think you need to double the frosting recipe to have enough to thoroughly frost. I am definitely going to make this cake again.
   #98083
 Misty Daniels (Texas) says:
Absolutely the BEST carrot cake I have ever made or eaten!! I altered the recipe a little bit and put more orange zest on the icing, and added pecans and coconut on top of the cream cheese icing. Definitely NOT a dieter's cake!! Oh so good!!!
   #117195
 Susan (Georgia) says:
Excellent cake. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It replaces my old carrot cake recipe!
   #127070
 Fay (New Zealand) says:
Definitely the Best Carrot cake I've ever baked or eaten. I add walnuts, also use 3 cups flour or gluten free flour and bake in two round tins. Excellent Birthday Cake with double the frosting mix adding some lemon juice and zest. Sprinkle with chopped pistachio nuts. Delicious:-)
   #137493
 Lisa Grossjan-Carter (California) says:
I have made this recipe for years with many variations, it seems impossible to make a mistake. I inlay use whole wheat flour to keep it healthier.
I soak coconut, dried cranberries and raisins in half cup of either cognac or rum, then lightly chop in my cuisinart since my kids don't like the chunkiness. After grating my carrots, I put them through the chopping attachment of my cuisinart so they are not so "hunky" as well. Agree with almost every post ahead of me, of course it's always about personal preference. I tried not draining the liquid in my pineapple and it was way too moist, I even press the liquid out with a cloth. It's divine!!
   #141139
 Sunshine (California) says:
I love it and has been a " MUST HAVE " at every birthday party event for friends and family. My question here is can I substitute the cream cheese frosting to use yogurt instead for healthier reasons?

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