Viral Moist Carrot Cake Recipe - Everyday Dishes - Baking (2024)

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by Cheryl Najafi on Mar 27, 2016 23 comments »

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Practically everyone has a carrot cake recipe that they think is the best, but after just one bite of our extra moist carrot cake recipe we think you’ll reconsider!

Fresh baby carrots already peeled make preparation so much easier and faster, but if you already have a bag of carrots in the fridge that need to be trimmed and peeled, go for it! Just make sure to throw in a few extra to bring the weight back up to one pound—after all it is called carrot cake for a reason.

Viral Moist Carrot Cake Recipe - Everyday Dishes - Baking (1)

If you feel you need to make the layers more level, trim them but don’t let the scraps go to waste! Dry them in a warm oven, turn them into crumbs and press them into the sides of the frosted cake for a decorative touch.

Since we mentioned frosting, ours really ‘takes the cake.’ Rich and plentiful, it presents an extra smooth finish because the powdered sugar has been sifted into the mixture. It’s just another reason why our recipe makes an exceptional moist carrot cake that’s bound to become your favorite.

Carrot Cake Recipe Tips:

  • How do we get our cake so moist?Once out of the oven, cool the layers on a rack for 10 minutes. Then invert them, remove the pans that have been lined with parchment paper, peel off the paper and place the pans back on each layer for about two hours. This seals in the moisture so you can enjoy this cake’s density without it being dry.
  • Can’t get enough Carrot Cake? Give our Inside-Out Carrot Cake Muffins a try!

Viral Moist Carrot Cake Recipe - Everyday Dishes - Baking (3)

Moist Carrot Cake Recipe

Prep Time: 25 minutes mins

Cook Time: 55 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Our moist carrot cake recipe melts in your mouth. The secret is all about what happens when it’s out of the oven—plus that extra creamy frosting.

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Ingredients

Yield: 12 servings

4.27 from 273 ratings

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carrot cake

frosting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees then line the bottom of two 9" cake pans with parchment paper. Spray the pans and paper with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sugar, oil and eggs together until completely blended then set aside.

  • Add the carrots to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the carrots are very finely chopped and resemble the texture of wet sand. Then, add them to the sugar, oil and egg mixture, stirring to combine.

  • Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon on top of the wet ingredients and carefully fold the wet and dry ingredients until completely blended. If you’d like to add nuts or raisins, now is the time to fold them into the batter (our office voted a unanimous ‘no’).

  • Divide the batter evenly into the two prepared cake pans and bake 45−50 minutes—the cakes will be firm in the center and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan.

  • Remove the cakes from the oven and cool them on a rack for about 10 minutes.

  • When the cakes have rested but are still quite warm, invert the layers onto a sheet of waxed paper. Remove the pan, peel the parchment paper from the bottom of the cake then replace the pan back over the cake to cover it and seal in the moisture. Leave the cakes covered until they are completely cooled (at least 2 hours).

  • While the cakes are cooling, get started on the cream cheese frosting. Add the softened butter and cream cheese to a medium-sized mixing bowl and cream together until completely combined and no lumps remain. Then, sift in the powdered sugar, stirring until perfectly smooth.

  • Add the vanilla and stir once more to combine. If the frosting’s too thick, add a few drops of milk until the consistency’s correct. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature until you are ready to frost the cake.

  • When the cakes are cool and the frosting has been made, remove the pans to uncover the cakes. Place the first layer on a serving plate and evenly coat the top of the cake with frosting. Place the next layer upside down on top of first layer and press gently but firmly into place. Coat the top and all sides of the cake evenly with the remainder of the frosting.

  • Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve then slice into big wedges and enjoy!

Author: Cheryl Najafi

Course: Dessert

Calories: 961kcal, Carbohydrates: 126g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 666mg, Potassium: 188mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 108g

Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayDishes or tag #everydaydishes!

Viral Moist Carrot Cake Recipe - Everyday Dishes - Baking (4)

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originally published on Mar 27, 2016 (last updated Jan 1, 2024)

23 comments Leave a comment »

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23 comments on “Moist Carrot Cake”

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  1. Joy

    SUPER MOIST

  2. Sam

    I made cupcakes out of this recipe. I didn’t change anything to the mixing or the recipe, just the amount of time in the oven. It made 24 cupcakes and left them in the oven for 20 minutes at the temp stated in the recipe

  3. Kayla

    This THEE best carrot cake! Found this recipe in 2020 and I’ve made it more than 20 times. It’s always a hit and I get so many compliments on it (although I can’t take credit)! Highly recommend.

  4. Ellen

    This recipe is delish!Have made several times
    This time I made cake late at night and was wondering if I can put cake in fridge overnight to cool and frost in the morning?

  5. Rebecca H.

    I made this for a friend’s birthday. It was an absolute hit! It was so moist, can’t wait to make it again. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

  6. Elizabeth

    Update: It was a HUGE hit. My entire family loved the cake. The consistency was great, very moist. Also the 4cups of sugar turned out to be the perfect amount. Already commissioned to make it again for an upcoming birthday!

  7. Jennifer

    Mine turned out great! I used 2 8in pans and divided equally with a measuring cup, however I feel the frosting recipe might be off . I used 4c of sugar and it was plenty and tasted like cream cheese frosting .

  8. Elizabeth

    Made this for easter tomorrow and the scraps from cutting of the top were delicious. My family gobbled every bite off the counter.

    I did half the confectioners sugar for the frosting, but I prefer cream cheese frosting to still be a little tangy. Overall great recipe!! I can’t wait to serve it.

  9. Jamie

    I’m so confused! I went to make this for Easter tomorrow and it’s been over an hour at this point and my cake is still loose inside when the toothpick comes out. I’ve covered it and have it cooking still so that the center hopefully gets to the same place the outside of the cake is. I reread every ingredient and instructions and I did every step the way it says to so I’m disappointed. Hopefully it turns out ok..!

  10. Barbara

    Going to make this for Easter. Looks great!

  11. Karen Anderson

    Can I make a sheet cake or cupcakes with this recipe? Do I need to make any changes?

  12. Ginger

    Where is the answer to the questions?
    Also can brown sugar be substituted for some of the regular sugar?

  13. Kari

    I have to make this for all the birthdays in my sister’s family

  14. Debbie

    This was by far the best carrot cake recipe ever. My cake was moist and delicious my husband really enjoyed it.

  15. Kerry

    It was very greasy and not cooked although the toothpick came out clean not sure what I done wrong but absolute disaster and went in the bin

  16. Carol

    Delicious recipe. This is my go to! Question- if I make cupcakes do I need to change anything?

    Thank you

  17. Anne

    Looks amazing!
    Quick question, on the video when adding eggs and oil in the bowl… What is the white creamy ingredient added before mixing?
    Thanks!

  18. Heather

    Can this be made into a 9×13 sheet cake? If so how tall does it get. Or if stacking a 9×13 sheet cake do you recommend doubling it?

  19. Jennica

    Great recipe I make often! But now I want to make cupcakes out of it should I have to change anything?

  20. Lori

    Very good recipe! We added chopped pecans and golden raisins – delicious!

    We made a double batch of frosting and had so much left over (even with completely frosting a two-layer cake) that we were *forced* 😉 to make a batch of carrot cake cupcakes.

    Now my family of 10 has had this delicious recipe twice in one week! Thank you again!

  21. Jane Banner

    Is there any chance these amounts can be added in the british measurements please ? I have no idea what size cup you use etc . I would be very grateful

  22. Kathleen Scully

    What kind of oil is best,can you use olive oil.

  23. Carol christie

    The cake was delicious and Moist. I made mine in a 9 by 13 pan. So I only did half the frosting recipe.

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Viral Moist Carrot Cake Recipe - Everyday Dishes - Baking (2024)

FAQs

Is butter or oil better for carrot cake? ›

When preparing cakes without super strong flavors such as vanilla cake and white cake, I prefer to use butter as the fat. Butter also gives them flavor. But for cakes like chocolate cake and carrot cake that have flavor from other ingredients, I find flavorless oil is the best choice.

Why is my carrot cake too moist? ›

Keep the extra nuts and, god forbid, coconut out of things, and definitely don't add pineapple—it'll make the batter too moist. Carrot cake is oil-based, rather than butter-based.

How to prevent carrots from turning green in carrot cake? ›

If your carrots are turning green every time you make the recipe, the ratio of baking soda in the recipe is probably off. Try reducing the amount by a quarter teaspoon next time you make the recipe.

Why did my carrot cake flop in the middle? ›

5. My cake has sunk in the middle. There are three main reasons for this: a/ the oven door has been opened before the cake has set, b/ the cake didn't go in the oven as soon as the mixture was ready or c/ there's too much raising agent.

What makes cake moist, butter or oil? ›

Replacing the water from the butter with oil means there's more fat left in the cakes to ensure tenderness. It also coats the flour uniformly, which keeps the layers from being tough even if the batter is overbeaten.

What happens if I use butter instead of oil in cake? ›

Most cake mixes call for oil, but butter will bring in amazing flavor. To substitute butter for oil in baking just melt the butter, measure it, let it cool, and add it as you would the oil. Compared to oil, butter will create a cake with a firmer, cakeier texture.

Is carrot cake better with pecans or walnuts? ›

Pecans are the Southern choice, but walnuts are delicious, too. Whichever you use, make sure to toast the nuts before adding them into the batter to maximize their flavor. Flour: All-purpose flour provides the right texture and density. Baking soda: This leavener helps the cake layers to rise into a fluffy cake.

What is the best way to grate carrots for carrot cake? ›

Peel the carrot skins with a peeler. Remove stains and other visible blemishes from the surface. Hold the grater firmly in your left hand (if you are right-handed) and place it in a large bowl or on a cutting board. Take the carrot in your right hand; shred it up and down on the side of the grater with small holes.

What is the green ingredient in carrot cake? ›

Our answer. The green flecks are carrot but the colour has been changed by the bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in the mixture. Some pigments are sensitive to pH balances and will change colour if they are in a very acid or very alkaline environment.

What does baking soda do to carrots? ›

Carrots contain pigments that are sensitive to changes in pH balance. When the shreds of carrot come into contact with the alkaline baking soda, a chemical reaction takes place that causes the pigments to change color.

What are the black specks in carrot cake? ›

Well, you have yourself a really yummy carrot cake, and in my mind, that qualifies as a culinary masterpiece. Now, before we go much further, someone is bound to make a snarky comment about the “black spots” in the cake. THOSE ARE WALNUTS.

What is the toothpick test on carrot cake? ›

The idea behind this test is you can insert a toothpick or paring knife into the center of the cake to see if the crumb has set. If the tester comes out clean, it's done. If it comes out gummy or with crumbs clinging to it, the cake needs more time in the oven.

What temperature is carrot cake done? ›

Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 45 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cake reaches 205 to 210 degrees F in the center.

Why did my carrot cake come out dry? ›

A dry cake is usually the result of one of the following pitfalls: using the wrong ingredients, making mistakes while measuring or mixing the batter, or baking the cake too long or at too high a temperature. Once you understand which common cake-baking blunders to avoid, you'll know how to bake a moist cake every time.

Is it better to use oil or butter in a cake? ›

There are no surprises here: butter tastes better than oil in baking recipes. However, in recipes with other bold flavors – such as chocolate, coffee, or citrus – butter can sometimes compete with the other flavors and this is normally when a recipe calls for oil instead.

Is it better to use oil or butter in Betty Crocker cake mix? ›

It depends on the recipe. Oil can result in a moister cake, it makes better salad dressing and works best in marinades. Anyhoo, I noticed on the back of the new Betty Crocker cake mixes that there is an option to make them with oil and water, instead of the butter and milk.

Is butter or olive oil better for cake? ›

Home bakers, too, increasingly are foregoing the butter and baking cakes, tortes, brownies and more with olive oil. Swapping olive oil for butter cuts saturated fat. Plus, good olive oil adds a wonderful, nuanced flavor to baked goods and keeps them moist.

Is it better to butter or oil a cake pan? ›

The verdict: Use butter if you want to. If you have extreme concerns about your cake sticking, use shortening (which is pure fat with no water), cooking spray, or baking spray. Coconut oil or bacon fat will also work, as will clarified butter which has the milk solids removed.

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