Easy Carrot Cake {with Cream Cheese Frosting!}
This post may contain affiliate links, read our disclosure policy.
This Carrot Cake recipe starts with a spice cake mix and ends in pure delight. We use real carrots in our carrot cake and finish with a delicious cream cheese icing!
This ridiculously simple carrot cake uses a box of spice cake mix and fresh carrots to create magic. It was inspired by our super yummy and super popular Orange Cake! It is the perfect addition to your Spring menu along with some honey mustard glazed ham, roasted asparagus, and quick dinner rolls.
Save this recipe!
Save this recipe! Enter your email below and we’ll shoot it straight to ya!
I consent to receive email from this site 💌
Carrot Cake
Easy Carrot Cake {with Cream Cheese Frosting!}
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Carrot cake ingredients
- Spice cake mix
- Butter – Softened
- Eggs
- Cinnamon
- Whole milk
- Shredded carrot – We used the blender/food processor to get a fine shred.
- Cream cheese icing – You can purchase it or make your own cream cheese icing.
How do you make carrot cake? (Step-by-step)
⭐ First, combine all ingredients except icing in a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer.
⭐ Next, pour into greased cake pans (try our easy pan release recipe!), and bake until cooked through.
⭐ Finally, allow to cool completely, then frost as desired.
Preparation
Are carrots really in carrot cake?
Yes, carrots are really in carrot cake! We use a whole two cups of shredded carrot in our yummy recipe. The carrots add a delicious sweetness and tons of moisture. No, it doesn’t make the cake taste like roasted carrots. I promise.
How do you grate carrots for carrot cake?
We used our blender to grate the carrots for our carrot cake – you could also use a food processor or a hand grater. It’s important though, if you use a hand grater, to make sure you’re grating on the finest setting.
The goal with the carrot is to impart sweetness, a little bit of texture, and lots of moisture. What we don’t want to do is find big chunks of carrot in our cake. I do like to do a few long ribbons to decorate the top of the cake. A potato peeler works great for this.
Nutrition
Is carrot cake good for you?
It is better for you than cake without carrots. But, I don’t know that I would call it a diet plan. Carrot cake is after all cake – made with flour, sugar, butter, and all that other yummy stuff. But you could definitely argue that it’s high in beta carotene and full of fiber!
Variations
This recipe is easy and perfectly delicious as-is, but some folks like extras in there. If you try some of these add-ins, make sure to let us know in the comments!
🟢 Extra cinnamon– What’s better than one teaspoon of cinnamon – how about two!
🟢 Crushed pineapple – I didn’t even know carrot cake with pineapple was a thing until we did the show and a bunch of folks mentioned it. But I’m sure it’s super delicious and makes for an uber moist cake! If I added a can of crushed pineapple, I would skip the milk.
🟢 Raisins – We have definitely added raisins to our cake before. What is it about the combination of carrots and raisins that is so delicious? Mmmmmm.
🟢 Chopped walnuts – I am personally a big fan of walnuts in my carrot cake, but my kids don’t like it, so we skip the walnuts. If I was making these as a cupcake though, I might add them to half the batter!
More Like Carrot Cake
- Carrot Cake Cookies – A bite size version of the original! Yum!
- Easy Cinnamon Mug Cake – For when you want cake, but just for yourself. And super quick. Make a mug of this cinnamon cake, and a mug of coffee, and you’re all set.
- Simple Pumpkin Spice Cake – My cake hating husband can’t help but love this one. It’s dense and moist and spiced and super fantastic. I like to put a layer of powdered sugar glaze over top.
- Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting – The secret to this cake is apple cider drink packets! You guys, it’s really good. And that frosting. Mmmm. Mmmmm. Mmmmm.
- How to Make a Cookie Cake – Hands down, my husband’s favorite cake.
- Texas Tornado Cake Recipe – Pineapple, coconut, and pecans make a deliciously moist cake!
More Recipes with Cream Cheese
Suggested Tools
- Twin Pack Round Cake Pan, 8-Inch – Standard fare for making a two layer cake! Also good for small batch casseroles and cinnamon buns!
- 1M Open Star Piping Tip – This is my favorite piping tip and the one we use to make the rosettes on the side of our orange cake.
- Porcelain Round Cake Stand – What does a beautiful cake need? Well a pretty white cake stand to show off on!
- Tall Cake Dome – There’s nothing worse than finishing a gorgeous layered cake and then having to way to protect it. This tall cake dome fixes all that. And I love that it’s clear so you can still see your cake.
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
How to Make Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 stick of butter softened
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 cups finely shredded carrot we used the blender/food processor
- cream cheese icing
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except icing in a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer about 2 minutes until fully incorporated and batter has lightened in color about one shade.
- Pour into greased cake pans (we used two 9 inch rounds), and bake at 350 degrees until done (25 minutes for us). Check by inserting a toothpick in the middle, it’s done if the toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely, then ice. We used this cream cheese icing recipe.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram and use the hashtag #mamalovesfood and follow on Pinterest for even more!
Easy Carrot Cake {with Cream Cheese Frosting!}
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Do you love recipes that start with a mix? Try our lemon mousse recipe, strawberry shortcake waffles, or chocolate cake mix cookies next!
Get Our Free Easy Casseroles ebook!
Recipes in your inbox
(your email will never be sold!)
Let’s Connect!
Tag #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
I just made it his and its delicious!!!!!!!!!! I added a little butter to the pan and let me tell you its a buttery delicious sweetness . Thank you for posting!
made this carrots cake and it was easy moist and delish added raisins and creamcheese frosting
thanks for the recipe I’ll be making this again
Does this recipe work for sheet cake?
Sure! Just reduce the cooking time because it will bake faster. We also have this recipe if you want one specifically for that method: https://www.mamalovesfood.com/carrot-cake-sheet-cake/