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.
Carrot Cake
Easy Carrot Cake {with Cream Cheese Frosting!}
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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.
- Hummingbird Cake – Hummingbird Cake is a dense and moist southern cake flavored with bananas, pineapple, and cinnamon and covered in a rich cream cheese frosting topped with toasted pecans.
- Sweet Potato Cake – A delicious classic!
- How to Make a Cookie Cake – Hands down, my husband’s favorite cake. It’s what he requests for his birthday every single year. (And we’ve been together a whole lot of years). It kills me when I see folks spending so much money on cookie cakes from the mall when they’re so easy to make at home!
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.
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How to Make Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake
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
Easy Carrot Cake {with Cream Cheese Frosting!}
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Do you love recipes that start with a mix? Try our lemon mousse recipe, strawberry shortcake waffles, or chocolate cake mix cookies next!
Irene says
Made this for Easter. My family loved it! Great recipe!
April says
YAY! <3
Terri Price says
Omg you are soo cute made this and loved it i soaked raisins in spiced rum and added almonds rook uour advice and shredded carrots xtra fine it was a 5 across the board thanks
April says
oh my gosh, rum soaked raisins – GENIUS!
Angelina says
I’ve always made Carrot Cake from scratch, but this recipe sounds super yummy & easy, so I plan to make it this weekend. What size (oz.) cake mix did you use, and which brand of mix do you prefer?
April says
I believe it was Duncan Hines in this picture, but I’ve used several brands. Just the standard size box π
Danette Iverson says
Can I use applesauce in place of milk? And how much
April Woods says
Hi Danette – Applesauce is not a substitute for milk. If you can’t do milk, you can substitute water or other liquid (e.g. apple juice, almond milk). Some folks will substitute apple sauce for oil (1:1 ratio) or egg (1/4 cup = 1 egg), but beware this will make a slightly drier cake. Hope that helps! π
Jenn says
Carrot cake holds a special place in my heart!! One of my dear, close cousin, Ferdie would always have carrot cake for Easter gathering. He passed away a few years ago and so glad I found your super simple and easy recipe! I made it a day ago and the smell and taste just brought me such joyous and happy memories!! Through the deliciousness there were happy tears! My heartfelt thanks!!
April says
<3 thank you for sharing your story.
Carmen says
U mentioned crushed pineapple but didnβt list how much you used with the box cake?
April says
I mention that some folks add it, but we do not π
Laura says
So does this use 8in or 9in round pans? One spot says 8in….
April says
Either will work, I believe I used 8″. -)
Bethrenee says
This sounds wonderful! I was wondering if you think this would be enough for a 9 by 13 cake. And also if a Carrot Cake box mix would work instead of Spending Cake mix.
April says
yes, you could do this in a 9×13. and i believe a carrot cake mix would work as well π
MaryAlyce says
13 year old Grandson requested carrot cake for his birthday. This was a BIG hit!! This is my go to recipe from now on.
April says
so glad you loved our carrot cake recipe! and happy birthday to your grandson!
Lewis Johnson says
There is no better cake than carrot cake.
Kim says
I made this yesterday and it was delicious!
April says
yay π
Larky says
Thank you for an awesome recipe! I added the crushed pineapple, 1/4tsp Allspice and 1tsp Cinnamon. Very good!
April Woods says
yay! π
Ellen says
How much crushed pineapple and did you then leave out the milk? Planning on making this tomorrow.
Barbara Perkins says
Can u freeze the cake unfrosted
April Woods says
Yes, you can freeze the carrot cake unfrosted π
Gayle S. says
Can you use a jar of baby carrot food in the carrot cakemix to make it moist? How many jars would you use? Thanks
April Woods says
I’m sorry I’ve never tried that – if you do, let us know how it turns out!
Gayle S. says
Could you add a jar of carrot baby food to make it moist more?
Thanks
Julie says
Could this be done as a bundt cake? Iβm guessing so but thought Iβd see if youβve done that. Thanks!
April Woods says
absolutely!
Andrew Jolliff says
Would the Matchstick Carrots work or would those pieces be too large?
April Woods says
you’ll want them much finer than matchsticks. try a grater or food processor for best results. π
Ashley says
Hi! πHow much butter do you use? Is the stick of butter 1/2 cup?
April Woods says
one stick of butter is 1/2 cup π
Ashley says
Thank you! π
Esther says
Is it salted or unsalted butter that is to be used in this recipe?
April Woods says
My personal preference is salted, but either will work.
Shanel Gibbs says
Can you melt the butter or do you recommend it being softened?
April Woods says
softened π
Kari says
Delicious moist cakeβ£οΈ
June says
Did exactly as the recipe called for and it took an additional 5 minutes to bake (used toothpick method to test for doneness), so it finished after 30 minutes. Unfortunately it turned out dry and not moist. Maybe next time I’ll try with 3 eggs and 1/2 c. vegetable oil.
April Woods says
Sounds to me like if it was dry it probably didn’t need that extra time? I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you, we’ve definitely never had (or heard of) this issue.
Squirrel says
Would the baking time be differwnt for a 9×13 or the same as the 9″/8″ rounds?
Also, if I added raisins would that affect the baking time as well?
Thanks!
April Woods says
baking time should be about the same with raisins and 9×13 but check with a toothpick to be sure when it’s done. π