Mom’s viral carrot cake, but in a 3 layer cake form may just be our new favorite version. We love this carrot cake in just about any form. Whether it is the sheet cake version or the cupcake version, you can’t go wrong with our mom’s simple, one-bowl carrot cake. The cake is moist, lightly spiced and truly the best carrot cake we have ever had. This version has enough batter for 3 thick layers of carrot cake. Each layer is topped with a generous amount of vanilla bean cream cheese icing.
Carrot Cake Variations:
It’s no secret that we love this carrot cake just about any way. Sharing a few of our other favorites here.
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes: This recipe can also be made into carrot cake cupcakes by following the bake time in the recipe linked.
- Carrot Cake Sheet Cake: Instead of 3 layers, this cake can be made into a 9×13” sheet cake. To do this, the quantities are slightly smaller
- Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing: Instead of a classic cream cheese icing, this carrot cake can be made this a brown butter cream cheese icing. To do this, we follow the same recipe but just brown the butter before mixing.
Carrot Cake FAQs:
Can I use butter instead of oil?
We have not made this with melted butter instead of oil but recommend oil for two main reasons: 1. Oil cakes tend to be more tender than butter cakes 2. Oil cakes tend to stay moister longer than butter cakes. Although we prefer the flavor butter, in this case, the oil creates such a moist, tender cake that it is our preferred fat.
Can I make this into cupcakes or a sheet cake?
Yes – this can be made into a sheet cake or cupcakes. The bake time will just need to be reduced if making it into cupcakes. Use the toothpick test to know when the bake is baked.
Can I use pre-shredded carrots?
We prefer peeling and shredding the carrots with a grater or food processor vs the pre shredded bags. Although the bags are convenient, we prefer shredding them at home. The pre-shredded are a little too thick and dry. Since they dry out a little in the bag, it does not result in as moist of a cake.
Tips for the Perfect Carrot Cake:
- Carrots – do not buy the pre-grated carrots. These carrots are too thick and dry for the cake. They will sit inside the cake as a mix-in instead of melting into the cake layers for a perfectly moist carrot cake sponge.
- Crushed pineapple – we know this sounds like a strange ingredient but trust us, this makes the cake. Buy one of the small cans, drain it slightly, and place the entire contents into the batter. As the cake bakes, the pineapple releases juice and acidity into the cake that makes for balanced, moist layers.
- Cream cheese icing – yes, you can use other icing here but why would you? Cream cheese is the perfect pairing for a carrot cake. You could also use our brown butter version here.
Layered Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cup vegetable oil 540 ml
- 3 cups sugar 600 g
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups all purpose flour 360 g
- 1 tablespoon baking powder 15 ml
- 1 tablespoon baking soda 15 ml
- 1 teaspoon salt 5 ml
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 15 ml
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom 10 ml
- 4.5 cups grated carrots 1 32 oz bag of carrots (before peeling)
- 1.5 cup chopped nuts or unsweetened coconut optional
- 1.5 small can crushed pineapple lightly drained 12 oz or 1.5 8 oz cans
Cream Cheese Icing:
- 2 sticks butter 226 g or 1 cup
- 2 sticks cream cheese 452 g or 2 cups
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon almond extract optional 5 ml
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste 15 ml
- 6-8 cups powdered sugar Depending on how stiff you want the icing
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease and line a 3 8” pans with parchment paper
- In a large bowl, whisk together oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time until well combined.
- Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add in pineapple and grated carrots and mix until just combined.
- Pour into prepared pans and bake for ~45 minutes (it may take more or less depending on the oven so make sure to cook until a toothpick comes out clean)
Cream Cheese Icing:
- In the base of a kitchen aid or large bowl with a hand mixer, add softened butter and cream cheese
- On medium high speed, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy (around 2 minutes)
- Add salt, almond extract, and vanilla. Whip until combined
- On low speed, add the powder sugar ½ cup at a time
- Once all the sugar has been added, turn up the mixture and whip on medium high until light and fluffy (around 2 minutes)
- Spread icing over the cooled, sheet cake in an even layer. This is a generous amount of icing, so add as much or little as you like
How would the measurements change if I just wanted to do 2 layers?
Hello!
What would you recommend to substitute the flour with? I have a niece who has allergies but would like to make this for her.
Hi! We wish we could help here, but we haven’t tried it with any substitutes.
Can you use a stand mixer with whisk attachment?
You can! Just mix on low until just combined at each step. This requires very little mixing.
I want to make cupcakes. Can I do that? How long should o bake it?
Thanks
You can find the cupcake version here. Happy baking!
How would you modify this recipe for 2 layers instead of 3?
Use our sheet cake proportions 🙂 it’s on our site under carrot cake sheet cake
We would use our sheet cake carrot cake version of this recipe for 2 rounds.
have you made this cake with just two layers? If so do you have the measurements that you can share?
Can you use 9in pans for this?
Can’t wait to make this later!
Yes! you can
Yes you can 🙂
In the past I do not have the greatest luck icing cakes so I freeze it a bit so I don’t wreck the cake . Do I need to do that with this cake or will it spread nice ?
Any idea what the baking time will be if I’m using 3 9” pans?
It should be a little quicker. Just test with a toothpick 🙂
Hello!! love this recipe, how do I achieve this super crushed carrot consistency? when I grate it in the food processor or greater it comes out different than yours
We grate and then pulse for about 3 seconds in the food processor after (very briefly). It’s up to you the size you like 🙂