Easter Carrot Walnut Cake (Printable)
Moist carrot cake with walnuts and luscious cream cheese frosting for festive spring occasions.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - ½ teaspoon ground ginger
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
10 - 1 cup vegetable oil
11 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 - 3 cups finely grated carrots
14 - 1 cup chopped walnuts
15 - ½ cup raisins
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
16 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
17 - 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
18 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
19 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
20 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
21 - ½ cup chopped walnuts
22 - Fresh carrot curls or edible flowers
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, lining bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil in a large bowl until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each. Stir in vanilla.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Fold in grated carrots, walnuts, and raisins using a spatula.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Smooth tops. Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
06 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
07 - Spread frosting layer on one cooled cake. Top with second layer and frost top and sides. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and garnish with carrot curls or edible flowers.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is incredibly moist without being heavy or dense
- The warming spices make your whole kitchen smell like spring comfort
- Cream cheese frosting turns this humble vegetable cake into something celebratory
02 -
- Overmixing the batter after adding flour makes the cake tough so fold gently
- Cool cakes completely before frosting or the cream cheese will melt and slide right off
- Room temperature ingredients prevent lumps in both batter and frosting
03 -
- Grate carrots using the fine side of a box grater for the best texture
- Press parchment paper into the pan with crumpled corners for perfect fit