Best Ever Old Fashioned Carrot Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting
Old Fashioned Carrot Cake is coated in an amazing cheesecake frosting and topped with delicious toasted pecans. Perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups grated carrots
Icing
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, room temperature
- 16 ounces cream cheese 2 - 8 ounce packages, room temperature
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cup pecans Chopped Finely and toasted
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 2 – 8 inch round cake pans with butter and flour.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer) beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Sprinkle flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon over top and mix to combine.
- Add carrots and mix well.
- Pour into prepared cake pans and bake until done, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Allow cakes to cool for 10 minutes on a cooling rack, then invert on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
- While the cakes are cooling prepare the icing.
Icing
- In large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla and blend.
- Spread on cooled carrot cake.
Assembly
- Using a cake leveler or a bread knife, slice cakes in half to make 4 cake layers. Put a dab of frosting in the center of your plate. Place the first layer, cut side up on a plate. Slide cut 4"x4" pieces of parchment or aluminum foil under your cake layer to protect the plate from getting frosting on it.
- Frost bottom layer and add the second layer, repeat until you have the top layer on the cake. The top layer should be bottom side up, cut side down. The smoothest layer. Frost the top and sides with the remaining icing. Press the chopped toasted pecans on the sides of the cake. You can add a decorative touch by trimming the top in toasted whole pecans.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 1078cal | Carbohydrates: 131g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 385mg | Sugar: 111g | Fiber: 3g | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg