15 Irresistible Carrot Cake Recipes

Carrot cake is one of those timeless desserts that never goes out of style. Moist, warmly spiced, and perfectly balanced with sweet cream cheese frosting, it’s a favorite for everything from casual family dinners to special celebrations.

Whether you’re looking for a classic carrot cake, a lighter everyday version, or a bakery-style showstopper, you’ll find dependable recipes that actually work. You’ll also discover different textures, spice blends, and frosting styles so you can choose the perfect carrot cake for birthdays, holidays, or weekend baking.

Bookmark this guide if you love homemade carrot cake, reliable desserts, and recipes that deliver moist results every single time.

1. Classic Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This classic carrot cake is soft, tender, and packed with warm spices. The crumb is incredibly moist without being dense, and the tangy cream cheese frosting balances the sweetness perfectly. It’s the kind of cake that works for birthdays, Easter, or anytime you want a dependable dessert.

Ingredients

For the Cake

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Finely grated carrots

For the Frosting

• Cream cheese, softened
• Unsalted butter, softened
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat eggs with granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
4. Slowly mix in oil and vanilla, then fold in grated carrots.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
6. Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 30–35 minutes.
7. Cool completely before frosting.
8. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar and vanilla.
9. Frost and assemble the cake.

2. Easy One-Bowl Carrot Cake

This one-bowl carrot cake is perfect for busy days when you want homemade dessert without the mess. It’s light, fluffy, and gently spiced, making it ideal for casual gatherings or weeknight treats.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
4. Fold in grated carrots evenly.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool before serving or frosting as desired.

3. Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Nuts

This old-fashioned carrot cake has a hearty texture thanks to chopped nuts and a generous amount of carrots. It’s rich, comforting, and perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots
• Chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two round cake pans.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs with brown sugar until thick and smooth.
4. Mix in oil and vanilla.
5. Stir in carrots and chopped nuts.
6. Add dry ingredients and mix gently.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes until set.
8. Cool before frosting or serving plain.

4. Spiced Carrot Sheet Cake

This spiced carrot sheet cake is soft, flavorful, and feeds a crowd easily. It’s ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, or make-ahead desserts.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a sheet pan.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
3. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
4. Fold in grated carrots evenly.
5. Spread batter into pan and bake for 30–35 minutes.
6. Cool completely before slicing or frosting.

5. Light and Fluffy Carrot Cake

This lighter version of carrot cake has a soft, airy crumb while still delivering classic flavor. It’s great when you want something sweet but not overly heavy.

Ingredients

• Cake flour or all-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Finely grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare cake pans.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy.
4. Slowly mix in oil and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots, then gently add dry ingredients.
6. Bake for 28–32 minutes until lightly golden.
7. Cool before frosting or serving.

6. Pineapple Carrot Cake

This pineapple carrot cake is ultra-moist with a subtle tropical sweetness. Crushed pineapple keeps the crumb soft for days while balancing the warm spices. It’s perfect for spring gatherings, potlucks, or anyone who loves a softer, bakery-style cake.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Finely grated carrots
• Crushed pineapple, drained

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch round pans.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat eggs with sugar until smooth.
4. Mix in oil and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots and crushed pineapple.
6. Add dry ingredients and mix gently.
7. Bake 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool completely before frosting.

7. Carrot Cake with Raisins and Walnuts

This carrot cake has a classic, slightly rustic texture. Sweet raisins and crunchy walnuts add contrast to the soft crumb, making it perfect for coffee breaks or casual desserts.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots
• Raisins
• Chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease cake pans.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs and brown sugar until blended.
4. Stir in oil and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots, raisins, and walnuts.
6. Mix in dry ingredients just until combined.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes.
8. Cool before serving or frosting.

8. Small-Batch Carrot Cake (8-Inch Pan)

This small-batch carrot cake is ideal when you want dessert without leftovers. It’s soft, lightly spiced, and easy to make in a single pan.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Egg
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch round pan.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Add egg, oil, and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
4. Fold in grated carrots.
5. Pour batter into pan.
6. Bake 28–32 minutes.
7. Cool before slicing or frosting.

9. Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

This carrot cake feels rich and indulgent thanks to nutty brown butter frosting. The cake itself stays moist and tender, making it perfect for birthdays or special occasions.

Ingredients

For the Cake

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

For the Frosting

• Unsalted butter
• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare cake pans.
2. Mix dry cake ingredients in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
4. Fold in carrots, then dry ingredients.
5. Bake 30–35 minutes and cool completely.
6. Brown butter in a saucepan and let cool slightly.
7. Beat butter with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
8. Frost cooled cake.

10. Carrot Snack Cake with Simple Glaze

This carrot snack cake is light, simple, and perfect for everyday baking. A quick glaze adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the cake.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots
• Powdered sugar
• Milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a square baking pan.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla, mixing well.
4. Fold in grated carrots.
5. Bake for 30–35 minutes.
6. Whisk powdered sugar with milk to make glaze.
7. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake.

11. Classic Carrot Cake Cupcakes

These carrot cake cupcakes are soft, moist, and perfectly portioned. They deliver all the flavor of classic carrot cake with a tender crumb and creamy frosting, making them ideal for parties, bake sales, or easy sharing.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Finely grated carrots

Optional Frosting

• Cream cheese
• Unsalted butter
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs with sugars until smooth.
4. Mix in oil and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots, then dry ingredients.
6. Fill liners ¾ full and bake 18–22 minutes.
7. Cool completely before frosting.

12. Ultra-Moist Carrot Cake with Yogurt

Greek yogurt adds richness and moisture to this carrot cake without making it heavy. The result is a soft, tender crumb that stays fresh for days.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease cake pans.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs and sugar until smooth.
4. Add oil, yogurt, and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots and dry ingredients.
6. Bake 30–35 minutes.
7. Cool before frosting or serving.

13. Carrot Cake Loaf

This carrot cake loaf is simple, comforting, and perfect for slicing. It works well for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or casual dessert.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
4. Fold in carrots and dry ingredients.
5. Pour into pan and bake 45–50 minutes.
6. Cool before slicing.

14. Carrot Cake with Coconut

Shredded coconut adds subtle sweetness and texture to this carrot cake. It’s moist, lightly tropical, and great for spring or summer desserts.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Grated carrots
• Sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare cake pans.
2. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
4. Fold in carrots and coconut.
5. Add dry ingredients gently.
6. Bake 30–35 minutes.
7. Cool before frosting.

15. Bakery-Style Carrot Cake

This bakery-style carrot cake is tall, soft, and generously spiced. It’s perfect when you want a show-stopping dessert with professional-quality results.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Salt
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Finely grated carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease three 8-inch pans.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
3. Beat eggs with sugars until thick.
4. Add oil and vanilla.
5. Fold in carrots and dry ingredients.
6. Bake 25–30 minutes until set.
7. Cool completely before frosting and stacking.