Carrot Walnut Cake
This wonderfully moist and spiced carrot walnut cake is packed with fresh vegetables and crunchy nuts, finished with a luscious cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- •2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
- •2 teaspoons baking powder
- •1 teaspoon baking soda
- •1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- •0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- •0.5 teaspoon salt
- •1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- •0.75 cup brown sugar, packed (150g)
- •1 cup vegetable oil (240ml)
- •4 large eggs, room temperature
- •2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- •3 cups grated carrots (about 3-4 medium carrots)
- •1 cup chopped walnuts (100g)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt.
- 3
In a separate, large mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil together until well combined.
- 4
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- 5
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined and no dry flour remains.
- 6
Fold in the freshly grated carrots and chopped walnuts gently with a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- 7
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- 8
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- 9
Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before serving or frosting.
💡 Chef tips
- For the best texture and moisture, grate your own carrots using a box grater rather than buying pre-shredded store-bought carrots.
- Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet for 5 minutes before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor.
- Store the frosted cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, bringing it to room temperature before serving.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished cake should be incredibly moist, fragrant with warm spices and toasted nuts, and feature a tender crumb dotted with bright orange carrot shreds.