The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

This easy, from-scratch carrot cake recipe uses simple ingredients to make the best moist and perfectly spiced cake. Paired with fluffy cream cheese frosting, this is the only carrot cake recipe you need!

Dry Ingredients

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

1

Whisk Eggs

In a glass large measuring cup, whisk the eggs and vanilla extract.

2

Cream Butter

Add the butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. This should take about 8-10 minutes.

3

Add Eggs

Add the beaten eggs to the butter mixture and mix until the mixture is light and fluffy. Mix in the orange zest.

4

Prepare Batter

Add the dry ingredients alternating with the liquids until completely blended and smooth. Use the following order: ⅓ dry ingredients → ½ liquids → ½ dry ingredients → remaining liquids → remaining dry ingredients.

5

Add Carrots

Finally, add the carrots to the batter and mix on low speed until combined.

6

Bake

Evenly divide the batter between the three prepared cake pans and bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.

7

Assemble

Frost the cooled cake layers with cream cheese frosting. Top with caramel sauce and chopped walnuts.

8