My Favorite Carrot Cake Recipe

Name: My Favorite Carrot Cake Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups (260g) chopped pecans or walnuts (1 cup for cake, 1 cup for garnish)*; 1 and 1/2 cups (300g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar; 1 cup (226g/240ml) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)*; 4 large eggs, at room temperature; 3/4 cup (180g) smooth unsweetened applesauce; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 2 cups (260g) grated carrots (about 4 large); 16 ounces (452g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 4 cups (480g) confectioners’ sugar; 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; pinch of salt, to taste

Instructions

Prep:30minCook:25min

With its outstanding spice flavor, super moist crumb, and velvety cream cheese frosting, this is truly the best carrot cake. Use brown sugar and toasted pecans for deeper flavor. This recipe is also in my cookbook, Sally's Baking 101.

Updated at: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:12:49 GMT