Easter Carrot Cake Walnuts (Printer-friendly)
Moist spiced carrot loaf with crunchy walnuts and smooth cream cheese topping, perfect for spring celebrations.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1½ teaspoons baking soda
04 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
05 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
10 - 1 cup vegetable oil
11 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Vegetables & Nuts
13 - 2½ cups finely grated carrots
14 - 1 cup chopped walnuts
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
15 - 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
16 - ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
17 - 2½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
18 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
19 - Pinch of salt
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing gently with a spatula just until combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Fold in grated carrots and chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula for even baking.
07 - Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy and smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
10 - Once cakes are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting on one cake layer, top with the second layer, then frost the top and sides evenly.
11 - Sprinkle additional chopped walnuts over the top if desired for garnish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly moist, thanks to all those fresh carrots working their magic
- Walnuts add the perfect crunch against the tender crumb, making every bite interesting
- That cream cheese frosting alone is worth the entire effort
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients for the frosting are nonnegotiable or you will end up with lumpy frosting
- Grating your own carrots instead of buying pregrated makes a huge difference in texture and moisture
- Let the cakes cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt and slide right off
03 -
- Grate your carrots on the finest holes of your box grater for the best texture and even distribution
- Toasted walnuts add an incredible depth of flavor, just pop them in a 350°F oven for 8 minutes before chopping