Super Moist Carrot Cake

Super Moist Carrot Cake

Super Moist Carrot Cake

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There’s nothing that I don’t like about this cake, so I can easily say “hello autumn” with enthusiasm. Super moist, lightly spiced, textured with coconut and smothered with a dreamy cream cheese frosting. Super Moist Carrot Cake is a winner every time, feeds a small crowd and freezes exceptionally well.

Super Moist Carrot Cake just out of the oven in a silver baking pan and icing in the background.

Did I mention it’s also quick and easy with minimal mess, other than shredded carrot that seems to get everywhere LOL! It’s the perfect fall cake that turns the humble carrot into the most delicious dessert. It’s a nostalgic recipe for me, being slightly adapted from a gifted cookbook when I was only 17 years old and graduating from high school. It’s a treasured book, missing its cover, yellowed and ratty. But every time I thumb through it, I’m taken back to a simpler time, high school friends and big dreams. Thank you Simone and Marlene for this simple yet wonderful book that I still love 31 years later. Proving that great recipes are timeless.

Super Moist Carrot Cake in a 9"x13" pan with cream cheese icing and decorated with piped carrots.
A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin with a pan of cake in the background.
A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.

Author: Coompelled to Cook, slightly adapted from the book “Let’s Break Bread Together” circa 1989?

A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
Super Moist Carrot Cake
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    9x13 pan 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    45-50 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    9x13 pan 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    45-50 minutes
    A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
    Super Moist Carrot Cake
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      9x13 pan 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      45-50 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      9x13 pan 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      45-50 minutes
      Instructions
      Cake
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray.
      2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
      3. In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time whisking well to fully combine after each. Stir in orange juice and vanilla.
      4. Whisk in half of the dry ingredients followed by half the milk. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk, whisking only until just combined. Stir in carrots, pineapple and coconut. Pour into prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
      5. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, spread evenly with cream cheese icing. Cut into 20-24 pieces and serve.
      Cream Cheese Icing
      1. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until just combined and smooth. Spread onto cooled cake.
      Recipe Notes

      -Cake freezes well without icing for up to a month if well wrapped.

      -Cake freezes well if iced and cut into squares, stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

      -Recipe makes for a thick layer of icing.  Icing freezes well on its own in an airtight container for up to a month.

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      Squash Spice Cake

      Squash Spice Cake

      Move over zucchini and pumpkin, squash takes the cake!  Finely grated butternut squash gives way to moist and tender Squash Spice Cake.  Yes, it is widely known that zucchini makes for moist muffins, cakes and loaves, but wait right there!!  What about squash, doesn’t it deserve the same recognition?  It does and as far as I’m concerned it’s very much undervalued in the cake and muffin world.  I think because we are all mildly obsessed with using zucchini and pumpkin in our baking right now we’re overlooking an equal rival. So today I bring the squash front and center in this lovely Squash Spice Cake.

      This cake is every bit as moist as its zucchini counterpart but with a subtle sweetness that zucchini lacks.  What is important in this recipe is to use a fine grater, like the one you would use to grate fresh parmesan cheese.  It needs to be quite fine in order to cook down and soften in the time it takes for the cake to bake.  A light spice and toasted hazelnuts creates interest and crunch, plus it makes the house smell wonderful.

      What I love about this recipe is the gorgeous burnished copper colour that this cake takes on.  It’s moist, tender and ready to go head to head with any zucchini cake around.   Enjoy!

      Recipe source:  Inspired by Epicurious Ginger Squash Cake with White Chocolate Frosting

       

       

       

      Squash Spice Cake is lightly spiced, moist and topped with cream cheese icing.
      Squash Spice Cake
      Print Recipe
      Lightly spiced and tender, topped with cream cheese frosting an toasted hazelnuts.
        Servings
        24 Pieces
        Cook Time
        30-35 minutes
        Servings
        24 Pieces
        Cook Time
        30-35 minutes
        Squash Spice Cake is lightly spiced, moist and topped with cream cheese icing.
        Squash Spice Cake
        Print Recipe
        Lightly spiced and tender, topped with cream cheese frosting an toasted hazelnuts.
          Servings
          24 Pieces
          Cook Time
          30-35 minutes
          Servings
          24 Pieces
          Cook Time
          30-35 minutes
          Ingredients
          Cake
          Icing
          Servings: Pieces
          Instructions
          Squash Spice Cake
          1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 9"x13" pan.
          2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt, set aside.
          3. Cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in one egg at a time, incorporating after each. Whisk in sour cream, orange juice and vanilla.
          4. Whisk in dry ingredients and combine until just incorporated.
          5. Stir in squash and 1 cup of the hazelnuts.
          6. Spread evenly into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
          Cream Cheese Icing
          1. Beat together butter, cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and 2 cups of icing sugar, beat until smooth. Spread evenly onto cooled cake and top with remaining 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts. Cut into 24 pieces.
          Recipe Notes

          Peel butternut squash then split in half lengthwise. Cut into large chunks and grate using a fine grater. It is essential to use the fine grates (like you would use to grate parmesan cheese).  The finely grated squash will cook in the time the cake takes to bake.

          The brown sugar in the icing will dissolve as it gets beaten with the cream cheese and butter.