Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
Published Mar 27, 2024
Updated Mar 19, 2025
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Friends, I have been dying to show you this recipe! Carrot and coconut flakes in a cake? Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Seriously, nothing could be better. My mint tea has found a new bestie in this Old Fashioned Carrot Cake.
This carrot cake is filled with warm spices, flaky coconut, and shredded carrots. It is unbelievably moist and perfect for when you want a treat that isn’t overly sweet.
AND the creamy cream cheese frosting is everything! I won’t lie. This carrot cake is delicious on its own without a frosting. BUT, the cream cheese frosting used in this recipe is so cheesy, creamy, and yummy that I couldn’t resist adding it.
If you happen to love cream cheese frosting, you should also try my Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting or Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – they definitely won’t disappoint! But for now, let’s get back to this heavenly carrot cake recipe.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned Carrot Cake Recipe
- It’s classic. If you love old-fashioned baking, this is the recipe to make. Carrot cake has stood the test of time, reigning as one of the most recognizable and classic desserts. If you’ve never made one, now is the time!
- My recipe is easy to follow. It guides you through making a gorgeous layered carrot cake. And you don’t have to be a professional to make it. Your family or guests will be so impressed by the outcome. Not only is it pretty to look at it, but it is a dream to eat.
- It’s perfect for holidays and celebrations. Not quite sure what to make for Easter? Or Mother’s Day? Or what to bring to the next family gathering? This cake is the answer! No matter what you’re celebrating, this dessert is sure to win everyone over. It’s the perfect cake to make on every Easter holiday.
Ingredients Needed
Here is what you need for the best carrot cake:
Let’s talk about this cake for a minute. It is so easy to make. It requires simple baking ingredients, such as all purpose flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and leavening agents. However, it also has some special ingredients that give it some pizzaz! Here are some notes about them:
- Grated Carrots: Of course, it’s not a carrot cake without some grated carrots! You’ll want to use thin shredded pieces. If they are too thick, you will end up with chunky or chewy pieces that don’t seamlessly blend into the cake. Use a grater or food processor instead of chopping them by hand!
- Coconut Flakes: Coconut adds both texture and flavor to the cake. Although not every carrot cake recipe calls for them, I believe they add value to the recipe!
- Ground Cinnamon: This spice gives the cake a warm flavor. It is part of what makes old fashioned carrot cake so darn delicious and comforting!
- Apple Sauce: Apple sauce adds subtle sweetness while providing the cake with moisture. You can use homemade apple sauce or store-bought.
You will also need a few simple ingredients for the icing, such as cream cheese, butter, powdered or confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract:
P.S. Also check out my recipe for irresistible Salted Caramel Cake.
How To Make An Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
Here is how to make this traditional carrot cake step by step with corresponding photos:
- Grease and flour the pans. Cover the bottom of the pans with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine flour and all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Then gradually add the wet ingredients and mix-ins to the flour mixture to form a stunning orange-looking batter.
- Stop mixing the batter once everything is thoroughly incorporated. It’s a one-bowl mixing affair!
- Evenly distribute the carrot cake batter between the two cake pans, using cake strips if you have them.
- Bake the cakes until thoroughly baked (a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean).
- Let the cake cool on a wire rack while you make your cream cheese frosting.
How To Frost an Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
You could top grandma’s old fashioned carrot cake with a dusting of powdered sugar, or you could make my favorite cream cheese frosting to go with it. With four easy steps, this is one of the easiest frostings you can make.
- To make the frosting, mix cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, using an electric mixer or a stand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Frost the cooled cake with your prepared piping bag and tip. Frost the bottom layer first, starting at the edges.
- Entirely cover the bottom layer’s surface with stars frosted using a star piping tip.
- Place the second cake onto the first and frost the top in the same fashion, with stars.
This cake has a moist texture and rich flavor, and the cake layers are so beautiful when frosted this way. It tastes even better the next day.
Classic carrot cake is a great thing to serve on a special occasion like Easter or memorable family gatherings. Slice and enjoy!
You can make this cake a layer cake or a sheet cake baked in a 9 by 13 baking pan.
Substitutions and Variations
You can switch up things and make this old-fashioned carrot cake recipe your own. Here are some suggestions:
- Spices: In place of the cinnamon, you can use nutmeg!
- Nuts: For a crunchy addition, consider adding chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Pineapple: For a more tropical carrot cake, you can replace the applesauce with fresh pineapple pieces. The sweet and tart flavor of the pineapple pairs wonderfully with the cake and rich frosting.
- Raisins: Some people prefer to use raisins in their old fashioned carrot cake! You can always add some. I suggest soaking them in hot water for a few minutes first to help plump them up. Otherwise, they might try to absorb the liquid from the cake and make the cake itself dry.
- Coconut: If you don’t have access to coconut flakes, you can use coconut sweet, which is a sweet snack made from shredded and toasted coconuts!
Expert Tips
- Allow the cake to cool completely before you begin frosting it. If it is still warm, the icing will melt and become a mess, which you certainly don’t want!
- For best results, use fresh carrots and shred them yourself. Although buying pre-shredded carrots from the grocery store saves time, they are usually dry and don’t have as fresh a flavor.
- Use cake strips if you can! You just have to soak them in water, wring out the extra liquid, and then wrap them around the cake pan, securing them in place. The dampness from the strips protects the cake’s edges, so they don’t cook faster than the center. You can use them for any cake you make.
- When making the icing, it’s crucial to use softened butter and cream cheese; otherwise, it will come out lumpy and be hard to pipe. I suggest allowing them to sit at room temperature for a while. If you try to take a shortcut and soften them in the microwave, they might melt!
- To store carrot cake, let the layers cool completely then wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze them. Assemble the layers with frosting before serving.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Cream cheese icing is the traditional choice for carrot cake, especially for old-fashioned carrot cake!
Sometimes, you might find recipes that use something else, but the cream cheese icing is used for a reason. It has a sweet yet tangy essence that perfectly pairs with the spices and ingredients in the cake.
Oil works better than butter in carrot cake because it makes the crumb really soft and moist, which is much needed to balance the texture of the carrots.
Otherwise, it might be overly cakey. In fact, carrot cake already contains many heavy ingredients and butter would just make it heavier and denser.
If you accidentally add too much liquid to your batter, the cake can collapse because it isn’t stable enough. Make sure to carefully measure the ingredients, so you have the right ratios.
Another possible reason for this issue is that you opened the oven door too much during the baking process, causing the cake to deflate. Resist the urge to open the door while the cake bakes because the rush of cold air into the oven can negatively affect baked goods.
More Cake Recipes
If you love this old-fashioned recipe, also check out these delicious cake recipes:
And for an elegant but simple cake, make my Pear Almond Cake.
More Dessert Recipes
Love desserts? Check these out:
If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe plus I love hearing from you! Thank you!
Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons more to coat baking pans
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup coconut flakes or 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup apple sauce unsweetened
- 4 large eggs
For the frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease 2 round 8-inch baking pans with vegetable oil and coat them with flour. Use one pan to trace out two circles on parchment paper. Cut out the parchment paper with scissors. Place a parchment paper circle at the bottom of each pan.
- Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit or 176 Degrees Celsius.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon (or nutmeg) powder in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer on low speed.
- Add coconut flakes, shredded carrots, vegetable oil, eggs, and apple sauce, and mix until it forms a batter.
- Evenly distribute the batter between the two baking pans and place in the oven to bake for about 30 minutes. Wrap the pans with baking strips if you have them. The cake is ready when a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely for about an hour. Then, you can proceed with the frosting.
For the frosting
- To make the frosting: Place butter, cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract into a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until it has a whipped consistency.
- To assemble the cake: Place the frosting into a piping bag fitted with an open star tip. Place the first layer of cake upside down on a cake stand or plate. Pipe pretty stars on the first layer to completely cover it. Place the second layer gently upside down on the stars. Pipe pretty stars over the second layer. This video on how to decorate naked cakes is useful. If you do not have a piping bag or open star tip, use a Ziploc bag in place of a piping bag and pipe small dollops of the frosting over the cake. See recipe notes for instructions on how to frost the cake if that's your preferred method.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- In place of apple sauce, you could use crushed pineapple. To make apple sauce at home, peel and cut some apples, cook until soft, then blend into a paste.
- For those without access to coconut flakes, coconut sweet (a sweet snack made from shredded and toasted coconuts) will be a good substitute.
- You could also bake this cake in a 9 by 13 baking dish.
- Substitute the cup of shredded coconut with chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or a mix of both.
- Alternatively, frost the cake by placing one cake on a plate or a cake stand, topping with about ½ cup of the frosting and levelling with a spatula. Continue with the second cake, then coat all the cake with frosting. Garnish the bottom of the cake with chopped walnuts or pecans, if desired.
- Baking strips help the cake stay even on top as it bakes. I recommend getting them if you can.
Carrot and flakes baked in a cake. I mouth watering likely wonder how it feels to slowly chew into a bite, savouring every single particle. If wishes were horses.
It is so good!
Hello Precious dear. That carrot cake looks delicious, I tried it without eggs and it was wonderful. But am still waiting … you promised doing something for vegans …
Hi precious have learnt so much from your blog you are doing a great job 👍👍👍 will try out this carrot cake using your recipe. Thanks so much
Please let me know how the carrot cake goes, Cecile. Thanks dear!