If you make this carrot cake, snap a photo and share on Instagram using #TheFoodCharlatan! I love to see what you’re making! We love it. Eric’s dad Chip did an amazing installation. If you can think of any way to repay a family member who does awesome stuff like drive across the country to install your floors for free, let me know. I’ve already baked him 2 cakes (one was this carrot cake), a batch of chocolate chip cookies, Dark Chocolate Waffles, pancakes, bought him several quarts of Gunther’s ice cream, etc. (PS if you are ever visiting Sacramento, Gunther’s is a MUST.) We headed to a carpet place to see what kind of remnants they had (we wanted to get a remnant bound into a rug, because cheap.) But then I saw THIS: Isn’t it awesome??? It’s like a muppet, but you can walk on it. Then the shop owner told me it was $5,000. Aagh!! Here’s what we ended up getting. It hasn’t arrived yet. What do you think? My parents have a pecan tree in their backyard and these are leftover from the fall harvest. I love having friends and family who are willing to give away the fruits (literally) of their labor.
What does Carrot Cake taste like?
When I take a bite of carrot cake, the first flavors to hit my mouth are brown sugar and cinnamon, followed by nutmeg. Next I can taste the vanilla and pineapple. You really can’t taste the carrots at all, but they do add tons of moistness. If I’m eating this particular carrot cake, I’m also getting rich maple and tangy cream cheese flavors from the frosting. For the carrot cake: For the maple pecan frosting: More variation ideas:
I know I already said something mean about raisins. It’s not that I don’t like them, I just am not the biggest fan in my carrot cake. If you want them, add them! I’d do about a cup. If you don’t like cream cheese frosting (or don’t have cream cheese on hand), try my Maple Frosting Recipe with Pecans. Same concept, just omit the cream cheese and replace it with more butter. Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream (or vice versa). You might think that Greek yogurt is the less desirable “healthy” option, but I highly doubt you’ll notice a difference. Swap applesauce in for the oil. Again, it is a “healthy” option, but it makes the cake just as moist and delicious. A time-honored carrot cake tradition!
For the cake: Visit this Maple Pecan Buttercream Frosting post for more details on how to make the frosting. It’s almost the same recipe, I just swapped one stick of butter for a block of cream cheese.
How long does carrot cake last?
Carrot cake is good for about a week in the fridge–that’s actually a pretty long time for a dessert. If you’re freezing it, it will last for 2-3 months.
Does carrot cake need to be refrigerated?
Carrot cake itself doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but cream cheese frosting does. You can leave the frosted cake at room temperature for an hour or two, but then it needs to go in the fridge.
Can you freeze carrot cake?
Yes you can, and you can freeze it baked AND frosted. How great is that?? You can freeze the whole cake or cut and freeze individual portions. I recommend chilling it in the fridge for a few hours before you freeze it so the frosting will set up and won’t get squished. You can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then put it into a tupperware container with a lid or a tightly sealed ziploc bag. It will last for months (if you can avoid digging into your cake stash that long). Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram Layered Cornbread Cake with Whipped Honey Butter Frosting « my new obsession, it’s THAT good Almond Sheet Cake « perfect for spring! This cake is amazing! One of my personal favs. Blackberry Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting « comes together in a flash. Huge family favorite. Mississippi Mud Cake « just literal rivers of marshmallow and chocolate. Caramel Cake with Caramel Icing « I’m making this classic Southern treat surprisingly easy. The Best Chocolate Cake I’ve Ever Had « I’m not lying. Louisiana Stranger Cake from 2 Cookin’ Mamas Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake from Liv for Cake Pistachio Raspberry Cake from The Sugar Coated Cottage
