Carrot cake

Carrot cake

The classic, homely carrot cake receives a stylish makeover with this straightforward recipe

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 12

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr 20 mins

plus cooling time

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Line a 20cm, 10cm deep cake tin. Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda together and stir in the sugar. Beat the eggs with the oil and citrus zests. Stir in the carrots and fold everything into the flour mixture. Fold in the walnuts and pineapple if using. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool.
  2. For the frosting, beat the butter and icing sugar together until soft and then beat in the cream cheese. Chill the mixture until it's thick but spreadable. Spread a thick layer on top of the cake, making sure the side of the icing is flat and continues upwards from the side of the cake.
Try

Like this?

You might also like to try Angela Nilsen's healthier option, Ultimate makeover: Carrot cake, or indulge with Carrot & cream cheese cupcakes .

Per serving

628 kcalories, protein 7.6g, carbohydrate 43.0g, fat 48.5 g, saturated fat 15.5g, fibre 1.6g, salt 0.53 g

Recipe from olive magazine, June 2007.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2007-11-10 10:35:59.041736

    kim parkin rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 2007-12-28 12:20:50.429662

    Lisalou rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    A lovely, moist carrot cake. I found I had to bake it for about 10 minutes longer than suggested in the recipe but that may just be my oven. I left out the pineapple and walnuts as I am not a lover of either and the cake was still delicious. The recipe didn't say how much bicarb to use so I guessed at a tsp and this seemed to be ok.

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  • 2008-01-10 15:53:20.980232

    Hester rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a great cake, not sickly sweet like some of them, a bit more grown-up. 1 tsp of bicarb seems to do the trick. My little boy turned the oven to 0 C about 2/3 of the way through cooking and it still came out great so I guess it's a pretty fool proof recipe! I left out the lemon peel as I didn't have any and also didn't put in the pineapple as we don't like it. Also I had some pecan nuts in the house so I did 1/2 walnuts and 1/2 pecans which was great. Also I added 1/2 tsp of ginger powder. I put 1/2 icing sugar and 1/2 honey in the icing which was lovely - this was an idea from an old Mary Berry recipe. Definitely recommended.

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  • 2008-01-16 14:47:20.917967

    Kate rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really easy recipe and turns out great every time. I used 1 tsp of bicarb. Have used different nuts incl pecans which works well. Would definitely recommend.

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  • 2008-01-23 11:56:40.557525

    janet commented on this recipe

    This has become a firm family favourite and works every time.We like it both with and without the pineapple.

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  • 2008-01-23 16:46:33.475921

    Chia commented on this recipe

    I made this over the Xmas holidays and it turned out perfect, everyone loved it. I froze it without the topping and it froze really well even with the pineapple in it.

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  • 2008-01-27 13:04:50.801979

    HazellWinter rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Lovely cake, I did not add any walnuts as no one like them! As with some other comments I did need to bake in anther 10 mins I guess all ovens vary slighty.

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  • 2008-01-27 14:52:35.764767

    lisa loo commented on this recipe

    this recipe was so easy to make!! all the family loved it!!did'nt put any walnuts in ,but nxt time i will try pecans!!

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  • 2008-02-03 11:28:54.085637

    brum rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Easy to make. Had to cook it for an extra 30mins, which was unusual as any cake I make the timing is usually spot on, but was still lovely & moist.

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  • 2008-02-05 18:05:40.178636

    valentine commented on this recipe

    i made this cake recently for my husbands birthday,i added pecans instead of walnuts and i put no butter in the frosting, all the family enjoyed it ,i found it to be the best carrot cake recipe i have used so far , would definately use again!

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  • 2008-02-05 18:06:41.131394

    valentine rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 2008-02-13 18:47:44.959582

    Emma rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Absolutely fab recipe, really easy to make and looks really professional. A really impressive centerpiece.

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  • 2008-02-13 21:41:07.443784

    munch rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 2008-02-18 08:31:53.018635

    Italiana rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    As a bit of a baker I was asked if I could bake a few cakes for my local church's monthly coffee morning. I've always played it safe with the usual vicotria sandwich or chocolate cake but this month decided to try this Carrot Cake (minus the pineapple). Well what can I say but it went down a treat, the compliments of congratulations were rolling in one after the other together with the requests for the recipe. My 8yr old son however, asked if I could make it again but swap the walnuts for raisins?? Unfortunately for the victoria sandwich that got auctioned off!

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  • 2008-02-18 10:00:09.121466

    Italiana commented on this recipe

    Oh sorry forgot to mention that I used 2tsp of Ground mixed spice as I didn't have any cinnamon.....still worked out fantastic!!

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  • 2008-02-19 11:36:32.688475

    Gabsy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Easy and delicious, highly reccomended! I turned the oven to 170C/fan and it was ready in 45 minutes.

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  • 2008-02-24 14:22:34.370731

    mollymolly commented on this recipe

    I put in 1 tsp and the cake was too high and cracked - oven was the right temp etc.

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  • 2008-02-28 22:55:26.170541

    babbymint commented on this recipe

    Hi - Can anyone tell me whether if I used this recipe in a 10" square tin - it would be ok? Need to have a bigger cake so was thinking to make 2 of these and sandwich them together. Anyone???

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  • 2008-03-01 16:11:15.060201

    Italiana commented on this recipe

    Hi babbymint! Personally I think a 10" square tin would be fine however keep an eye on the baking time as it make cook quicker because it's not so deep. Let us know how it went! Good Luck!

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  • 2008-03-04 22:03:29.608548

    Linda commented on this recipe

    I have made this cake several times and it is absolutely delicious. The cooking time varies each time I make it - from exactly as the recipe says to half an hour longer, however, the cake is always lovely.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 12

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr 20 mins

plus cooling time

Ingredients

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • 125g unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 50g icing sugar
  • 250g cream cheese
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Per serving

628 kcalories, protein 7.6g, carbohydrate 43.0g, fat 48.5 g, saturated fat 15.5g, fibre 1.6g, salt 0.53 g

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