Get Set for Spring with this Homemade Carrot Cake Recipe
Description
The birds are chirping, and the flowers are beginning to bloom…Spring is just around the corner! What better way to celebrate than with a delicious, homemade carrot cake?
This classic dessert is perfect for any occasion, but there’s something about the fresh flavors of carrots, apples, and raisins that make it particularly well-suited for springtime. This crowd-pleasing recipe will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, and it’s simple enough to make for any level of baker.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of raisins
5 eggs
2 cups of sugar
1 1/2 cups of cold corn oil
2 1/2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of chopped pecans (reserve 1 1/2 cups for the side of the cake)
1 1/2 cups of small-diced apples with the skin removed
3 1/2 cups of grated carrots
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Instructions
You’ll also need a greased and floured 9 x13 pan or small circular pans.
Soak the raisins in hot water for about 10 minutes. This will help to plump them up and ensure they’re nice and juicy when you add them to the cake batter. Once they’ve soaked, be sure to drain off any excess water and blot them dry with a paper towel.
Next, it’s time to whip up the batter. With a mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until they’re light and creamy. Slowly add the cold corn oil, continuing to mix until everything is well combined. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, and then add this mixture to the sugar and egg mixture. Be sure to mix everything well so that there are no lumps.
Now it’s time to add the star ingredients: chopped pecans, diced apples, grated carrots, and those plump raisins. Be sure to gently mix everything together so the batter doesn’t become too dense. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9×13 pan or smaller circular pans. Then, bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
While the cake is cooling, it’s time to make the cream cheese icing. This is a classic pairing for carrot cake, and it’s easy to make at home. Simply combine an 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened butter, and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat everything together until the icing is silky smooth.
If you’re baking in a circular pan, add icing between the layers and frost the top and sides of the cake. Otherwise, spread the icing evenly over the top of the cooled cake. For a finishing touch, add some of the reserved chopped pecans to the sides of the cake. You can also get creative with decorating, adding spring flowers or sprinkles for a festive touch.
There you have it: a delicious, homemade carrot cake perfect for springtime celebrations. This cake is full of fresh, seasonal flavors and a great way to use up any extra carrots you may have lying around.
So what are you waiting for? Whip up a batch of this classic dessert and enjoy a taste of spring!
2 thoughts on “Homemade Carrot Cake”
Oooh looks and sounds delicious. I’m going to try this soon. I usually add crushed pineapple but apple sounds interesting. Thanks.
Hi Michele,
Crushed pineapple sounds amazing! I’m going to give that a try; thanks for sharing.