Sharing the BEST EVER Carrot Cake Recipe

A couple of weeks back, I shared the menu for my dad’s 80th birthday celebration.  In the post, I referenced the Best Ever Carrot Cake and told you I’d be back with the carrot cake recipe.  

Even though I’m sharing it with you a week later than I had intended, I promise you, it’s definitely worth the wait. This Southern Living recipe has been in my recipe binder for many years. In fact, I know I made it as the birthday cake for my son’s 1st birthday, and he is now almost 16! (Gulp)  

It is one of a handful of recipes that I just don’t mess with it.  Some others include Cook’s Illustrated’s Pad Thai and Martha Stewart’s Classic Apple Pie.

It is, by far, the most requested dessert in my dessert repertoire.  My entire family, with the exception of my mom, usually requests this cake for their birthday, as well as other ‘cake-worthy’ occasions.  It’s a bit of a labor of love as the recipe instructs you to line the bottom and sides of your cake pans with greased and floured parchment paper, because of the moistness of the cake.  

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This past time, I used my brand new Williams-Sonoma Cleartouch cake pans, so risked not lining the sides, though I did line the bottom.  I did not have any problem, but I’m not sure I would risk not lining the bottom of the pan in the future.  

Full disclosure, other than the carrots, pineapple, and coconut, this is a truly decadent dessert.  The buttermilk glaze poured over the just-out-of-the-oven cake layers makes the cake impossibly moist.  I’ve toyed with the idea of skipping the glaze because the thought of pouring melted butter and corn syrup over cake makes my arteries a little jittery (and other parts a little jiggly); however,  I’m really afraid to mess with success.  Plus, we have this cake only 3-4 times a year, and you really should eat decadent desserts at least that often!  Right?

the Best Ever Carrot Cake Recipe

So, without further ado, here’s the recipe for The BEST EVER Carrot Cake

Best Carrot Cake

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

A decadently moist and flavorful carrot cake.

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Ingredients

For the cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrot
• 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 3 1/2-ounce can flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Buttermilk Glaze

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Line 3 (9-inch) round cakepans with wax paper; lightly grease and flour wax paper. Set pans aside.
2. Stir together first 4 ingredients.
3. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold in carrot and next 3 ingredients. Pour batter into prepared cakepans.
4. Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Drizzle Buttermilk Glaze evenly over layers; cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Buttermilk Glaze

1. Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a heavy pot or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring often, 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.

Notes

My modifications:
I don't buy sweetened coconut. I just use Bob's Red Mill (unsweetened) Shredded Coconut since it really doesn't need to be sweeter.
I told you that I didn't line the sides of the pans, but I did use Bak-Kleene non-stick spray, from Williams-Sonoma
I find that one batch of the cream cheese frosting is not quite enough, so I make a recipe and a half by using 2 8-oz packages of cream cheese, 4 cups of powdered sugar, 1 cup butter and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Did you make this recipe?

It would be great if you could take a minute and leave a comment below, as well as how many stars you think it deserves. Help other readers by asking any questions you have or sharing any modifications to the recipe. I'd love to hear how you served it! If you are on Instagram, then tag @nourishandnestle on Instagram and hashtag it #nourishandnestle! Many Thanks

 Does your family have a go-to favorite Birthday/Celebration Cake?  What is it?  Always looking for good dessert recipes.

If you think this recipe looks good, you should also check out my coconut cake with mango filling recipe. I tried to replicate the coconut cake that our favorite local Thai restaurant serves!

You might also like this simple carrot bread recipe. Carrot bread is similar to carrot cake but a little healthier with less sugar. But you’ll never miss the sugar in this moist and flavorful quick bread.

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!