Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
This carrot cake recipe with orange cream cheese frosting is my favorite homemade carrot cake recipe. It is easy to follow and makes a hearty, moist carrot cake that is topped with a tangy orange cream cheese frosting. Follow this recipe and you will have the best carrot cake ready to serve for your Easter dessert!
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup applesauce or vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 8oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1-2 Tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour a 9x13 baking pan.
- In a medium size bowl whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add grated carrots to the flour mixture, and toss to coat well. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl beat sugar and applesauce until smooth and creamy. Add in one egg at a time and beat on low speed until combined.
- Fold in pineapple until just combined.
- Slowly add in dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat until cake batter is just combined. Don't overmix.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- While cake is cooling, make frosting by beating softened cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Add in vanilla, milk, orange zest, and powdered sugar. Continue beating until smooth and creamy.
- Once cake has cooled, spread frosting evenly over cake and add chopped nuts if desired. Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!