Treat yourself to a slice of heaven with our super-moist carrot cake recipe! Perfect for any occasion, this delightful treat will satisfy your sweet cravings and leave you craving more.

Without a doubt, this is the ultimate carrot cake recipe I've ever created. It's simple, made from scratch, incredibly moist, and topped with the creamiest cream cheese frosting. Plus, it's absolutely delicious! Add chopped walnuts or pecans for an extra crunch. Enjoy a slice with a cup of tea for a delightful treat anytime!
When I tried this carrot cake recipe, I was immediately hooked! The ingredients are basic, but they come together to make a delicious, moist cake with just the right amount of spice.
You probably already have most of the ingredients you need in your kitchen. If you're interested in making cupcakes, check out our recipe for pumpkin cupcakes or make my easy plum crumble with almond topping or Italian cherry crostata for a fruity option.
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💗 Why This Recipe Works
✅ Unbeatable moisture – Oil + fresh carrots = no dry cake here!
✅ This recipe uses pantry staples! Just like this peach cake with canned fruit.
✅ Easy from-scratch – No box mix needed.
✅ Creamy frosting – Tangy, smooth, and not too sweet.
✅ Customizable – Add nuts, raisins, or pineapple for extra texture.
♻️ Substitutions
For the sponge cake
- All-purpose flour: You can use whole wheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend for a healthier or gluten-free option.
- Ground Cinnamon: Use pumpkin pie spice or a combination of nutmeg and cloves.
- Canola or Vegetable Oil: Melted coconut oil. Substitute ¼ cup of oil with plain yoghurt for a tangy twist.
- Granulated Sugar: Coconut sugar or maple syrup.
- Lightly Packed Brown Sugar: You can substitute equal parts of granulated sugar or coconut sugar for brown sugar.
- Vanilla Extract: Almond extract or maple extract.
- Large Eggs: You can use flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg) or mashed bananas as egg replacements for a vegan option.
- Grated Peeled Carrots: Grated zucchini or grated sweet potatoes.
- Coarsely Chopped Pecans: Chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
- Raisins: Chopped dried apricots, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
For the creamy frosting
- Cream Cheese: Use dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan option.
- Powdered or Caster Sugar: Powdered erythritol or powdered coconut sugar.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Coconut cream or almond milk for a dairy-free option.
- Crème Fraîche: Sour cream or Greek yoghurt.
- Chopped Walnuts: Chopped almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts.
- Orange Peel: Omit the orange peel or substitute it with lemon zest.
💭 Expert Tips
- Don't Overmix the Batter: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can result in a dense or tough cake.
- For an ultra-moist cake, brush baked layers with orange syrup (1:1 ratio of orange juice to sugar, heated).
- For a super moist carrot cake with pineapple, → Add ½ cup drained, crushed pineapple to batter.
- Spices: Boost flavour with ½ teaspoon ginger + ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional).
- Yoghurt: Substitute ¼ cup of oil with plain yoghurt for a tangy twist.
- For softer crumbs: Replace 2 tablespoon flour with cornstarch.
- For even baking: Rotate pans halfway through baking.
Dietary Swaps
- Gluten-free? → Use 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Vegan? → Flax eggs + dairy-free cream cheese.
- Lower sugar? → Reduce sugar by ¼, add applesauce.
❓ FAQs
Fix it with:
✔ Don’t overbake – Check 5 mins early (toothpick should have moist crumbs).
✔ Use oil, not butter – Vegetable/canola oil retains moisture better.
✔ Add moisture boosters – Try ½ cup blended pineapple (drained) or applesauce.
✔ Measure flour correctly – Spoon & level (or use 260g by weight)
Yes! Customise with:
→ No nuts → Use shredded coconut or omit entirely.
→ No raisins → Try dried cranberries or chopped dates.
→ Pineapple version → Add ½ cup blended pineapple (drained) for natural sweetness.
Frosted cake → Fridge for 5 days (cover with cake dome or inverted bowl).
Unfrosted layers → Freeze for 3 months (wrap tightly in plastic + foil).
Room temp → Only if unfrosted (1-2 days max).
Pro Tip: For best texture, bring refrigerated cake to room temp before serving.
Two top options:
Classic Cream Cheese Frosting (firmer, pipeable):
16 oz cream cheese + ½ cup butter + 4½ cups powdered sugar.
Whipped Cream Frosting (lighter, less sweet):
1 cup heavy cream + ¼ cup powdered sugar + 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Cupcakes → Bake 18-20 mins at 350°F (makes 24).
Sheet cake → Use 9x13" pan; bake 40-45 mins.
Bundt cake → Bake 50-55 mins (grease pan heavily!).
If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Will Love These Too
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!
Ashley says
So delicious! I love how easy it was to put together too!
Swathi says
This carrot cake is so soft and perfect sweet taste. My family enjoyed making it.
Nora says
I tried this carrot cake, and it was absolutely divine! It was so moist and flavorful, with the perfect balance of spices, sweetness, and crunch. The creamy frosting with walnuts and orange zest took it to the next level. It's a show-stopping treat for any occasion!
Nisha says
This recipe came just in time when I was looking to bake a carrot cake and it turned out super moist and delicious with the cream cheese frosting.
vera says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! My family loved this.
Liz says
Carrot cake is my favorite dessert! The orange zest made this a delicious, memorable version!
Padma says
My most favorite of all cakes! I have always struggled with it not being moist enough - not this time though, thanks to your tips! 😊
Lindsey says
This is the most mouthwatering carrot cake EVER! It turns out unbelievably moist and decadent, with the perfect level of sweetness. 10/10!