Carrot Cake (Soft and Moist)

Experience carrots like never before with healthy, sweet, and appetizing Carrot Cake!

If you want to make your cake recipes nutritious, then consider using vegetables like carrots. It can be a new cake flavor for everyone in your family to try, and instead of buying it in bakeries, you can bake it at home.

After trying the Carrot Cake, it will surely be one of your favorite oven recipes. It’s perfect for guests and loved ones of all ages. The Carrot Cake will also not disappoint when it comes to flavor and texture.

The Carrot Cake can be your go-to recipe for celebrations, Thanksgiving, and especially weekends. Carrot Cake is 100% family-friendly, fun, and healthy for everyone. Are you excited to try it?

How to Make Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake is not at all hard to make, even for beginners in baking.

In this recipe, you will be invited to start a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a good way of eating more veggies like carrots. Rest assured that you won’t feel guilty after devouring this delightful pastry! 

Ingredients

What do you need to bake Carrot Cake?

Carrots

Don’t forget about the star of the recipe: carrots!

As you know, carrots are root vegetables known for their bright orange color. They have green carrot tops that are just as useful as vegetables. Carrots are versatile, and you can use them for many dishes.

Fresh carrots will taste like a good mix of mildly sweet, earthy, and slightly bitter flavors. Once you cook them, they will have an even better taste beyond what you can imagine.

I love using carrots for stewing, grilling, roasting, steaming, and stir-frying. There’s no reason not to try adding carrots to baked goods. I even remember making carrot puree for baby weaning!

I’ve tried plenty of carrot recipes, and all of them end up on my favorites list. I make carrot oil, carrot powder, and carrot juice, especially when we have leftover carrots.

Plain flour

Plain flour is always needed in any cake recipe. It supports the shape and structure of the cake as it bakes. The cake will also have a bouncy, light, and fluffy texture because the flour can also help with the rise.

I also use it for more of my cake recipes, like Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cake, Almond Cake, and Pound Cake. Aside from using plain flour, The Best Cake Recipes also suggests using cake flour or pastry flour as substitutes.

Caster sugar

Since carrots are only mildly sweet, I suggest adding caster sugar to your cake batter. Caster sugar is granulated and fine in texture compared to other kinds of sugar – easy to mix into the cake.

However, note that caster sugar is not as fine as powdered sugar. It’s definitely my go-to sugar for cake recipes like this one. You can also use sugar alternatives for healthier options.

Baking powder

Make the carrot cake airy, soft, and moist with the powerful leavening effects of baking powder. LiveStrong also suggests using baking powder to make the cake fluffy inside.

With this leavening agent, the carrot cake will feel like it’s melting in your mouth! I also use it when making Nigerian Buns, American Pancakes, and Almond Chocolate Chip Cupcakes.

Bicarbonate of soda

Aside from the baking powder, I also suggest using bicarbonate of soda to raise the cake. It is activated with a liquid to expand the mixture as it cooks. Bicarbonate of soda will react well with the baking powder, too.

You can use this for more of your bread and cake recipes for light and airy pastries all the time. It can even be a good alternative to baking powder, but I suggest using them both for the best results.

Eggs

For a perfectly structured cake, all you need are eggs. It improves consistency as well as the creamy quality that the pastry needs. In fact, the eggs can also give the cake a richer color and texture.

It will activate the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to give you the right cake quality. There are also egg substitutes that you can use to make the recipe better suited for your diet.

Seasoning

You need to season the cake with salt and vanilla extract in this recipe. Although the cake only needs a bit of salt, it can already improve the dish’s overall flavor. It will enhance the natural taste of the carrots for the best carrot cake.

Even a bit of vanilla extract can make a huge difference in the carrot cake. This is also a way of creating an illusion that the carrot cake actually has vanilla. 

Carrot oil

This unique homemade ingredient will not put your efforts to waste. Carrot oil is a natural and organic condiment for desserts. For homemade carrot oil, check out this easy guide on how I prepare it at home:

If you think store-bought cake is good, then wait until you relish this Carrot Cake. You might even find yourself making this every other week! 

Directions

Put your apron on and bake this Carrot Cake for your home!

1. Rinse the carrot.
2. Peel the vegetable with a peeler and grate it using a grater.
3. Filter and mix the plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and sea salt with a sieve over a bowl.
4. In a separate container, beat the eggs with a whisk and add the caster or powdered sugar. 
5. Then, add the carrot oil and vanilla extract.
6. Use a spatula to fold the wet and dry ingredients together until well incorporated.
7. Put in the grated carrots and fold them into the batter. 
8. Preheat the oven to 160°C.
9. Grease and line a cake tin with parchment paper.
10. Pour in the batter. Tap it on the counter to even out.
11. Bake it in the oven for 45 minutes to one hour.
12. To test for doneness, use a cake tester or a skewer. If it comes out clean, then the cake is cooked.
13. Finally, place it on a cooling rack and serve! 

This might as well be the best cake recipe you will ever try. It has the flavor, the texture, and, most importantly, the nutrients! 

Tips

Buying carrots

• Epicurious suggests buying carrots with green and vibrant tops.
• Go for fresh carrots that are in proper shape with smooth and vibrant orange skin.

Storing carrots

• Whole carrots should last up to five days at room temperature. 
• Alternatively, remove the leaves and store the carrots in containers to refrigerate to last up to four weeks. 
• Peeled carrots can also be stored in resealable bags or containers with water for up to five days.
• Store sliced carrots in containers to refrigerate and use within three weeks.

Caster Sugar

If you don’t have caster sugar, then you can easily make it home. Use a blender, spice grinder, or food processor to powderize the sugar until you achieve a fine and powder-like texture. 

Store it in a container and in a dry area to last up to several months and even years. 

Carrot Oil

This antioxidant-rich and nutrient-filled carrot oil not only comes with skin and hair benefits but also for food! 

1. Rinse, peel, and grate the carrots.
2. Spread the strips evenly on a lined tray.
3. Dehydrate the carrots for two days under the sun and six to ten hours in the dehydrator or oven.
4. Blend it until smooth and powdered.
5. Then, sieve it before storage. 
6. Using your favorite coconut oil, combine it with the carrot powder.
7. Preserve contents in a glass jar to shield them from heat, light, and moisture.
8. And you now have your own carrot oil! 

Carrot Cake Variations

Carrot Cake is already special, but why not make it extra special?

To make this recipe vegan and vegetarian, use flax eggs or other egg substitutes instead of regular eggs. You can also make a gluten-free version using gluten-free flour for a recipe better suited for your diet. 

A new and improved version of this cake can be taken to the next level by adding walnuts, cinnamon, raisins, nutmeg, apple sauce, macadamia nuts, cashews, and more! In fact, you can also add chocolate chips, coffee, and other flavorings. 

Aside from baking the batter into a cake, you can also transform it into a cupcake, muffins, pancakes, and cookies. 

No-Oven Carrot Cake

According to Femina, you can cook a cake in several ways. 

Microwave

1. Pour the batter into a microwaveable dish and tap it to remove the bubbles.
2. Microwave it for seven minutes and check for doneness with a skewer or cake tester.
3. If the cake is still raw, then cook it for a few minutes until fully baked. 

In the pot

1. Preheat a non-stick pot over medium heat.
2. Then, put a wire rack inside.
3. Place the covered cake tin in the pot.
4. Let it cook for 30 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.

Steamer

1. Cover the cake tin.
2. Let it cook in the steamer for about an hour before checking for doneness.
3. Add more water once evaporated. 

Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 160°C for 10 minutes.
2. Then, place the covered cake tin in the basket to cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until baked through.
3. Always check the cake for doneness before taking it out of the air fryer. 

Recommended Tools

• Cake tin: Pour the batter into a cake tin for structure. 
• Spatula: Combine and fold the ingredients with a spatula. 
• Cake tester: Use these tools to check the cake for doneness. 
• Grater: Process the carrots with a grater before putting the carrots in the batter.
• Whisk: Mix the ingredients with a whisk. 
• Sieve: Filter the dry ingredients with a sieve.
• Knife: Slice the carrots with a knife.
• Peeler: Remove the carrot skin with a peeler.
• Bowl: Prepare the cake batter in a bowl.
• Parchment paper: Line the cake tin with parchment paper.
• Oven: Bake the Carrot Cake in the oven.
• Cooling rack: Let the carrot cake cool.

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How to Serve Carrot Cake

Carrot cake makes an amazing breakfast, brunch, dessert, or snack. It’s the perfect alternative to chips and sugar-filled food that can potentially harm your health. Moreover, you can bake this as a substitute for classic cake flavors. 

This recipe is an amazing way to introduce a fresh, healthy, and delicious pastry. You can also frost it with any flavor or cream of your choice. For color and texture, top it up with nuts, grated carrots, berries, and more.

Pair it with refreshing and nutritious drinks such as:

• Chocolate Almond Milk
• Beetroot Apple Juice
• Watermelon Juice
• Smoothie
• Carrot Juice

According to The Infinite Kitchen, there are about 326 calories in a single slice of carrot cake. The number of slices you can have depends on the calories you consume daily, so eat carrot cake moderately to avoid weight gain and blood sugar spikes. 

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Put the carrot cake in a container, and you can let it sit at room temperature for up to two days. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does carrot cake taste like?

The carrot cake has a sweet, earthy, and rich flavor that tastes like carrots. The spices used in this recipe, such as salt and vanilla extract, further enhance the flavor.

Is carrot cake supposed to be moist?

Yes, it is. Even if carrot cake is dense, it is still moist, soft, and tender on the inside. As long as you use leavening agents like baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, you can make it as fluffy and moist as you want it to be.

Why put carrots in carrot cake?

Why NOT put carrots in carrot cakes? These are some of the best vegetables that you can use for cakes. They’re healthy yet filled with flavor that just makes a unique cake dish for everyone.

Is carrot cake healthier than regular cake?

Yes, it is! In fact, it’s a healthy cake flavor that you can easily make with fresh carrots. Carrots can be good for your digestion, heart, weight, brain, energy, immunity, and overall health!