Easy Carrot Cake Recipe

Fuss-free and utterly delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. This gently spiced, moreish cake is incredibly easy to make and stays moist for days!

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Bake Time
60 Minutes
Servings

FOR THE CAKE

  • 180ml sunflower oil 180ml sunflower oil
  • 125g Tate & Lyle Pure Cane Light Muscovado Sugar 125g Tate & Lyle Pure Cane Light Muscovado Sugar
  • 3 large eggs 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 225g peeled and trimmed carrots (finely grated) 225g peeled and trimmed carrots (finely grated)
  • 100g walnut pieces 100g walnut pieces
  • 175g plain flour (use wholemeal if preferred) 175g plain flour (use wholemeal if preferred)
  • 1½ tsp baking powder 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cinnamon

TOPPING

  • 180g soft cream cheese 180g soft cream cheese
  • 50g Tate & Lyle Cane Icing Sugar 50g Tate & Lyle Cane Icing Sugar

Instructions

HOW TO MAKE THIS CARROT CAKE RECIPE

Follow this simple 5-step carrot cake recipe for the ultimate slice of yum!  

  1. Grease and line the base of a 2cm/8” deep, round cake tin. Heat the oven to 170C/325F/gas 3. Set aside a tablespoon of the walnuts and chop the rest.
  2. Place the oil, Tate & Lyle Light Muscovado Sugar and eggs into a large bowl and beat until thick and creamy, use a hand held electric mixer if available.
  3. Add the vanilla essence then stir in the chopped walnuts and carrots. Sift the dry ingredients together then fold into the cake mixture. Turn into the prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes. Test with a skewer which should come out clean.
  4. Remove from the oven, cool in the tin 10 minutes then turn onto a wire rack to cool.
  5. For the topping, put the cream cheese and Tate & Lyle Icing Sugar into a bowl and beat together until smooth and creamy. Spread over the top of the cake and scatter over the reserved walnuts, chopping them into small pieces if preferred.

CHEF'S TIPS

  • Grate the zest of one orange into the cream cheese topping to add a zingy twist to your carrot cake.
  • Grating the carrots yourself instead of buying pre-grated carrots will allow you to grate them more finely and enhance this easy carrot cake recipe.
  • Feel free to substitute your walnuts with pecans if preferred. Alternatively, if you prefer a nut-free cake, opting not to include them won’t ruin your carrot cake at all.
  • Unfrosted carrot cake can be frozen for up to 2 months.
  • Be sure to share this easy carrot cake recipe with your family and friends!