Loaded Carrot Cake

slice of carrot cake with a fork taking a bite.

5 from 19 votes

Loaded Carrot Cake is packed with extras like raisins, walnuts, coconut, pineapple, and even spiced rum! It's a moist carrot cake recipe topped with homemade cream cheese frosting

Prep Time30

Cook Time45

Total Time1 15

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 646kcal

Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

Ingredients

DRY INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves

WET INGREDIENTS

1 cup oil
¾ cup buttermilk
3 eggs

STIR-INS

3 cups fresh carrots (shredded)
1 cup crushed light pineapple (use the juice - do not drain)
1 cup coconut (shredded)
½ cup golden raisins
2 cups walnuts and/or pecans (chopped) RESERVE 1 cup of nuts for topping
1 Tbsp. spiced rum (or vanilla)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

2 (8 oz blocks) of full fat cream cheese, softened
1 stick salted butter (softened slightly - do not melt)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

CARROT CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Shred carrots by hand (or use food processor) and set aside. (5 large carrots makes 3 cups)
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
Mix wet ingredients with a mixer until well blended. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Beat on medium low speed until blended and creamy.
Fold in the stir-in ingredients. Stir until blended. (Save 1 cup of the nuts for topping)
Pour batter into a greased and floured 13 x 9 inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes until cake springs back when touched in the middle. If middle does not spring back, bake longer until it does or cake won't be done.
Allow cake to cool completely. (usually takes 1 hour)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Beat softened cream cheese with a hand or stand mixer until creamy.
Add softened butter and blend with cream cheese until fluffy.
Mix in vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat with mixer until lumps are gone.
Frost cake with cream cheese frosting. Top with reserved nuts. Decorate with piped frosting if you wish.

Notes

Baking time is just an estimate since all ovens, pans, and elevations are different.
Be sure to check the middle of this cake after40-45 minutes to see if it springs back when touched. If it seems jiggly, cook it until it is set or the cake will not be done.
Cool cake completely before frosting.
If decorating cake, add 2 additional cups of powdered sugar to frosting recipe to allow for piping.
Feel free to omit any stir-ins, but the cake will have a different texture depending on what you omit and may bake quicker.
View the Google Web Story for Loaded Carrot Cake!

Nutrition