Baking · serves 2

Carrot Cake

Spiced, moist, and the cream cheese frosting is the reason people ask for seconds.

65 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 3 cups grated carrot
  • 2 cups maida
  • 1.5 cups sugar (brown if you have it)
  • 1 cup oil
  • 3 eggs or 3/4 cup curd
  • 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp soda
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • Frosting: 200g cream cheese, 100g butter, 1.5 cups icing sugar

Method

  1. Grate the carrots finely. Coarse shreds stay crunchy and make the cake feel raw.
  2. Whisk oil, sugar and eggs until smooth, then the spices.
  3. Fold in the sifted dry ingredients, then carrots and walnuts.
  4. 180°C for 40-45 minutes.
  5. Cool COMPLETELY. Frosting on a warm cake becomes soup — this is the single most common mistake.
  6. Frosting: beat butter first, then cream cheese only briefly. Overbeating cream cheese makes it runny. Icing sugar last.

Questions people ask about Carrot Cake

How long does Carrot Cake take?

About 65 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of maida in Carrot Cake?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Carrot Cake ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Carrot Cake vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Carrot Cake?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Carrot Cake?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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