Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 40 min
- Cook time: 35 min
- Serving: 8
PRESENTATION
Carrot cake is, well, a classic. But this homemade carrot cake takes things to another level with semi-integral flour and homemade almond flour. Pretty unique, right? These ingredients give it a rustic vibe and a moist texture that really stands out. Plus, there’s the fresh orange juice and zest, which—you know—add this light citrus aroma. You can actually smell it as soon as you cut into it. People love that little hint of orange—which blends so, so beautifully with the carrots' natural sweetness. The batter stays tender and not heavy at all. Which is great. It's an easy carrot cake recipe that feels kinda special but isn’t fussy.
For real, whether it’s for holiday tables, birthdays, or just a regular Sunday, this moist carrot cake is all set to impress. And here's the thing, the magic? It's in the creamy and tangy cream cheese frosting. Smooth, not too thick, it spreads perfectly over the cake, giving just enough richness to tie it all together. Seriously good. The fresh cheese flavor pairs up so nicely with those light orange notes and the gentle crunch from the almond flour. Plus, presentation matters—white frosting against the golden-orange cake looks super inviting. Some folks like to throw on extra grated orange zest or chopped nuts for style. And look, whether you’re into the classic carrot cake or like to try regional tweaks, there's room for creativity.
Some folks go for a healthier spin, or even a gluten-free version, and you still end up with something moist and really, really flavorful. The best part? It's perfect for casual hangouts or as a showstopper dessert, and people always end up asking for another slice of this easy-going treat. Honestly, the combo of flavors and textures makes it a hit every time. So go ahead, give this delicious recipe a whirl and enjoy a piece of cake that's as fun to make as it is to eat! Can't go wrong.
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INGREDIENTS
- For a 9-inch (22–34 cm) pan
- Carrots 0.7 lb (300 g) - to be cleaned
- Brown sugar 0.9 cup (200 g)
- Type 2 flour 1.7 cups (200 g)
- Almonds 0.7 cup (100 g)
- Eggs 3
- Sunflower seed oil 6 tbsp (80 g)
- Orange juice 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Orange peel 1
- Baking powder 4 tsp (16 g)
- Fine salt 1 pinch
- For the cream cheese frosting
- Philadelphia cream cheese 8 oz (210 g) - Light
- Fresh liquid cream 5 oz (150 g)
- Powdered sugar 4 tbsp (30 g)
- For garnish
- Almond slices to taste
How to prepare Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
To prepare the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, first put 150 g of brown sugar (about 2/3 cup, 5.3 oz) into a food processor 1 and pulse until almost powdered 2. Transfer it to a small bowl 3 and set aside.
In the same food processor, add the remaining 50 g of brown sugar (about 1/4 cup, 1.8 oz) 4, add the almonds 5 and pulse until finely chopped 6.
Transfer the almond flour to a small bowl 7 and set aside. Now peel the carrots and roughly slice them into rounds 8. Place 250 g of cleaned carrots (about 8.8 oz, 2 cups) in the same food processor 9.
Add the neutral oil (vegetable oil) 10 and the strained orange juice 11, then blend until you obtain a puree 12.
In a large bowl, pour in the eggs, the brown sugar you ground earlier 13, a pinch of salt 14 and the grated zest of the orange 15.
Beat the ingredients with electric beaters for at least 7–8 minutes 16. When you have a pale, airy mixture, add the prepared almond flour 17 and briefly incorporate it with the beaters. Also add the carrot puree 18 and mix again with the beaters to combine.
Finally, sift in the flour 19 and the baking powder 20 and work with the beaters at low speed 21 until you get a smooth, homogeneous batter.
Pour the batter into a 9-inch (22–34 cm) pan lined with parchment paper 22 and bake in a preheated conventional oven at 347°F (175°C) for about 35 minutes, placing it on the lowest rack 23. Before removing from the oven, check doneness with a skewer, then let the cake cool completely in the pan 34.
Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: place the Philadelphia Light cream cheese in a bowl, then add the heavy (whipping) cream 25 and the sifted powdered sugar 26. Beat with electric beaters until you obtain a firm, creamy consistency 27.
When the cake is completely cooled, remove it from the pan and transfer it to a serving plate. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the whole surface, using the back of a spoon to create a spatulated effect 28. Finally, decorate the edge with almond flakes 29. Your carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is ready to be served 30!